Waukegan, IL โ€” City Data, Demographics & Statistics

Lake County ยท Illinois

๐Ÿงฌ

City DNA

A unique fingerprint for Waukegan based on 8 key metrics โ€” compared to averages.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living
Waukegan
National Avg
Illinois Avg
Population: 72Income: 47Home Value: 18Safety: 100Education: 20Median Age: 58Climate: 50Cost of Living: 57

Quick Stats

Population

88,919

2023 ACS

Median Income

$70,578

2023

Median Home Value

$177,600

2023

Median Rent

$1,163

2023

Median Age

34.6

Unemployment

5.3%

Cost of Living Index

113.7

100 = national avg

Waukegan is a city in Lake County, Illinois, with a population of 88,919 according to the 2023 American Community Survey. Waukegan is one of the communities in Illinois.

The median household income in Waukegan is $70,578, and the median home value is $177,600. The cost of living index is 113.7 (where 100 = national average), and the median rent is $1,163 per month. The unemployment rate is 5.3%, and the median age is 34.6 years.

People & Demographics

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)

Population

Total Population

88,919

Male

45,286

50.9%

Female

43,633

49.1%

Median Age

34.6

Age Distribution

Education & Household

Bachelor's or Higher

13.7%

High School or Higher

33.2%

Foreign Born

31.2%

Veterans

3.3%

Married

34.4%

Avg Household Size

2.8

Marital Status by Age

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

0.444

Simpson's Index (0-1)

Largest Group

White

33.0%

Foreign Born

31.2%

White
33.0%
Black
16.1%
Asian
6.1%
Native American
1.8%
Pacific Islander
0.0%
Two or More
22.0%
Other
21.0%

Hispanic/Latino Ethnicity

Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity, not a race. People of any race can identify as Hispanic. This percentage overlaps with the racial categories above.

Hispanic/Latino

57.0%

50,684 people

Not Hispanic/Latino

43.0%

Hispanic/Latino Detail

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)
Mexican
40,531 (80.0%)
Puerto Rican
2,559 (5.0%)
Cuban
114 (0.2%)
Dominican
363 (0.7%)
Salvadoran
895 (1.8%)
Guatemalan
477 (0.9%)
Colombian
382 (0.8%)
Honduran
3,067 (6.1%)
Ecuadorian
354 (0.7%)
Peruvian
202 (0.4%)
Other Hispanic
1,742 (3.4%)

Asian Detail

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)
Asian Indian
2,071 (38.1%)
Chinese
241 (4.4%)
Filipino
2,476 (45.6%)
Vietnamese
129 (2.4%)
Korean
134 (2.5%)
Japanese
86 (1.6%)
Pakistani
20 (0.4%)
Cambodian
25 (0.5%)
Other Asian
254 (4.7%)

Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Detail

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)
Native Hawaiian
29 (107.4%)

American Indian & Alaska Native Detail

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)
Other Native American
1,560 (100.3%)

Languages Spoken

Total Speakers (5+)

83,987

English Only

44.9%

#1 Non-English Language

Spanish

40,300 speakers

Limited English

23.4%

Language Distribution

Spanish
40,300 (48.0%)
Tagalog
1,722 (2.1%)
Other Indo-European
1,209 (1.4%)
Other Asian
1,172 (1.4%)
French/Haitian/Cajun
625 (0.7%)
Other Languages
374 (0.4%)
Chinese
234 (0.3%)
Slavic Languages
202 (0.2%)
Arabic
148 (0.2%)
Korean
111 (0.1%)

English Proficiency

Speaks English Very Well

76.6%

Limited English Proficiency

23.4%

Spanish
44.9% limited English
Tagalog
16.2% limited English
Other Indo-European
27.8% limited English
Other Asian
33.7% limited English
French/Haitian/Cajun
9.6% limited English
Other Languages
45.2% limited English
Chinese
29.1% limited English
Slavic Languages
47.0% limited English
Arabic
37.8% limited English
Korean
55.9% limited English

Veterans & Military

Total Veterans

2,904

3.3% of population

Disability Rate

23.3%

677 with disability

Veteran Median Income

$55,200

Unemployment Rate

6.4%

Period of Service

Gulf War (2001+)
21.9%
Gulf War (1990-2001)
27.8%
Vietnam
28.2%
Korea
2.6%
World War II
0.7%

