Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 18 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Naperville
Illinois
18
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 86°F
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $67,510/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $67,510 more per year on average
89% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Homes cost $340k less ($482,600 vs $822,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.5%)
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
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Naperville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$67,510
$143,754 vs $76,244/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
89% lower
83.7 vs 728.5 per 100k
Naperville
Median Home Value
$340k less
$482,600 vs $822,600
Naperville
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Naperville
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High | $482,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles'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 18 of 23 categories. Los Angeles wins 5 and Naperville wins 18. 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 Los Angeles to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $482,600 median home), income ($76,244 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Naperville, IL are about 1,723 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.