Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 12 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
101,514
Naperville
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$143,754
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.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 33°F
Households earn $4,473 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Naperville
Naperville, IL
Pros
39% less violent crime than Highlands Ranch
Homes cost $155k less ($482,600 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $566/mo less ($1,787 vs $2,353)
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $4,473/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$4,473
$148,227 vs $143,754/yr
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.5% unemployment
Naperville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Violent Crime
39% lower
83.7 vs 138.1 per 100k
Naperville
Median Home Value
$155k less
$482,600 vs $637,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $482,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $143,754 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 23.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 97.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 24.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 149,089 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 39.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 74.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 12 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 11 and Naperville wins 12. 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 Highlands Ranch to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $482,600 median home), income ($148,227 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Naperville, IL are about 893 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.