Veteran Age Distribution

18-34
8.1%
35-54
30.5%
55-64
23.3%
65-74
23.0%
75+
15.1%

Male Veterans

2,633

90.7%

Female Veterans

271

9.3%

Veteran vs Non-Veteran Income

Veteran Income

$55,200

Non-Veteran Income

$35,654

Difference

$19,546

54.8% higher

Disability Status

With Disability

677

Without Disability

2,227

Disability Rate

23.3%

Ancestry & Heritage

Total Reporting Ancestry

24,199

#1 Ancestry

German

5.4% (4,772)

#2 Ancestry

Irish

3.7% (3,253)

#3 Ancestry

Italian

2.7% (2,424)

Top 20 Ancestries

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)
German
5.4%
Irish
3.7%
Italian
2.7%
American
2.6%
English
2.2%
Polish
1.6%
Sub-Saharan African
1.6%
West Indian
1.6%
Norwegian
0.7%
Scottish
0.7%
Swedish
0.6%
Jamaican
0.6%
European
0.5%
French
0.3%
British
0.3%
Scotch-Irish
0.3%
Arab
0.3%
Dutch
0.2%
Greek
0.2%
Finnish
0.2%

Families & Households

Total Households

31,406

Family Households

20,836

66.3%

Married Couples

12,613

40.2%

Non-Family Households

10,570

33.7%

Single Mother Households

5,840

18.6%

Single Father Households

2,383

7.6%

Living Alone

8,888

28.3%

Children Under 18

Total Children

18,274

In Married Couple

9,670

52.9%

With Single Mother

6,996

38.3%

With Single Father

1,608

8.8%

Family Income

Median Family Income

$81,532

Married Couple Income

$101,479

Single Mother Income

$48,175

Single Father Income

$73,452

Avg Family Size

2.8

Avg Non-Family Size

2.6

Grandparents w/ Grandchildren

3,100

Grandparents Responsible

596

Economy

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)

Income Overview

Median Household Income

$70,578

-4% vs national

Per Capita Income

$31,667

-15% vs national

Poverty Rate

15.3%

+13% vs national

Gini Index

0.4361

0 = perfect equality

Unemployment

5.3%

+2% vs national

SNAP Recipients

18.5%

of households

How Waukegan Compares

Waukegan vs Similar Cities

Compared to cities with 50,000 - 100,000 residents. Waukegan is highlighted.

Median Household Income

Per Capita Income

Poverty Rate

Unemployment Rate

๐Ÿ“Š

Where Do You Stack Up?

Enter your household income to see how you compare to other households in Waukegan. The median household income here is $70,578.

$

Income Distribution

<$25K
15.1%
$25-50K
20.7%
$50-75K
17.5%
$75-100K
16.1%
$100-150K
15.8%
$150-200K
7.2%
$200K+
7.6%

Employment Snapshot

Unemployment Rate

5.3%

-5% vs IL avg

Labor Force

47,697

Employed

44,705

Mean Commute

25 min

How People Get to Work

Employment by Sector

Education & Workforce

Bachelor's Degree+

13.7%

of adults 25+

High School Diploma+

33.2%

of adults 25+

Median Age

34.6

Work from Home

6.7%

of workers

Cost of Living

Overall Index

113.7

100 = national avg

+13.7 vs national average

Living Wage (1 Adult)

$50,048

per year

Living Wage (Family of 4)

$118,294

per year

Cost Index by Category

Housing
126.9
Food
103.9
Transportation
109.6
Healthcare
103.2
Utilities
107.8

100 = national average. Higher = more expensive.

Fair Market Rent

Source: HUD

1 Bedroom

$1,581

per month

2 Bedroom

$1,781

per month

The median household income in Waukegan, IL is $70,578, which is 3.6% below the national average of $73,224. Per capita income is $31,667. The poverty rate of 15.3% is higher than the IL state average of 12.0%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.4361, where 0 represents perfect equality and 1 represents maximum inequality. The unemployment rate is 5.3%, compared to the state average of 5.6%. The labor force is 47,697. 13.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The average commute time is 25 minutes, with 6.7% working from home. About 69.9% of workers drive alone to work. The overall cost of living index is 113.7, which is 13.7% above the national average. Housing costs are above the national average at an index of 126.9. A single adult needs to earn approximately $50,048 per year to cover basic expenses.

