Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greensboro, NC
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 15 of 23 categories
Greensboro
North Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Homes cost $285k less ($197,200 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $739/mo less ($1,048 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Naperville
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 33°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $88,703/yr
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.5%)
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $88,703 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Greensboro
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 1.0 pts lower (4.5%)
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 Greensboro
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Greensboro
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Median Home Value
$285k less
$197,200 vs $482,600
Greensboro
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Median Income
$88,703
$143,754 vs $55,051/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
91% lower
83.7 vs 923.7 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greensboro, NC | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,048 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,051 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 210⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 161⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.9% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.1" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 297,202 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.6% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.6% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greensboro's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 15 of 23 categories. Greensboro wins 8 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 Greensboro to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $482,600 median home), income ($55,051 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greensboro, NC and Naperville, IL are about 594 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.