Living Cost Compare
Naperville

Illinois

$1,800/mo est.

vs
South Burlington

Vermont

$1,790/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,800 in Naperville, IL versus $1,790 in South Burlington, VT. Overall, South Burlington, VT is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $150,937 in Naperville, IL and $97,229 in South Burlington, VT — about 36% higher in Naperville, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Naperville, IL
South Burlington, VT

Rent

Studio
$1,713
$1,557
+9% in Naperville, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,594
$1,533
+4% in Naperville, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,889
$1,805
+4% in Naperville, IL
3 Bedroom
$2,446
$2,356
+4% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$509,900
$399,600
+22% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$150,937
$97,229
+36% in Naperville, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$60,020
+10% in South Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.1 yr
38.8 yr
+1.3 yr in Naperville, IL
Homeownership
74.3%
60.1%
+14.2 pp in Naperville, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
71.7%
65.1%
+6.6 pp in Naperville, IL
Avg Commute
31.4 min
18.9 min
+12.5 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
85.7
239.4
+179% in South Burlington, VT
Property Crime
892.2
4,446
+398% in South Burlington, VT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.9°F
46.0°F
+3.9°F in Naperville, IL
Annual Precipitation
36.9 in
36.8 in
+0.1 in in Naperville, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in South Burlington, VT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.9
24.4
+23% in South Burlington, VT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.71
$26.07
+32% in South Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in South Burlington, VT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Naperville, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in South Burlington, VT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in South Burlington, VT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in South Burlington, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / VT)
6.25%
6%
+0.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
8.75%
+3.8 pp in VT

Naperville vs South Burlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Naperville or South Burlington?
South Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,790 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Naperville than in South Burlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $64,000 a year in Naperville versus $61,000 in South Burlington.
Which has lower taxes, Naperville or South Burlington?
Naperville is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); South Burlington under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).