Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lincoln, NE
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 13 of 23 categories
Lincoln
Nebraska
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,846
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Naperville
Illinois
13
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.
Lincoln, NE
Pros
Homes cost $252k less ($230,400 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $789/mo less ($998 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.3%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Naperville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $75,908/yr
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $75,908 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Lincoln
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Lincoln
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lincoln
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Lincoln
Median Home Value
$252k less
$230,400 vs $482,600
Lincoln
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.5% unemployment
Lincoln
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.4°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Median Income
$75,908
$143,754 vs $67,846/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
76% lower
83.7 vs 347.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lincoln, NE | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.0 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,400 ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $998 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,846 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 102⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.9% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.0" | 24.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,531 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln's cost of living index is 92.0 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Lincoln is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 13 of 23 categories. Lincoln wins 10 and Naperville wins 13. 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 Lincoln to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,400 vs $482,600 median home), income ($67,846 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lincoln, NE and Naperville, IL are about 447 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.