Housing & Real Estate

Market SnapshotRedfin โ€” January 2026

Median Sale Price

$219,500

Median List Price

$260,000

Price Per Sq Ft

$155

Days on Market

66

Active Inventory

93

Months of Supply

2.9

Seller's market

Zillow Home Value

$228,941

ZHVI โ€” January 2026

Zillow Rent Index

$1,597

ZORI โ€” January 2026

Market CompetitivenessRedfin

Sold Above List

18.8%

Off Market in 2 Weeks

37.5%

Sale-to-List Ratio

96.1%

Buyer's market

Sold Above Asking
18.8%
Under Contract in 2 Wks
37.5%
Listings with Price Drops
16.1%

Price TrendsRedfin

Sale Price โ†‘ 2.1%List Price โ†‘ 20.9%Mar 24 โ†’ Jan 26

Market ActivityRedfin

Homes Sold

32

New Listings

42

Pending Sales

48

Homes Sold โ†“ 23.8%New Listings โ†“ 32.3%Pending โ†“ 26.2%Mar 24 โ†’ Jan 26

Price Per Square FootRedfin

Median Sale $/SF

$155

Median List $/SF

$185

Sale $/SF โ†‘ 9.9%List $/SF โ†‘ 10.1%Mar 24 โ†’ Jan 26

Waukegan vs Similar CitiesCensus ACS / Redfin

Compared to cities with 50,000 - 100,000 residents. Waukegan is highlighted.

Median Home Value

Median Rent

Median Price Per Sq Ft

Rent Burden

Census Housing DataU.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023

Median Home Value

$177,600

Median Rent

$1,163

Total Housing Units

32,842

Vacancy Rate

4.4%

Owner Occupied

50.9%

Renter Occupied

49.1%

Median Property Tax

$4,559

per year

Monthly Cost (w/ Mortgage)

$1,176

Housing Types

Single Family
58.5%
Multi-Family
41.4%
Mobile Home
0.1%

Property TaxU.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023

Median Property Tax

$4,559

per year

Effective Tax Rate

2.57%

of home value

Median Home Value

$177,600

Estimated Mean Tax

$5,187

The effective property tax rate is calculated by dividing the median annual property tax ($4,559) by the median home value ($177,600). In Waukegan, IL, this works out to an effective rate of 2.57%. This is above the national average of approximately 1.1%.

The current median sale price in Waukegan, IL is $219,500 according to Redfin data. Homes spend a median of 66 days on the market. 18.8% of homes sold above asking price. The market has 2.9 months of supply. The median price per square foot is $155. Zillow's observed rent index is $1,597/month. About 50.9% of housing units are owner-occupied. The median year homes were built is 1967. There are 32,842 total housing units. Homeowners pay a median annual property tax of $4,559. The effective tax rate is 2.57%, above the national average.

Crime Overview

Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (2024)

Violent Crime Rate

4.45

per 1,000 residents

+71% vs national

Property Crime Rate

16.14

per 1,000 residents

-6% vs national

Total Crimes

1,795

2024

Violent Clearance

26%

cases solved

Property Clearance

7%

cases solved

YoY Change

+22.0%

violent crime rate

worsening vs 2023

How Waukegan Compares

Source: FBI (2024)

Waukegan vs Similar Cities

Source: FBI (2024)

Compared to cities with 50,000 - 100,000 residents. Waukegan is highlighted in green.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000)

Property Crime Rate (per 1,000)

Murder Rate (per 1,000)

Crime Rate Trends

Source: FBI
Violent โ†‘ 2.5%Property โ†“ 40.6%2015 โ†’ 2024

Crime Composition

Source: FBI (2024)

Violent Crime Breakdown

Property Crime Breakdown

Crime Clearance (Solve) Rates

Source: FBI (2024)

Waukegan police solve 60% of murder cases but only 4% of motor vehicle theft cases.

