Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
Naperville
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Naperville
Median income trails Naperville by $6,367/yr
Naperville, IL
Pros
Homes cost $351k less ($482,600 vs $833,300)
67% less violent crime than Arlington
Rent averages $440/mo less ($1,787 vs $2,227)
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Households earn $6,367 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 2.8%)
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
2.8% vs 4.5% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$6,367
$143,754 vs $137,387/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
67% lower
83.7 vs 254.4 per 100k
Naperville
Median Home Value
$351k less
$482,600 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $482,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 23.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 70.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 9 and Naperville wins 14. 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 Arlington to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($833,300 vs $482,600 median home), income ($137,387 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Naperville, IL are about 615 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.