Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 16 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
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.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $843/mo less ($944 vs $1,787)
Homes cost $191k less ($291,300 vs $482,600)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Naperville
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 33°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $86,873/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.5%)
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $86,873 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fayetteville
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$191k less
$291,300 vs $482,600
Fayetteville
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.7°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Median Income
$86,873
$143,754 vs $56,881/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
80% lower
83.7 vs 423.7 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 149,089 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 16 of 23 categories. Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $482,600 median home), income ($56,881 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Naperville, IL are about 508 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.