Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 15 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ 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.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $248k less ($235,000 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $552/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,787)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 33°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Naperville
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $83,314/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.5%)
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $83,314 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than Houston
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Houston
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$248k less
$235,000 vs $482,600
Houston
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Median Income
$83,314
$143,754 vs $60,440/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
93% lower
83.7 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Houston is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 15 of 23 categories. Houston 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 Houston to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $482,600 median home), income ($60,440 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Naperville, IL are about 920 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.