Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 12 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Naperville
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
149,089
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $237k less ($246,000 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $773/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 33°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Naperville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $82,251/yr
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.5%)
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $82,251 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than Albuquerque
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Albuquerque
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$237k less
$246,000 vs $482,600
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Median Income
$82,251
$143,754 vs $61,503/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
93% lower
83.7 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 12 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 11 and Naperville wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $482,600 median home), income ($61,503 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Naperville, IL are about 1,098 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.