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Waukegan, IL
City in Lake County, Illinois. ZIP codes: 60085, 60087.
Population
89,076
Land area
24.3sq mi
People per sq mi
3,672
ZIP codes
2
Waukegan and its ZIP codes
Waukegan at a glance
- Waukegan is about 16 times as dense as Illinois as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 10th among 1,445 cities and towns in Illinois.
- The median household income is $71,919, 14% below the Illinois median of $83,390.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $190,900 (27% below Illinois) and median rent is $1,205 a month.
Local data for Waukegan, IL
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Waukegan, IL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$71,919
Poverty rate
15.3%
Median home value
$190,900
Median rent
$1,205/mo
Homeownership
50.2%
Bachelor's or higher
20.9%
Median age
35.5
Average commute
26.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (39,880), German Americans (4,231), Irish Americans (3,193).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Lake County. PPP loans are for Waukegan.
Unemployment rate
3.8%
Aug 2026, -0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$92,733
325,826 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$103,546
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$5B
FY 2026, $7,004 per person
PPP loans
$170M
2,647 loans, 17,468 jobs reported
How people get to work
Waukegan, IL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone70.1%
- Carpooled16.1%
- Public transit2.1%
- Walked0.9%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other2.9%
- Worked from home7.6%
Average one-way commute: 26.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Waukegan, IL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: cold wave
Storm events since 1996
815
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
1,857
0.8% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 16°F
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone4 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Waukegan, IL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
40.2%
U.S. 33.3% +6.9 pts
Diabetes
14.4%
U.S. 12.1% +2.3 pts
Smoking
14.3%
U.S. 12.8% +1.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
21.3%
U.S. 11.1% +10.2 pts
ZIP codes in Waukegan
2 in or overlapping Waukegan. Population shown
Cities near Waukegan
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Park CityCity | 2.6 mi | 1.2 |
| GurneeVillage | 2.7 mi | 13.5 |
| North ChicagoCity | 3.9 mi | 8 |
| Beach ParkVillage | 4 mi | 7.1 |
| WadsworthVillage | 5.8 mi | 9.8 |
| Lake BluffVillage | 5.9 mi | 4.1 |
| Green OaksVillage | 6.1 mi | 4 |
| KnollwoodCensus-designated place | 6.2 mi | 0.6 |
| ZionCity | 6.2 mi | 9.9 |
| Gages LakeCensus-designated place | 6.8 mi | 3 |
| Grandwood ParkCensus-designated place | 7.4 mi | 1.4 |
| Winthrop HarborVillage | 7.6 mi | 4.7 |
| Third LakeVillage | 8.1 mi | 0.6 |
| Old Mill CreekVillage | 8.3 mi | 10.7 |
| LibertyvilleVillage | 8.3 mi | 8.8 |
| Lake ForestCity | 9 mi | 17.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Waukegan, IL in?
- Waukegan is in Lake County, Illinois.
- What ZIP codes are in Waukegan, IL?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Waukegan include 60085, 60087.
- What is the population of Waukegan, IL?
- About 89,076 people live in Waukegan, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Waukegan?
- Nearby places include Park City (2.6 mi), Gurnee (2.7 mi), North Chicago (3.9 mi), Beach Park (4 mi), Wadsworth (5.8 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023