Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 16 of 22 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962
Naperville
Illinois
16
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Median income trails Naperville by $22,215/yr
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Naperville, IL
Pros
Homes cost $515k less ($482,600 vs $997,600)
81% less violent crime than Cambridge
Rent averages $841/mo less ($1,787 vs $2,628)
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $22,215 more per year on average
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.3%)
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.5% unemployment
Naperville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$22,215
$143,754 vs $121,539/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
81% lower
83.7 vs 436.7 per 100k
Naperville
Median Home Value
$515k less
$482,600 vs $997,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, 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 | $997,600⚠ High | $482,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 23.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) | A+ (135) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 70.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 24.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 149,089 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge'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 22 decided categories above, Naperville leads 16 of 22 categories. Cambridge wins 6 and Naperville wins 16. 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 Cambridge to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $482,600 median home), income ($121,539 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Naperville, IL are about 874 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.