Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 18 of 22 categories
Chicago
Illinois
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Naperville
Illinois
18
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $178k less ($304,500 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $473/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,787)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $72,081/yr
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.5%)
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $72,081 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Home Value
$178k less
$304,500 vs $482,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.6 on the COL index
Naperville
Median Income
$72,081
$143,754 vs $71,673/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
84% lower
83.7 vs 539.8 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Naperville
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 32.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 32.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 24.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Naperville leads 18 of 22 categories. Chicago wins 4 and Naperville wins 18. 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 Chicago to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $482,600 median home), income ($71,673 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Naperville, IL are about 25 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.