Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Naperville, IL
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Naperville leads 16 of 23 categories
Naperville
Illinois
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
149,089 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Naperville, IL
Pros
Homes cost $1172k less ($482,600 vs $1,654,800)
89% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Households earn $36,957 more per year on average
Rent averages $440/mo less ($1,787 vs $2,227)
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 33°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Median income trails Naperville by $36,957/yr
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Naperville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$36,957
$143,754 vs $106,797/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
89% lower
83.7 vs 778.0 per 100k
Naperville
Median Home Value
$1172k less
$482,600 vs $1,654,800
Naperville
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Naperville
Summer Heat
16.1°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 69.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Naperville, IL | Santa Monica, 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 | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $143,754 ✓ Higher | $106,797 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.2 min⚠ High | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.5% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 30 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 67.8% |
| High School or Higher | 97.5% ✓ Higher | 94.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Naperville CUSD 203 | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,089 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.4% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Naperville's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 16 of 23 categories. Naperville wins 16 and Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($482,600 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($143,754 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Naperville, IL and Santa Monica, CA are about 1,728 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.