Decatur, IL vs Waukee, IA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Decatur
79.3
#132 nationally
Waukee
77.3
#263 nationally
Waukee leads in crime level (3.9 vs 16.5). Waukee leads in median household income ($106,846 vs $49,039). Decatur leads in cost of living index (85 vs 106).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Decatur, IL | Waukee, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 79.3 (#132) | 77.3 (#263) |
| Population | 68,670 | 31,645 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $107,169 | $343,274 |
| Median Household Income | $49,039 | $106,846 |
| Average Commute | 17.7 min | 19.6 min |
| Walk Score | 34 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 16.5 | 3.9 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 85 | 106 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+18.9 | R+4.8 |
Data coverage note: Waukee is missing data for 1 metric that Decatur has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C+
79.3 Score
Decatur, IL
Illinois community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$107,169
Population
68,670
Crime
High
Walk Score
34
Midwest
View Decatur, IL →
C+
77.3 Score
Waukee, IA
Small Iowa city with local appeal
Median Home
$343,274
Population
31,645
Crime
Low
Median Income
$106,846
Midwest
View Waukee, IA →