Weapon Used in Violent Crime

Source: FBI (2024)

Crime Breakdown

Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (2024)
Crime TypeCategoryCountRate per 1KClearance %
MurderViolent50.0660.0%
RapeViolent770.8813.0%
RobberyViolent530.6117.0%
Aggravated AssaultViolent2532.9031.2%
BurglaryProperty2362.7110.6%
Larceny/TheftProperty7148.197.8%
Motor Vehicle TheftProperty4575.243.5%

Waukegan, IL reported 388 violent crimes and 1,407 property crimes in 2024. The violent crime rate of 4.45 per 1,000 residents is 71.2% above the national average of 2.60 per 1,000. Law enforcement cleared 26% of violent crimes. Larceny/theft accounts for 714 of the property crime reports. Firearms were involved in 53.0% of aggravated assaults. Violent crime has been trending upward.

Crime History

Source: FBI
YearViolentPropertyViolent RateProperty Rate
20243881,4074.4516.14
20233199633.6511.02
2022361040.411.18
20203161,4093.6916.43
20193311,9293.8322.30
20183551,7844.0620.38
20173611,9884.1022.59
20164492,2875.0825.89
20153862,4154.3427.18

School Shootings

Source: The Washington Post

Total Incidents

1

Total Killed

0

Total Injured

0

DateSchoolKilledInjuredTypeWeapon
Jun 10, 2019Menta Academy North00targeted2 handguns

Data from The Washington Post, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

96.0

Relatively High

Expected Annual Loss

97.1

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

14.1

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

78.1

Score (0-100)

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster History & Federal Spending

Source: FEMA

Total Declarations

17

Public Assistance

$26.3M

Individual Assistance

$5.1M

Most Common Type

Snowstorm

5 declarations

Public Assistance by Category

Total: $26.2M
DisasterTypeDatePA $IA $
Covid-19 Pandemic โ†’BiologicalMar 2020$17.1M$3.0M
Covid-19 โ†’BiologicalMar 2020โ€”โ€”
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and โ€ฆ โ†’FloodMay 2013$1.3M$2.0M
Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm โ†’SnowstormMar 2011$2.4Mโ€”
Severe Storms and Flooding โ†’Severe StormJun 2008$2.2M$38K
Record Snow and Near Record Snow โ†’SnowstormMar 2008$1.5Mโ€”
Severe Storms and Flooding โ†’Severe StormSep 2007โ€”$20K
Severe Winter Storm โ†’Severe Ice StormFeb 2007$2Kโ€”
Hurricane Katrina Evacuation โ†’HurricaneSep 2005$81Kโ€”
Illinois Winter Snow Storms โ†’SnowstormJan 2001$904Kโ€”
Il-winter Storm 1/1/99 โ†’SnowstormJan 1999$940Kโ€”
Severe Storms and Tornadoes โ†’Severe StormApr 1996โ€”โ€”
Severe Storms & Flooding โ†’FloodJul 1993โ€”โ€”
Severe Storms & Flooding โ†’FloodOct 1986โ€”โ€”
Blizzards & Snowstorms โ†’SnowstormJan 1979โ€”โ€”
Severe Storms & Flooding โ†’FloodApr 1973โ€”โ€”
Tornadoes โ†’TornadoApr 1967โ€”โ€”
Tornadoes, Severe Storms & Flooding โ†’TornadoApr 1965โ€”โ€”
Dr-4339Unknownโ€”โ€”โ€”
Severe Storms and Flooding โ†’Unknownโ€”โ€”โ€”

PA = FEMA Public Assistance (infrastructure recovery). IA = Individual Assistance (homeowner/renter aid).

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

2,397

Total Claims Paid

$27,473,646

Avg Claim Payout

$11,462

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

23

Federal Funding

$18,573,631

Properties Protected

156

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.33

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine13$7,758,848
202.1: Elevation of Private Structures - Riverine2$115,626
200.3: Acquisition of Public Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine2$1,497,696
403.4: Stormwater Management - Detention/Retention Basins; 501.1: Other Major Structural Projects; 700.1: Management Costs - Salaries2$1,440,870
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan1$52,500

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Waukegan has a relatively high overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are cold wave, tornado, strong wind. The area has had 17 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is snowstorm (5 declarations). 2,397 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $26,336,061 in public assistance recovery funding. $5,118,135 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 23 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.

Health

Community Health

Source: CDC PLACES

Obesity Rate

40.2%

4.1pp above the national average

Depression Rate

17.6%

5.9pp below the national average

Diabetes Rate

14.4%

2.5pp above the national average

Uninsured Rate

21.3%

10.7pp above the national average

Health Scorecard

Higher scores indicate better health outcomes relative to the national average (50 = average)

Health Outcomes

Age-adjusted prevalence rates. Green bars indicate rates below the national average; red indicates above.

