Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 13 of 23 categories
Chandler
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,374
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
275,618 ✓ Larger
Naperville
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
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.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 33°F
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Homes cost $59k less ($423,900 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $112/mo less ($1,675 vs $1,787)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $44,380/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $44,380 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Chandler
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
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
Chandler
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 101.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Chandler
Median Home Value
$59k less
$423,900 vs $482,600
Chandler
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.5% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
20.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Median Income
$44,380
$143,754 vs $99,374/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
37% lower
83.7 vs 133.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $423,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Chandler is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 13 of 23 categories. Chandler wins 10 and Naperville wins 13. 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 Chandler to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $482,600 median home), income ($99,374 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and Naperville, IL are about 1,418 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.