Iowa City, IA vs Naperville, IL
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Iowa City
73.8
#673 nationally
Naperville
75.7
#429 nationally
Naperville leads in median household income ($150,937 vs $54,879). Iowa City leads in average commute (17.7 min vs 29.4 min). Iowa City leads in cost of living index (102 vs 112).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Iowa City, IA | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.8 (#673) | 75.7 (#429) |
| Population | 75,678 | 149,424 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $305,824 | $629,473 |
| Median Household Income | $54,879 | $150,937 |
| Average Commute | 17.7 min | 29.4 min |
| Walk Score | 45 | 46 |
| Crime Level | 8.8 | 9.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | 9.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 102 | 112 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+38.1 | D+13.3 |
C
73.8 Score
Iowa City, IA
Iowa community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$305,824
Population
75,678
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
45
Midwest
View Iowa City, IA →
C
75.7 Score
Naperville, IL
Where families thrive and communities flourish
Median Home
$629,473
Population
149,424
Crime
Very Low
Schools
A+
Midwest
View Naperville, IL →
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