Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 15 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Naperville
Illinois
15
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.
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $156k less ($326,600 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $496/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (2.6%)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Naperville
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $68,859/yr
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $68,859 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Madison
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 33°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 2.6%)
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Home Value
$156k less
$326,600 vs $482,600
Madison
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.5% unemployment
Naperville
Median Income
$68,859
$143,754 vs $74,895/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
67% lower
83.7 vs 256.0 per 100k
Naperville
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 32.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 24.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 149,089 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Madison is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 15 of 23 categories. Madison wins 8 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 Madison to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $482,600 median home), income ($74,895 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Naperville, IL are about 113 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.