Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Naperville, IL
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 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
Richmond
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Naperville, IL
Pros
91% less violent crime than Richmond
Households earn $57,136 more per year on average
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $142k less ($482,600 vs $624,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 86°F
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $57,136/yr
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Naperville
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$57,136
$143,754 vs $86,618/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
91% lower
83.7 vs 923.1 per 100k
Naperville
Median Home Value
$142k less
$482,600 vs $624,800
Naperville
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Naperville
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Naperville, IL | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $482,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $143,754 ✓ Higher | $86,618 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.5% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 30 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.5% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Naperville CUSD 203 | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,089 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.4% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Naperville's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 19 of 23 categories. Naperville wins 19 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($482,600 vs $624,800 median home), income ($143,754 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Naperville, IL and Richmond, CA are about 1,821 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.