Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Naperville, IL
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Naperville leads 15 of 21 categories
Naperville
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$143,754 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22
Population
149,089
Worcester
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Naperville, IL
Pros
Households earn $80,743 more per year on average
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
Longer commutes — 32.2 min average each way
Worcester, MA
Pros
80% less violent crime than Naperville
Homes cost $177k less ($305,600 vs $482,600)
Rent averages $475/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,787)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 86°F
Cons
Median income trails Naperville by $80,743/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.5%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Naperville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Naperville
Median Income
$80,743
$143,754 vs $63,011/yr
Naperville
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Naperville
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Violent Crime
80% lower
16.5 vs 83.7 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$177k less
$305,600 vs $482,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Naperville, IL | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $482,600⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $143,754 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.2 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.5% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 30 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.5% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Naperville CUSD 203 | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.3" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,089 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Naperville's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Naperville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Naperville leads 15 of 21 categories. Naperville wins 15 and Worcester 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($482,600 vs $305,600 median home), income ($143,754 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Naperville, IL and Worcester, MA are about 839 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.