Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Naperville, IL
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Naperville leads 13 of 22 categories
Naperville
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
149,089 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $81,335 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Springfield
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $335k less ($147,700 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $874/mo less ($913 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Naperville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $81,335/yr
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Naperville
Median Income
$81,335
$143,754 vs $62,419/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
91% lower
83.7 vs 901.2 per 100k
Naperville
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$335k less
$147,700 vs $482,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Naperville, IL | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $482,600⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $143,754 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.2 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.5% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 30 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | A- (111) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.5% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Naperville CUSD 203 | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 35.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.3" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,089 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.4% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Naperville's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Naperville leads 13 of 22 categories. Naperville wins 13 and Springfield wins 9. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($482,600 vs $147,700 median home), income ($143,754 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Naperville, IL and Springfield, IL are about 156 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.