Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Naperville?

Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Naperville?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Dover or Naperville?

Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Dover vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Dover

Delaware

$1,270/mo est.

Naperville

Illinois

$1,800/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,270 in Dover, DE versus $1,800 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Dover, DE is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,336 in Dover, DE and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 61% higher in Naperville, IL. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Dover, DE

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$993

$1,713

+73% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,047

$1,594

+52% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,185

$1,889

+59% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,634

$2,446

+50% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$248,500

$509,900

+105% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$58,336

$150,937

+159% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,690

$54,720

+17% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

40.1 yr

+5.0 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

47.0%

74.3%

+27.3 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.1%

71.7%

+44.6 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

24.0 min

31.4 min

+7.4 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,025.3

85.7

+92% in Dover, DE

Property Crime

6,159.1

892.2

+86% in Dover, DE

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

56.9°F

49.9°F

+7.0°F in Dover, DE

Annual Precipitation

46.0 in

36.9 in

+9.1 in in Dover, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Dover, DE

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.3

19.9

+3% in Naperville, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.73

$19.71

+34% in Dover, DE

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Naperville, IL

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Dover, DE

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Naperville, IL

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Naperville, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / IL)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

6.60%

4.95%

+1.6 pp in DE

Dover vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dover or Naperville?: Dover, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dover than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Dover versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Dover or Naperville?: Dover is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).