Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Manchester, NH
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 17 of 23 categories
Manchester
New Hampshire
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
115,037
Naperville
Illinois
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
149,089 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $178k less ($304,700 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $425/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $69,714/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $69,714 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Manchester
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
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Manchester
Median Home Value
$178k less
$304,700 vs $482,600
Naperville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$69,714
$143,754 vs $74,040/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
75% lower
83.7 vs 336.0 per 100k
Naperville
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Manchester, NH | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.2⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,040 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.5% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.3% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.3% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Manchester School District | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 32.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.5" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.8" | 24.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,037 | 149,089 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.2% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Manchester's cost of living index is 104.2 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 17 of 23 categories. Manchester wins 6 and Naperville wins 17. 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 Manchester to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $482,600 median home), income ($74,040 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Manchester, NH and Naperville, IL are about 856 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.