Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Green Bay, WI
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 15 of 22 categories
Green Bay
Wisconsin
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,174
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
106,846
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.
Green Bay, WI
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($172,700 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $923/mo less ($864 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Naperville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 86°F
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $84,580/yr
Violent crime (495.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $84,580 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Green Bay
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 33°F vs 25°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Green Bay
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Green Bay
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Green Bay
Median Home Value
$310k less
$172,700 vs $482,600
Naperville
Median Income
$84,580
$143,754 vs $59,174/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
83% lower
83.7 vs 495.1 per 100k
Naperville
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 79.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Green Bay, WI | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $864 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,174 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 62 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.1% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Green Bay Area Public School District | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 24.5°F | 32.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 79.8°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.2" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.6" | 24.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,846 | 149,089 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.2% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Green Bay's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Green Bay is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Naperville leads 15 of 22 categories. Green Bay wins 7 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 Green Bay to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $482,600 median home), income ($59,174 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Green Bay, WI and Naperville, IL are about 192 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.