High Cholesterol

34.8%

Arthritis

19.7%

Cancer (excl. skin)

4.7%

Teeth Lost (65+)

17.9%

Health Risk Behaviors

Prevention & Screening

Green bars indicate rates above the national average (more preventive care); red indicates below.

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Frequent Mental Distress

16.9%

14+ days in past month

Depression

17.6%

Loneliness

35.6%

Lack of Support

30.4%

Disability Prevalence

Any Disability

31.2%

Mobility

15.0%

Cognitive

16.4%

Hearing

5.8%

Vision

7.9%

Self-Care

5.0%

Independent Living

9.5%

Health-Related Social Needs

Prevalence of social risk factors affecting community health

Waukegan has an obesity rate of 40.2%, which is 4.1pp above the national average. The depression rate is 17.6%, 5.9pp below the national average. About 21.3% of adults lack health insurance. 73.7% of residents had an annual checkup in the past year.

Nearby Hospitals

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Nearest Hospitals

5

With Emergency Services

4

Avg CMS Rating

3.5 / 5

Nearest Hospital

1.1 mi

Vista Medical Center East

Loading mapโ€ฆ
HospitalDistanceTypeRatingER
Vista Medical Center East1.1 miAcute Care Hospitals2/5Yes
Lake Behavioral Hospital1.1 miPsychiatricโ€”โ€”
North Chicago Va Medical Center3.2 miAcute Care - Veterans Administration4/5Yes
Midwestern Region Med Center, Inc6.3 miAcute Care Hospitals4/5Yes
Advocate Condell Medical Center6.5 miAcute Care Hospitals4/5Yes

Climate & Environment

Water Systems

Source: EPA SDWIS

Water Systems

1

Pop. Served

87,149

Violations (5yr)

0

No violations

System NamePop. ServedViolations (5yr)
WAUKEGAN87,1490

Greenhouse Gas Emitters

Source: EPA GHGRP (2023)

Facilities Reporting

2

Total COโ‚‚e

26.0K MT

Top Emitter

Gold Bond - WAK Plant

24.4K MT COโ‚‚e

Total COโ‚‚e vs Similar Cities (50,000 - 100,000)

FacilitySectorCOโ‚‚e (MT)
Gold Bond - WAK Plant
Spangler Cos Inc
Minerals24,406
Waukegan
Nrg Energy Inc
Power Plants1,597

Data from EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP). Includes facilities emitting 25,000+ metric tons COโ‚‚e/year.

There are 1 water system serving the area. 2 industrial facilities report greenhouse gas emissions totaling 26.0K metric tons of COโ‚‚e.

Infrastructure

Commute Overview2023 ACS

Mean Commute

25 min

+5% vs national

Drive Alone

69.9%

-11% vs national

Public Transit

2.5%

+177% vs national

Work From Home

6.7%

-28% vs national

Carpool

17.2%

Walk / Bike

1.0%

combined

How Waukegan's Commute ComparesCensus ACS 2023

How People Get to WorkCensus ACS 2023

Commute Mode BreakdownCensus ACS 2023

Traffic Fatalities

Source: NHTSA FARS (2023)

Fatalities

11

2023

6-Year Avg

8

fatalities/yr

Pedestrian

4

Nighttime

9

dark conditions

YearCrashesFatalitiesAlcoholPedestrianCyclist
20231111040
20221112020
202122000
20201010721
201977141
201845210

Data from NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Includes only crashes involving at least one fatality.

The average commute in Waukegan, IL is 25 minutes, which is 5.1% above the national average of 23 minutes. 69.9% of workers drive alone, compared to the national average of 78.7%. 6.7% work from home, which is below the IL state average of 8.4%. Public transit is used by 2.5% of commuters, compared to the national average of 0.9%. 17.2% of workers carpool. In 2023, there were 11 traffic fatalities from 11 fatal crashes. 4 were pedestrians.

