Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Naperville?

Frederick, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,640 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Naperville?

Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Frederick vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Frederick

Maryland

$1,640/mo est.

Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,640 in Frederick, MD versus $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Frederick, MD is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $95,150 in Frederick, MD and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 37% higher in Naperville, IL. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Frederick, MD

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$1,658

$1,713

+3% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$1,594

+12% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,661

$1,889

+14% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,863

$2,446

+31% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$365,200

$509,900

+40% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$95,150

$150,937

+59% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$71,060

$54,720

+23% in Frederick, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.1 yr

40.1 yr

+3.0 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

59.2%

74.3%

+15.1 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.8%

71.7%

+29.9 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

30.1 min

31.4 min

+1.3 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

406

85.7

+79% in Frederick, MD

Property Crime

1,696.3

892.2

+47% in Frederick, MD

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.1°F

49.9°F

+2.2°F in Frederick, MD

Annual Precipitation

—

36.9 in

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Naperville, IL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.8

23.9

+10% in Naperville, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.94

$15.39

+19% in Frederick, MD

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 Frederick, MD

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 (MD / IL)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in IL

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

4.95%

+1.5 pp in MD

Frederick vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Frederick or Naperville?: Frederick, MD is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,640 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Frederick than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Frederick versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Frederick or Naperville?: Frederick is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% 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).