Evanston, IL vs Naperville, IL

Evanston is moderately more affordable than Naperville, with a 5.8% lower cost of living index. Evanston scores 126 compared to 134 for Naperville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Naperville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Evanston is $1,698/month compared to $1,852/month in Naperville — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Evanston is more affordable at $472,300 median vs $509,900.

Median household income in Evanston is $95,766 compared to $150,937 in Naperville (-36.6%). While Naperville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Evanston spend roughly 21.3% of their income on rent, more than the 14.7% in Naperville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.8°F vs 49.7°F). Naperville receives more rainfall at 33.2" per year compared to 32.3" in Evanston.