Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 19 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Naperville
Illinois
19
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.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Median income trails Naperville by $38,773/yr
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Naperville, IL
Pros
Homes cost $477k less ($482,600 vs $959,800)
89% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
Households earn $38,773 more per year on average
Rent averages $481/mo less ($1,787 vs $2,268)
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
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$38,773
$143,754 vs $104,981/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
89% lower
83.7 vs 737.6 per 100k
Naperville
Median Home Value
$477k less
$482,600 vs $959,800
Naperville
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.0% unemployment
Naperville
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $482,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 149,089 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 19 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 4 and Naperville wins 19. 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 Costa Mesa to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $482,600 median home), income ($104,981 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Naperville, IL are about 1,709 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.