Internet & Broadband Access

Source: Census ACS

Broadband Access

88.1%

of households

Cable / Fiber / DSL

71.6%

of households

No Internet

9.6%

of households

Total Households

31,406

Internet Subscription Types

Cable, Fiber, or DSL
71.6%
Cellular Data Plan
82.7%
Satellite
6.0%
Cellular Only (no wired)
13.1%
No Internet Access
9.6%

Device Ownership

Source: Census ACS

Has Computer

94.6%

of households

Smartphone

89.8%

of households

Desktop / Laptop

71.6%

of households

Tablet

56.2%

of households

Any Computing Device
94.6%
Smartphone
89.8%
Desktop / Laptop
71.6%
Tablet
56.2%
Smartphone Only
16.5%
No Computer
5.4%

Percentage of households with each device type. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023 5-year estimates, tables B28001 & B28002).

Electricity Rates

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (2024)

Residential Rate

15.9ยข

per kWh

-14% vs 50,000 - 100,000 avg

Commercial Rate

11.8ยข

per kWh

-20% vs 50,000 - 100,000 avg

Industrial Rate

8.8ยข

per kWh

-20% vs 50,000 - 100,000 avg

Avg Monthly Bill

$110

residential

-24% vs 50,000 - 100,000 avg

7% below the national average of 17.1ยข/kWh

Residential electricity in Illinois averages 15.9ยข per kWh, compared to the national average of 17.1ยข. The average monthly electric bill is $110. State-level averages from EIA Electric Sales & Revenue data (2024).

Waukegan vs Similar Cities

Source: EIA (2024)

Comparing electricity rates with randomly selected cities of similar population (50,000 - 100,000). Each city represents its state's average rate.

Residential Rate (ยข/kWh)

Commercial Rate (ยข/kWh)

Industrial Rate (ยข/kWh)

Average Monthly Bill

Water Systems

Source: EPA SDWIS

Water Systems

1

Population Served

87,149

Violations (5yr)

0

System NameTypeSourcePop. ServedViolations
WAUKEGANCommunitySurface water87,1490

88.1% of households in Waukegan have broadband internet access. 71.6% have cable, fiber, or DSL service. 13.1% rely solely on cellular data without a wired connection. 9.6% of households have no internet access. 16.5% use only a smartphone without a desktop or laptop. The area is served by 1 water system, providing water to 87,149 people. No water quality violations have been reported in the past 5 years.

Politics & Government

County-level data: Election results are reported at the county level. Waukegan is located in Lake County, IL. Results reflect all voters in the county, not just those in Waukegan.

Election Overview

Source: Lake County (2024)

2024 Winner

Democrat

Dem Votes

184,642

59.7%

GOP Votes

120,402

38.9%

Total Votes

309,323

Margin

D+20.8%

Shift from 2020

R+3.3pp

vs prior election

๐Ÿ“ŠElection Results by Year
2016โ€“2024
๐Ÿ“ˆPartisan Lean Trend
D+20.8%

Election History

Source: County-Level Election Results
YearDem VotesGOP VotesTotalDem %GOP %Margin
2024184,642120,402309,32359.7%38.9%D+20.8
2020204,032123,594334,15661.1%37.0%D+24.1
2016168,186108,608293,57457.3%37.0%D+20.3

In the 2024 presidential election, Lake County recorded 309,323 total votes. Democrats won the county with 59.7% of the vote compared to 38.9% for Republicans, a margin of D+20.8%. Compared to 2020, the margin shifted R+3.3pp from the previous election.

Nonprofits Overview

Source: IRS Exempt Organizations BMF

Total Nonprofits

215

Total Assets

$61.4M

Total Income

$78.5M

Per 10K Residents

24.2

nonprofits

-42.2% vs peers avg

Orgs with >$1M Assets

18

Median Assets

$251K

Oldest Active

1941

ruling year

Newest Org

2026

ruling year

Nonprofits by Category

Source: IRS / NTEE Classification
Religion
35
Education
27
Human Services
26
Youth Development
12
Arts & Culture
9
Recreation & Sports
8
Community Improvement
7
Crime & Legal
6
Philanthropy
6
Employment
4
Civil Rights
4
Environment
3
Mental Health
3
Food & Agriculture
3
Housing & Shelter
2
Animal-Related
1
Health Care
1
Public Safety
1
International
1
Public Benefit
1
Unknown
1
69.5%of all nonprofit assets are held by the 10 largest organizations

Top 10 hold $42.7M of $61.4M total

Nonprofit Size Distribution

Source: IRS Exempt Organizations BMF

Number of nonprofits by total asset size

When Were Nonprofits Founded?

