Waukegan sits between Chicago and Milwaukee along Lake Michigan and has over 89,000 residents. Starting in the mid-19th century, it became an industrial hub and stayed that way for over 100 years. During its industrial prime, Waukegan Harbor was busy with ships bringing in goods. Today, that industrial past is gone, and Waukegan is beginning to redefine itself. New mixed-use developments, including neighborhoods by the water and recreational space, are replacing the smokestacks on the lakefront. “The downtown area has improved over the past few years with a focus on art and making it more pedestrian-friendly,” says Niya Simone, public relations specialist for the City of Waukegan. “I live downtown, and I walk everywhere I need to go. It’s better for my mental health, and it’s better than sitting in traffic.”
Waukegan Harbor is minutes away from scenic lake views of the city of Waukegan.
Waukegan sits along Lake Michigan between Chicago and Milwaukee, with 89,000 residents.
Enjoy a day in the sun at Waukegan Municipal Beach, located on the waters of Lake Michigan.
Waukegan residents love to take walks around the pond at Bevier Park, near Lake Michigan.
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Downtown Waukegan focuses on the arts
Part of the renewed vibrancy in downtown Waukegan has been focused on the arts. In addition to murals on the sides of buildings, the third Saturday of every month highlights galleries and studios in the Arts & Entertainment District, located in the Genesee and Washington Streets area. At the monthly ArtWauk, galleries draw in visitors with complimentary refreshments and captivating art pieces. There are also companion events around special holidays, like ZombieWauk, an October version of the event celebrating the horror genre, and HolidayWauk in December. The Genesee Theater opened almost 100 years ago but was closed and left vacant for 15 years before the City of Waukegan purchased and renovated it. The reopening in 2004 led to more Broadway performances, concerts and movies. Next door to that is the much smaller, non-profit Three Brothers Theatre, showcasing local talent.
The historical Genesee Theatre hosts concerts, shows, events, and weddings in Waukegan.
Grab a quick bite to eat at the food trucks in Downtown Waukegan.
Art Park in downtown Waukegan, which was created in 1997, is maintained by local artists.
Target provides Waukegan residents with everyday items and great deals.
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Waukegan recreation by the water or on land
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Waukegan Municipal Beach is filled with people soaking up the sun and swimming in Lake Michigan. The beach is a mile long, and activities include sand volleyball, soccer and picnicking. There have even been some weddings that have been held in the sand. There’s free parking for locals with evidence of a city sticker. For those who like recreation away from the water, the Waukegan Park District manages about 35 parks and over 700 acres of land designed for recreation. Bowen Park is one of the largest on the city's north side and has a garden, modern playground equipment, a skate park and a splash pad. Aside from typical park amenities, the Jack Benny Center for the Arts, named after the comedian who grew up in Waukegan, is where art classes and programs are taught, and there are periodic performances by the Bowen Park Theatre for Youth. The Waukegan History Museum was in Bowen Park for many years but is moving to the renovated Carnegie Library downtown. It’s scheduled to open in late 2024. Other parks in the city have opportunities for pickleball, fitness exercise stations along walking paths and even a BMX track.
Walk the shores of Lake Michigan at Illinois Beach State Park, a short drive from Waukegan.
People from all over the Waukegan area enjoy a day at the Waukegan Municipal Beach.
Bowen Park in Waukegan is a perfect place to take your dog for a romp.
The entrance sign to Bowen Park in Waukegan includes beautiful flowers.
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The first enclosed shopping mall in Lake County
Belvidere Discount Mall opened in 1965 as the first enclosed shopping center in Lake County. Except for The Home Depot, all tenants are locally-owned businesses, with 35 stores occupying the space. The mall has survived despite the opening of the much larger Gurnee Mills Mall, 7 miles west, in 1991. Gurnee Mills attracts 20 million visitors each year and has nearly 200 stores. Over the past few years, many locally owned restaurants have opened downtown, and more options are available on major roads like Washington Street and Grand Avenue. Mom-and-pop grocery stores populate downtown, while Jewel-Osco, Aldi and Tony’s Fresh Market are further north and west.
Waukegan families can shop at chain stores like Aldi.
Walmart Supercenter in Fountain Square is one of the many retail options for residents.
Gurnee Mills, a quick drive from Gurnee, has great stores like Marshalls and Home Goods.
Waukegan residents can get all their home improvement needs from the local Home Depot.
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Waukegan High School has two campuses
Public school students attend classes in the Waukegan Public School District 60, with 15 elementary schools, five middle schools and one high school. The district is rated a C-minus overall on Niche and serves nearly 14,000 students. Waukegan High School students are housed on two campuses. The Brookside campus serves ninth and tenth graders, while juniors and seniors attend the Washington campus. Private school options within the city include Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, a private Catholic school rated a B. Most Blessed Trinity Academy provides a Catholic school education for K-8 students.
Waukegan High School is part of Waukegan Public School District 60.
Most Blessed Trinity Academy is a private school serving families of Waukegan.
Niche gives Waukegan Public School District 60 a C-minus rating.
The student population of Edith M Smith Middle School in Waukegan is just above 500.
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Older houses in Waukegan
Except for a few pockets of newer-style houses, most homes are from the early to mid-20th century in Waukegan in neighborhoods lined out in grid layouts. The median home price in Waukegan is $225,000, which is about $125,000 lower than the median in nearby Chicago. Condos in the northwest part of town in the Hickory Hills Subdivision are priced from $90,000 to $200,000. Townhouses throughout the city have prices from $110,000 to $320,000.
The Waukegan Police Department indicates that in 2023, the most recent year-end results available, instances of some violent crimes increased from 2022. Robbery and auto theft also increased.
Waukegan homes styles include ranch, split-level, and cottage.
Waukegan residential streets include mid-century, ranch, and cottage style homes.
Modest, affordable, single story homes are found throughout Waukegan.
Waukegan home styles include cottage and mid century modern.
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Superfund sites in Waukegan
The Environmental Protection Agency manages five Superfund sites in Waukegan, including three in the downtown area at the site of old industrial buildings near the lake. Concerns from the five sites include the presence of toxic emissions, wastewater sludge, asbestos and polluted runoff from an old landfill in the northwest part of the city.
Metra, Pace and the Waukegan National Airport
Since Waukegan is located about 10 miles south of the Wisconsin line, some people work in Wisconsin. Commuters can use the Metra commuter rail to access downtown Chicago or Kenosha. Pace buses lift passengers around Waukegan and the surrounding area. O’Hare International Airport is 33 miles south, while Waukegan National Airport is in the city and is a “reliever airport” for O’Hare. Other than that, it’s a general aviation facility that handles private, corporate, business and governmental aircraft.
On average, homes in Waukegan, IL sell after 25 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Waukegan, IL over the last 12 months is $85,000, down 59% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
