Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 19 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Naperville
Illinois
19
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $54,542/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Naperville, IL
Pros
87% less violent crime than Boston
Households earn $54,542 more per year on average
Homes cost $202k less ($482,600 vs $684,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Naperville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$54,542
$143,754 vs $89,212/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
87% lower
83.7 vs 627.9 per 100k
Naperville
Median Home Value
$202k less
$482,600 vs $684,900
Naperville
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Naperville
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $482,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 24.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 19 of 23 categories. Boston wins 4 and Naperville wins 19. 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 Boston to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $482,600 median home), income ($89,212 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Naperville, IL are about 879 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.