Naperville, IL vs Paterson, NJ
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.
Naperville
75.7
#429 nationally
Paterson
63.6
#1757 nationally
Naperville leads in median household income ($150,937 vs $52,092). Naperville leads in crime level (9.3 vs 26.8). Paterson leads in walk score (76 vs 46).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Naperville, IL | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75.7 (#429) | 63.6 (#1757) |
| Population | 149,424 | 156,452 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $629,473 | $542,128 |
| Median Household Income | $150,937 | $52,092 |
| Average Commute | 29.4 min | 23.4 min |
| Walk Score | 46 | 76 |
| Crime Level | 9.3 | 26.8 |
| School Rating | 9.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 112 | 122 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+13.3 | R+2.9 |
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 →
D
63.6 Score
Paterson, NJ
Mid-size New Jersey city with community character
Median Home
$542,128
Population
156,452
Crime
Very High
Walk Score
76
Northeast
View Paterson, NJ →
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