Port St. Lucie FL vs Waukegan IL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Port St. Lucie, FL

Florida · Population: 220,453

Median HH Income$78,137
Median Home Price$327,700
Unemployment5.5%
Bachelor's+26.8%

Waukegan, IL

Illinois · Population: 33,889

Median HH Income$97,263
Median Home Price$239,865
Unemployment4.3%
Bachelor's+46.1%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Port St. Lucie

220,453

Port St. Lucie +

Waukegan

33,889

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Port St. Lucie

N/A

Waukegan

N/A

Median Age

Port St. Lucie

43.7

Waukegan

37.6

Waukegan +

Foreign Born

Port St. Lucie

19.5%

Waukegan

20.6%

Waukegan +

White

Port St. Lucie

60.0%

Waukegan

61.9%

Waukegan +

Black

Port St. Lucie

19.2%

Port St. Lucie +

Waukegan

11.2%

Asian

Port St. Lucie

2.2%

Waukegan

11.3%

Waukegan +

Hispanic

Port St. Lucie

23.0%

Port St. Lucie +

Waukegan

16.4%

Spanish at Home

Port St. Lucie

N/A

Waukegan

N/A

Metric	Port St. Lucie, FL	Waukegan, IL	Better
Population	220,453	33,889	Port St. Lucie +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	43.7	37.6	Waukegan +
Foreign Born	19.5%	20.6%	Waukegan +
White	60.0%	61.9%	Waukegan +
Black	19.2%	11.2%	Port St. Lucie +
Asian	2.2%	11.3%	Waukegan +
Hispanic	23.0%	16.4%	Port St. Lucie +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Port St. Lucie

$78,137

Waukegan

$97,263

Waukegan +

Per Capita Income

Port St. Lucie

$36,352

Waukegan

$49,019

Waukegan +

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Port St. Lucie

$65,328

Waukegan

$68,110

Waukegan +

Unemployment Rate

Port St. Lucie

5.5%

Waukegan

4.3%

Waukegan +

Poverty Rate

Port St. Lucie

8.5%

Waukegan

5.8%

Waukegan +

Bachelor's Degree+

Port St. Lucie

26.8%

Waukegan

46.1%

Waukegan +

Metric	Port St. Lucie, FL	Waukegan, IL	Better
Median HH Income	$78,137	$97,263	Waukegan +
Per Capita Income	$36,352	$49,019	Waukegan +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$65,328	$68,110	Waukegan +
Unemployment Rate	5.5%	4.3%	Waukegan +
Poverty Rate	8.5%	5.8%	Waukegan +
Bachelor's Degree+	26.8%	46.1%	Waukegan +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Port St. Lucie

$327,700

Waukegan

$239,865

Waukegan +

Homeownership Rate

Port St. Lucie

83.2%

Port St. Lucie +

Waukegan

65.5%

Metric	Port St. Lucie, FL	Waukegan, IL	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$327,700	$239,865	Waukegan +
Homeownership Rate	83.2%	65.5%	Port St. Lucie +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Port St. Lucie

324

Port St. Lucie +

Waukegan

344

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Port St. Lucie

1453

Port St. Lucie +

Waukegan

1842

Metric	Port St. Lucie, FL	Waukegan, IL	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	324	344	Port St. Lucie +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1453	1842	Port St. Lucie +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Port St. Lucie

30.5%

Port St. Lucie +

Waukegan

40.2%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Port St. Lucie

13.1%

Port St. Lucie +

Waukegan

14.4%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Port St. Lucie

16.6%

Port St. Lucie +

Waukegan

16.9%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Port St. Lucie

14.5%

Port St. Lucie +

Waukegan

21.3%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Port St. Lucie

14.5%

Port St. Lucie +

Waukegan

14.8%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Port St. Lucie

12.9%

Port St. Lucie +

Waukegan

14.3%

Metric	Port St. Lucie, FL	Waukegan, IL	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	30.5%	40.2%	Port St. Lucie +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	13.1%	14.4%	Port St. Lucie +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	16.6%	16.9%	Port St. Lucie +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	14.5%	21.3%	Port St. Lucie +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	14.5%	14.8%	Port St. Lucie +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	12.9%	14.3%	Port St. Lucie +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Port St. Lucie

N/A

Waukegan

47.8°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Port St. Lucie

N/A

Waukegan

35.6 in

Metric	Port St. Lucie, FL	Waukegan, IL	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	47.8°F	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	35.6 in	-

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Port St. Lucie

7.2 µg/m³

Port St. Lucie +

Waukegan

9.4 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Port St. Lucie

75.0%

Port St. Lucie +

Waukegan

55.0%

Metric	Port St. Lucie, FL	Waukegan, IL	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	7.2 µg/m³	9.4 µg/m³	Port St. Lucie +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	55.0%	Port St. Lucie +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Port St. Lucie

32.0 min

Port St. Lucie +

Waukegan

33.7 min

Metric	Port St. Lucie, FL	Waukegan, IL	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	32.0 min	33.7 min	Port St. Lucie +

Which City is Right for You?

Waukegan leads in median household income at $97,263, while waukegan offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $239,865. On public safety, Port St. Lucie is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 344 in Waukegan. Waukegan has a lower unemployment rate at 4.3%, and Port St. Lucie has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Port St. Lucie scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.5%.

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