Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 16 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Naperville
Illinois
16
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.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $396k less ($86,200 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $957/mo less ($830 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Naperville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $102,311/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 4.5%)
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $102,311 more per year on average
94% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 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)
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Dayton
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$396k less
$86,200 vs $482,600
Naperville
Median Income
$102,311
$143,754 vs $41,443/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
94% lower
83.7 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 149,089 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 16 of 23 categories. Dayton 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 Dayton to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $482,600 median home), income ($41,443 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Naperville, IL are about 248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.