Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 16 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Naperville
Illinois
16
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.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $298k less ($184,600 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $741/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Naperville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $84,644/yr
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.5%)
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $84,644 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Indianapolis
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 1.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Indianapolis
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$298k less
$184,600 vs $482,600
Naperville
Median Income
$84,644
$143,754 vs $59,110/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
90% lower
83.7 vs 877.9 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 24.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 16 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 7 and Naperville wins 16. 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 Indianapolis to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $482,600 median home), income ($59,110 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Naperville, IL are about 172 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.