Source: IRS Ruling Date

Number of currently active nonprofits by founding decade

Nonprofits per 10K Residents vs Similar Cities

Source: IRS BMF + Census ACS

Compared to cities with population 50,000 - 100,000

Largest Nonprofits in Waukegan

Source: IRS Exempt Organizations BMF
OrganizationCategoryAssetsIncomeEst.IRS
ARDEN SHORE CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICEโ€”$10.7M$8.1M1951
FRIENDS OF THE HISTORIC GENESEE THEATREโ€”$6.6M$9.5M1981
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF LAKE COUNTYYouth Development$5.1M$4.3M1999
CHICAGO WORKERS COLLABORATIVEEducation$4.4M$3.6M2009
PADS LAKE COUNTY INCMental Health$4.0M$6.8M1978
UMMA-URBAN MUSLIM MINORITY ALLIANCEHuman Services$3.7M$2.7M2004
INDEPENDENCE CENTER INCUnknown$2.6M$2.3M1987
COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF LAKE COUNTYEducation$2.4M$12.0M1968
LAKE COUNTY BAR FOUNDATIONEducation$1.8M$519K1972
A BIGGER WORLDPhilanthropy$1.5M$2.1M2012
THE BEACON PLACE NFPHuman Services$1.5M$760K2013
WAUKEGAN TO COLLEGE NFPEducation$1.4M$1.3M2012
COOL MINISTRIESHuman Services$1.3M$1.9M1984
KEEPING FAMILIES COVEREDHuman Services$1.3M$1.2M2011
NSTS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INCPhilanthropy$1.2M$199K2023
WARBIRD HERITAGE FOUNDATIONArts & Culture$1.2M$1.5M2004
WAUKEGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY INCโ€”$1.1M$1.4M1969
HISPANIC AMERICAN COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND SERVICES INCHuman Services$1.1M$2.2M2006
LEGACY REENTRY FOUNDATION NFPCrime & Legal$884K$1.5M2017
HEART OF THE CITYRecreation & Sports$817K$2.6M2015
YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPSEnvironment$773K$2.2M1995
THE COMMUNITY WORKS INC NFPEmployment$745K$749K2017
GREATER WAUKEGAN DEVELOPMENT COALITIONCommunity Improvement$641K$747K2014
ELDERCARE LAKE COUNTYHuman Services$613K$450K2017
NIELSEN-MASSEY FOUNDATIONPhilanthropy$571K$413K2009
EMPLOYEE CONNECTIONSEmployment$547K$1.7M2014
NORTHERN ILLINOIS RECOVERY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONCivil Rights$542K$1.2M2019
WAUKEGAN HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONHousing & Shelter$494K$294K2021
RALPH J SMITH FOUNDATION INCReligion$251K$10K1980
KALIMBA FOUNDATION NFPHuman Services$210K$588K2017
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN NURSERY SCHOOLEducation$140K$304K1957
BLACK ABOLITION MOVEMENT FOR THE MIND INCHuman Services$126K$234K2011
WAUKEGAN YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATIONRecreation & Sports$120K$258K2024
WAUKEGAN REGIONAL AIR SHOWCommunity Improvement$119K$35K2006
WAUKEGAN PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION INCโ€”$114K$72K1987
ADELANTE CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIPFood & Agriculture$95K$251K2025
WAUKEGAN PARKS FOUNDATIONRecreation & Sports$78K$95K2015
ENGLAND MANOR UNDERGROUND RAILROAD MUSEUMArts & Culture$77K$119K2019
TACO TEAMReligion$63K$75K2019
COALITION LEGALCrime & Legal$59K$89K2020
ABDULA FAM FOUNDATIONPhilanthropy$52K$5902000
ANGELS BOXING ACADEMY LIMITEDRecreation & Sports$52K$411K2020
BLACK LIVES MATTER LAKE COUNTYCivil Rights$51K$183K2019
JIC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONEducation$49K$89K2024
WAUKEGAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATIONโ€”$46K$61K1986
EDWIN MONTANO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPEducation$45K$52K2022
FOCUS FOR OUR CHILDRENS UNDISTRACTED SUCCESSEducation$37K$250K2019
COOL LEARNING EXPERIENCEEducation$33K$238K2023
CENTER FOR IMMIGRANT PROGRESSโ€”$33K$76K2021
WAUKEGAN MAIN STREETโ€”$10K$2191990

Waukegan, IL has 215 registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with combined assets of $61.4M. The most common category is Religion-Related, with 35 organizations. 18 nonprofits have assets exceeding $1 million. That works out to 24.2 nonprofits per 10,000 residents. The oldest active nonprofit dates back to 1941.

