Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 15 of 23 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754
Naperville
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
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.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $256k less ($226,200 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $682/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 33°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Naperville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $89,659/yr
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 4.5%)
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $89,659 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Columbia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 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)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Columbia
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$256k less
$226,200 vs $482,600
Columbia
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Median Income
$89,659
$143,754 vs $54,095/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
89% lower
83.7 vs 769.9 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 | 149,089 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 15 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 8 and Naperville wins 15. 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 Columbia to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $482,600 median home), income ($54,095 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Naperville, IL are about 663 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.