Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Naperville, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 17 of 23 categories
Miami Gardens
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High
Population
111,618
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.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Homes cost $183k less ($299,700 vs $482,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 33°F
Rent averages $204/mo less ($1,583 vs $1,787)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $87,683/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Naperville
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $87,683 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Miami Gardens
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$183k less
$299,700 vs $482,600
Miami Gardens
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 85.5°F
Naperville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$87,683
$143,754 vs $56,071/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
80% lower
83.7 vs 414.6 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 ✓ Lower | $482,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 | $143,754 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 32.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 30 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | A+ (135) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 97.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Naperville CUSD 203 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 32.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 40.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 | 149,089 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.2 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% | 74.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Naperville's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 17 of 23 categories. Miami Gardens 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 Miami Gardens to Naperville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $482,600 median home), income ($56,071 vs $143,754), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Naperville, IL are about 1,181 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.