Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Naperville, IL
VS
Westminster, 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 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $63,483 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Westminster
Homes cost $295k less ($482,600 vs $777,100)
More college-educated — 70.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (83.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Westminster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 33°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $63,483/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Naperville
Key Differences at a Glance
Naperville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$63,483
$143,754 vs $80,271/yr
Naperville
Violent Crime
81% lower
83.7 vs 436.2 per 100k
Naperville
Median Home Value
$295k less
$482,600 vs $777,100
Naperville
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Naperville
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Naperville, IL | Westminster, 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 | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $143,754 ✓ Higher | $80,271 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.2 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.5% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 30 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 97.5% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Naperville CUSD 203 | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,089 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.4% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Naperville's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Westminster'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 Westminster 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($482,600 vs $777,100 median home), income ($143,754 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Naperville, IL and Westminster, CA are about 1,711 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.