Question 1

Is River North, IL or Waukegan, IL cheaper to buy in?

Accepted Answer

Waukegan, IL is cheaper. The median home price in River North, IL is approximately $496,200 and in Waukegan, IL it is approximately $150,700 — a difference of $345,500.

Question 2

Is River North, IL or Waukegan, IL safer?

Accepted Answer

River North, IL scores higher on safety. River North, IL has violent crime rated Moderate and property crime rated Moderate. Waukegan, IL has violent crime rated High and property crime rated High.

Question 3

Is River North, IL or Waukegan, IL more walkable?

Accepted Answer

River North, IL is more walkable. River North, IL has a Walk Score of 88/100 and Waukegan, IL has a Walk Score of 9/100.

Question 4

Which has better schools, River North, IL or Waukegan, IL?

Accepted Answer

River North, IL has higher-rated schools. River North, IL has a school rating of 6.9/10 and Waukegan, IL has a rating of 6/10.

Question 5

Should I live in River North, IL or Waukegan, IL?

Accepted Answer

Both neighborhoods have distinct trade-offs — review the data above to find your best fit.

Category	River North, IL	Waukegan, IL
Housing
Verdict	Good for now	Think twice
Median Price	$496K	$151K ✓ Lower price
Median Rent	$2K	$1K ✓ Lower rent
Median Income	$138K ✓ Higher income	$59K
Price Volatility	High	Moderate ✓ More stable
Getting Around
Walk Score	88/100 ✓ More walkable	9/100
Transit Score	74/100 ✓ Better transit	22/100
Bike Score	80/100 ✓ More bikeable	N/A
Commute	5 min ✓ Shorter commute	56 min
Safety & Environment
Safety Grade	D+ ✓ Safer	F
Violent Crime	Moderate ✓ Lower risk	High
Property Crime	Moderate ✓ Lower risk	High
Flood Risk	Low	Low
Air Quality	Moderate	Moderate
Community
Schools	6.9/10 ✓ Better schools	6/10
Best for	young professionalsfoodiesnightlife seekers	Budget-conscious familiesFirst-time home buyersSuburban commuters

River North, IL vs Waukegan, IL

Bottom line