Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 15 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Naperville
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
149,089 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Rent averages $402/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 33°F
Homes cost $16k less ($466,300 vs $482,600)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $79,275/yr
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Naperville
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $79,275 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Median Home Value
$16k less
$466,300 vs $482,600
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$79,275
$143,754 vs $64,479/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
84% lower
83.7 vs 518.1 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 149,089 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 15 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 8 and Naperville wins 15. 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 Arden-Arcade to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $482,600 median home), income ($64,479 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Naperville, IL are about 1,756 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.