Durham, NC 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.
Durham
69.4
#1213 nationally
Naperville
75.7
#429 nationally
Naperville leads in median household income ($150,937 vs $67,432). Naperville leads in school rating (9.2 vs 6.4). Naperville leads in walk score (46 vs 33).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Durham, NC | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.4 (#1213) | 75.7 (#429) |
| Population | 283,506 | 149,424 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $395,976 | $629,473 |
| Median Household Income | $67,432 | $150,937 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 29.4 min |
| Walk Score | 33 | 46 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 9.3 |
| School Rating | 6.4 | 9.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 102 | 112 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+61.9 | D+13.3 |
D+
69.4 Score
Durham, NC
Bull City innovation and inclusion
Median Home
$395,976
Population
283,506
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B-
Southeast
View Durham, NC →
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 →