Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Naperville, IL
VS
Santa Clarita, 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
Santa Clarita
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Naperville, IL
Pros
49% less violent crime than Santa Clarita
Homes cost $187k less ($482,600 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $528/mo less ($1,787 vs $2,315)
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $27,568 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Median income trails Naperville by $27,568/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Naperville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$27,568
$143,754 vs $116,186/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
49% lower
83.7 vs 165.4 per 100k
Naperville
Median Home Value
$187k less
$482,600 vs $669,200
Naperville
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.5% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Naperville, IL | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $482,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $143,754 ✓ Higher | $116,186 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.5% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 30 ✓ Safer | 49 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 44 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 56 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 38.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.5% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Naperville CUSD 203 | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.3" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,089 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.4% ✓ Higher | 71.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Naperville's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 17 of 23 categories. Naperville wins 17 and Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($482,600 vs $669,200 median home), income ($143,754 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Naperville, IL and Santa Clarita, CA are about 1,716 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.