Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 14 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Naperville
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($368,800 vs $482,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
Rent averages $211/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,787)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $72,387/yr
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Naperville
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $72,387 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Lancaster
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$114k less
$368,800 vs $482,600
Lancaster
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$72,387
$143,754 vs $71,367/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
90% lower
83.7 vs 834.7 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 14 of 23 categories. Lancaster wins 9 and Naperville wins 14. 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 Lancaster to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $482,600 median home), income ($71,367 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Naperville, IL are about 1,691 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.