Mundelein and Wauconda receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Mundelein
Wauconda
Opportunity: Mundelein is the more favorable of the two.
Opportunity
63 · Top 35%
vs59 · Top 44%
Growth: Wauconda is the more favorable of the two.
Growth
47 · Bottom 45%
vs53 · Top 45%
Climate
62 · Bottom 20%
vs62 · Bottom 20%
Physical resilience: Wauconda is the more favorable of the two.
Physical resilience
80 · Top 23%
vs80 · Top 23%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 8%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools: Wauconda is the more favorable of the two.
Schools
57 · Top 43%
vs58 · Top 41%
Access: Mundelein is the more favorable of the two.
Access
91 · Bottom 47%
vs88 · Bottom 37%
Economic stability: Wauconda is the more favorable of the two.
Economic stability
73 · Top 21%
vs79 · Top 9%
Measured values
| Metric | Mundelein | Wauconda | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 31,915 | 14,027 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $108,340 | $111,239 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,674 | $46,478 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,918/sq mi | 2,766/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $309,700 | $278,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,566 | $1,371 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.2% | 76.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.0% | 38.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 6.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 72 | 17 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.3 | 1.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -33.9% | 240.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 32.3" | 32.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 21 mi | 24 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.3 min | 33.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.1 | 36.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 5 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.67 | 12.57 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 22.5% | 25.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 30.6% | 27.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 43.4% | 32.7% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Full profiles: Mundelein, IL · Wauconda, IL · How this is calculated: methodology