Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Naperville, IL
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Naperville leads 16 of 23 categories
Naperville
Illinois
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
149,089
Paterson
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $91,662 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Paterson
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($314,100 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $395/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 33°F
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $91,662/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.5% vs 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Naperville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$91,662
$143,754 vs $52,092/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
91% lower
83.7 vs 978.6 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 10.5% unemployment
Paterson
Median Home Value
$169k less
$314,100 vs $482,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Naperville, IL | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $482,600⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $143,754 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.2 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.5% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 30 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 97.5% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Naperville CUSD 203 | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.3" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,089 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.4% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Naperville's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 16 of 23 categories. Naperville wins 16 and Paterson wins 7. 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 Naperville to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($482,600 vs $314,100 median home), income ($143,754 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Naperville, IL and Paterson, NJ are about 728 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.