Waukegan ( wə-KEE-ghən) is a city in Lake County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. Located 36 miles (58 km) north of Chicago, Waukegan is a satellite city within the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Its population was 89,321 at the 2020 census. Waukegan is the most populous city in Lake County, the seventh-most populous city within the Chicago metropolitan area, and the 10th-most populous city in Illinois. Waukegan has historically been more industrial in comparison to neighboring wealthy North Shore suburbs; it has long been classified by the Illinois state government as "socioeconomically distressed" despite having some middle class inhabitants.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Waukegan ranks

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#42Lowest depression in IL #58Most conserved land in IL #280Closest to a top hospital in IL All IL rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code60079, 60085, 60087

Area codeSign in to add

Living in Waukegan

Housing in Waukegan

$260K Median sale price · Redfin, May 2026

The median sale price was $260,000 in May 2026.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market49

Sale-to-list99.4%

Sold in May38

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Waukegan

Safety Grade C

Waukegan reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 71% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Waukegan 3.7

Illinois 2.6

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Waukegan 15.4

Illinois 15.6

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Waukegan

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Most working residents leave Waukegan for work: only 16% work in town. The top destinations are Chicago (8%), Gurnee (6%) and North Chicago (4%). Half commute less than 13 miles.

Chicago

Gurnee

North Chicago

Libertyville

16%Work in townlive and work in Waukegan 13 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 28,297Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Waukegan →

Health in Waukegan

Health Grade C

Healthier than 31% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Illinois

3better than IL·18worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 11 are too close to call.

Conditions 2▲ 3▼ 7 close Habits 1▲ 2▼ 1 close Care 6▼ 1 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

4.7%Fewer adults who have had cancerIL 7.6% · better 19.7%Fewer adults with arthritisIL 24.2% · better 21.3%More uninsured adultsIL 9.9% · worse

Care nearby

Vista Medical Center EastWaukegan · 2.1 mi · ER

Grand Avenue Health CenterWaukegan · 0.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

1 hospital · 2 health centers in Waukegan →

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Waukegan · CMS · HRSAHealth in Waukegan →

Natural hazards in Waukegan

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 11% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

26Does Waukegan flood?paid flood claims since 1993 7Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Waukegan MapWaukegan vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Waukegan →

Climate in Waukegan

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Waukegan has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 36 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

34° / 20°Winter

55° / 38°Spring

79° / 62°Summer

61° / 44°Fall