Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 15 of 22 categories
Bend
Oregon
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
99,442
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.
Bend, OR
Pros
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Rent averages $138/mo less ($1,649 vs $1,787)
Milder winters — January highs near 43°F vs 33°F
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $61,083/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Naperville
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $61,083 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Bend
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $94k less ($482,600 vs $576,900)
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.5% unemployment
Naperville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$61,083
$143,754 vs $82,671/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
50% lower
83.7 vs 168.5 per 100k
Naperville
Median Home Value
$94k less
$482,600 vs $576,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $482,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 149,089 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 39.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Naperville leads 15 of 22 categories. Bend wins 7 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 Bend to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $482,600 median home), income ($82,671 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Naperville, IL are about 1,674 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.