Naperville, IL vs Wheaton, IL

Wheaton is moderately more affordable than Naperville, with a 7% lower cost of living index. Naperville scores 134 compared to 125 for Wheaton, 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 Naperville is $1,852/month compared to $1,731/month in Wheaton — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Wheaton is more affordable at $447,700 median vs $509,900.

Median household income in Naperville is $150,937 compared to $119,566 in Wheaton (+26.2%). 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 Naperville spend roughly 14.7% of their income on rent, less than the 17.4% in Wheaton.

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