Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 11 of 20 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Naperville
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22
Population
149,089
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 33°F
Homes cost $65k less ($417,600 vs $482,600)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $160/mo less ($1,627 vs $1,787)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $68,378/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Naperville
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $68,378 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.5%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Median Home Value
$65k less
$417,600 vs $482,600
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$68,378
$143,754 vs $75,376/yr
Naperville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 30 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 22 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 42 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 39.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Naperville leads 11 of 20 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 9 and Naperville wins 11. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $482,600 median home), income ($75,376 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Naperville, IL are about 1,171 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.