Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Naperville, IL
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Naperville leads 19 of 23 categories
Naperville
Illinois
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
149,089 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Naperville, IL
Pros
75% less violent crime than Renton
Households earn $51,462 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $94k less ($482,600 vs $576,800)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Renton, WA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 86°F
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $51,462/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Naperville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$51,462
$143,754 vs $92,292/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
75% lower
83.7 vs 339.2 per 100k
Naperville
Median Home Value
$94k less
$482,600 vs $576,800
Naperville
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Naperville, IL | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $482,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $143,754 ✓ Higher | $92,292 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.2 min⚠ High | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.5% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 30 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 36.9% |
| High School or Higher | 97.5% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Naperville CUSD 203 | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.3" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,089 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.4% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Naperville's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 19 of 23 categories. Naperville wins 19 and Renton wins 4. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($482,600 vs $576,800 median home), income ($143,754 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Naperville, IL and Renton, WA are about 1,705 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.