Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Naperville, IL
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Naperville leads 14 of 22 categories
Naperville
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
149,089 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $96,333 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Waco
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $482,600
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Waco
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $309k less ($174,100 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $749/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Naperville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $96,333/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Naperville
Median Income
$96,333
$143,754 vs $47,421/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
80% lower
83.7 vs 425.9 per 100k
Waco
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$309k less
$174,100 vs $482,600
Waco
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Naperville, IL | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $482,600⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $143,754 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.2 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.5% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 30 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 97.5% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Naperville CUSD 203 | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,089 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.4% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Naperville's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Naperville leads 14 of 22 categories. Naperville wins 14 and Waco wins 8. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($482,600 vs $174,100 median home), income ($143,754 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Naperville, IL and Waco, TX are about 863 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.