Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Naperville, IL
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Naperville leads 15 of 22 categories
Naperville
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
149,089 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
120,848
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $59,781 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Rochester
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 33°F vs 23°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Rochester
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $214k less ($268,800 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $569/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.7%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Naperville
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $59,781/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Naperville
Median Income
$59,781
$143,754 vs $83,973/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
46% lower
83.7 vs 154.0 per 100k
Naperville
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$214k less
$268,800 vs $482,600
Rochester
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Naperville, IL | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $482,600⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $143,754 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.2 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.5% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 30 ✓ Safer | 50 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 41 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | A- (116) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 49.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.5% ✓ Higher | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Naperville CUSD 203 | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.3" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,089 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.4% ✓ Higher | 65.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Naperville's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Naperville leads 15 of 22 categories. Naperville wins 15 and Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($482,600 vs $268,800 median home), income ($143,754 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Naperville, IL and Rochester, MN are about 269 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.