Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Naperville, IL
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Naperville leads 19 of 23 categories
Naperville
Illinois
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
149,089 ✓ Larger
Stamford
Connecticut
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
135,413
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Naperville, IL
Pros
47% less violent crime than Stamford
Households earn $43,036 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $102k less ($482,600 vs $584,700)
Rent averages $342/mo less ($1,787 vs $2,129)
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Stamford, CT
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 33°F
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $43,036/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Naperville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$43,036
$143,754 vs $100,718/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
47% lower
83.7 vs 157.5 per 100k
Naperville
Median Home Value
$102k less
$482,600 vs $584,700
Naperville
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Naperville, IL | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $482,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $143,754 ✓ Higher | $100,718 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.2 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.5% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 30 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 41 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 58 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | A (120) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 50.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.5% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Naperville CUSD 203 | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 38.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.3" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,089 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.4% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Naperville's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Naperville leads 19 of 23 categories. Naperville wins 19 and Stamford wins 4. 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($482,600 vs $584,700 median home), income ($143,754 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Naperville, IL and Stamford, CT are about 758 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.