Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 16 of 23 categories
Chico
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
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.
Chico, CA
Pros
Rent averages $427/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 33°F
Homes cost $55k less ($427,600 vs $482,600)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $77,822/yr
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Naperville
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $77,822 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Chico
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Home Value
$55k less
$427,600 vs $482,600
Chico
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$77,822
$143,754 vs $65,932/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
88% lower
83.7 vs 699.2 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 149,089 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 16 of 23 categories. Chico wins 7 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 Chico to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $482,600 median home), income ($65,932 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Naperville, IL are about 1,756 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.