Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kirkland, WA
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 15 of 22 categories
Kirkland
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Naperville
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22
Population
149,089 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kirkland, WA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Naperville
Naperville, IL
Pros
Homes cost $455k less ($482,600 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $463/mo less ($1,787 vs $2,250)
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,146 more per year on average
Cons
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Kirkland
Violent Crime
28% lower
60.6 vs 83.7 per 100k
Naperville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$8,146
$143,754 vs $135,608/yr
Naperville
Median Home Value
$455k less
$482,600 vs $937,700
Naperville
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kirkland, WA | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $937,700⚠ High | $482,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,250⚠ High | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $135,608 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.9% ✓ 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 | 16 ✓ Safer | 22 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.9% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.6% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.8" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,015 | 149,089 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.1% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirkland's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Naperville leads 15 of 22 categories. Kirkland 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 Kirkland to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($937,700 vs $482,600 median home), income ($135,608 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kirkland, WA and Naperville, IL are about 1,706 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.