Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Naperville, IL
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Naperville leads 17 of 23 categories
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
San Francisco
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Naperville, IL
Pros
Homes cost $866k less ($482,600 vs $1,348,700)
86% less violent crime than San Francisco
Rent averages $529/mo less ($1,787 vs $2,316)
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Naperville
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$7,065
$143,754 vs $136,689/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
86% lower
83.7 vs 596.5 per 100k
Naperville
Median Home Value
$866k less
$482,600 vs $1,348,700
Naperville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Naperville
Summer Heat
23.7°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Naperville, IL | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $482,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $143,754 ✓ Higher | $136,689 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.2 min⚠ High | 31.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.5% ✓ Higher | 23.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 30 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 59.8% |
| High School or Higher | 97.5% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Naperville CUSD 203 | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,089 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 39.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.4% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Naperville's cost of living index is 102.6 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 17 of 23 categories. Naperville wins 17 and San Francisco wins 6. 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($482,600 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($143,754 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Naperville, IL and San Francisco, CA are about 1,860 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.