Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 14 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
114,923
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $216k less ($266,400 vs $482,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 33°F
Rent averages $217/mo less ($1,570 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $72,598/yr
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $72,598 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Brandon
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
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Median Home Value
$216k less
$266,400 vs $482,600
Brandon
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$72,598
$143,754 vs $71,156/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
36% lower
83.7 vs 131.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ 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 | 29 ✓ Safer | 30 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 42 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 149,089 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 14 of 23 categories. Brandon 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 Brandon to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $482,600 median home), income ($71,156 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Naperville, IL are about 1,010 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.