Hickory, 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.
Hickory
70.8
#1056 nationally
Naperville
75.7
#429 nationally
Naperville leads in median household income ($150,937 vs $58,251). Naperville leads in walk score (46 vs 28). Hickory leads in average commute (19.6 min vs 29.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Hickory, NC | Naperville, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.8 (#1056) | 75.7 (#429) |
| Population | 44,415 | 149,424 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $298,293 | $629,473 |
| Median Household Income | $58,251 | $150,937 |
| Average Commute | 19.6 min | 29.4 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 46 |
| Crime Level | 11.2 | 9.3 |
| School Rating | N/A | 9.2 |
| Cost of Living Index | 98 | 112 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+38.0 | D+13.3 |
C-
70.8 Score
Hickory, NC
Small North Carolina city with local appeal
Median Home
$298,293
Population
44,415
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
28
Southeast
View Hickory, 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 →