SBA Lending Overview

Source: SBA FOIA Loan-Level Data

Total SBA Loans

267

Total Approved

$167.3M

Jobs Supported

2,890

Per 10K Residents

30.0

SBA loans

-58.0% vs peers avg

Unique Lenders

74

Top Lender

Byline Bank

23 loans

Top Industry

Retail Trade

Data Span

1992โ€“2025

Loan Program Breakdown

Source: SBA FOIA
7(a)85% of all loans

Loans

228

Total Amount

$134.4M

Avg Loan

$589,607

Median Loan

$157,500

SBA Guaranteed

$100.8M(75%)

Jobs Supported

2,342

50415% of all loans

Loans

39

Total Amount

$32.9M

Avg Loan

$843,744

Median Loan

$742,000

7(a) โ€” 85%504 โ€” 15%

Recent Activity (Last 5 Years)

Source: SBA FOIA

Recent Loans

46

17% of all-time total

Recent Amount

$60.9M

36% of all-time total

Avg Recent Loan

$1,324,765

Top Industries Funded

Source: SBA FOIA / NAICS Codes
Retail Trade46 loans
NAICS 44
$32.3M
Other Services41 loans
NAICS 81
$15.2M
Accommodation & Food Services37 loans
NAICS 72
$46.8M
Construction17 loans
NAICS 23
$1.8M
Health Care & Social Assistance15 loans
NAICS 62
$2.9M

SBA Loans per 10K Residents vs Similar Cities

Source: SBA FOIA + Census ACS

Compared to cities with population 50,000 - 100,000

Top SBA Borrowers

Source: SBA FOIA
BusinessLoansAmount
Big Ed's Bbq Llc2$7.0M
Lhg Waukegan Inc1$5.0M
Bay Marine of Chicago Llc1$4.9M
Lake County Ice & Sports Center Llc3$4.7M
Henry Broch & Co1$4.3M
Rainbow Cleaning Systems Inc1$4.2M
Lakehurst Investments Llc2$4.1M
Hampton Inn and Suites Waukegan1$4.0M
3rd Coast Capital Llc3$3.9M
Ludlow Manufacturing Inc.1$3.7M

Waukegan, IL has received 267 SBA loans totaling $167.3M in approved funding between 1992 and 2025. The 7(a) program accounts for 228 loans (85% of the total), supporting 2,342 jobs. The 504 program, focused on real estate and large equipment, has funded 39 loans totaling $32.9M. The most common industry receiving SBA funding is Retail Trade. The most active SBA lender in Waukegan is Byline Bank with 23 loans. That works out to 30.0 SBA loans per 10,000 residents.

ZIP Code Overview

Source: Census ACS

ZIP Codes

13

Total Population

309,294

Avg Median Income

-$51,184,491

Avg Home Value

-$102,271,249

ZIP Code Details

Source: Census ACS
ZIP CodePopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueMedian RentArea (sq mi)
6003035,579$104,920$276,800$1,52626.8
6003137,208$114,008$322,300$1,60119.0
6004410,289$127,546$568,500$1,6726.8
6004520,957$225,551$899,200$2,32121.3
6004828,945$169,283$535,100$1,56928.4
6006415,047$49,256$139,900$1,0695.3
6007543N/AN/AN/A0.2
600839,655$111,912$286,400$1,70226.4
6008572,763$64,330$164,800$1,13314.8
6008727,428$79,162$185,800$1,29413.0
6008814,269$62,557N/A$1,8322.4
600966,626$94,115$238,000$1,2624.7
6009930,485$65,647$190,300$1,13122.6

Waukegan, IL has 13 ZIP codes with a combined population of 309,294. The average median household income across all ZIP codes is -$51,184,491. The average median home value is -$102,271,249. The average median monthly rent is -$51,280,658.

Similar Cities

Cities with similar population, income, housing, crime, education, and demographic profiles.

County Data

Advertisement