Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chula Vista, CA
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 18 of 23 categories
Chula Vista
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,984
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
276,103 ✓ Larger
Naperville
Illinois
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Chula Vista, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 33°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 86°F
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $41,770/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $647,100
Higher rents — median is $2,035/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Naperville, IL
Pros
78% less violent crime than Chula Vista
Households earn $41,770 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.5%)
Homes cost $165k less ($482,600 vs $647,100)
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
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Naperville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$41,770
$143,754 vs $101,984/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
78% lower
83.7 vs 375.8 per 100k
Naperville
Median Home Value
$165k less
$482,600 vs $647,100
Naperville
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.8% unemployment
Naperville
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 74.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chula Vista, CA | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $647,100⚠ High | $482,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,035⚠ High | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,984 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.8%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.3% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chula Vista Elementary | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.6°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,103 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chula Vista's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 18 of 23 categories. Chula Vista wins 5 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 Chula Vista to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($647,100 vs $482,600 median home), income ($101,984 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chula Vista, CA and Naperville, IL are about 1,699 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.