Is private school cheaper in Hartford or Naperville?

Naperville has lower average private school tuition at $13,800/year vs $28,000/year in Hartford. That's $14,200/year less, or $184,600 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Naperville over Hartford?

Average tuition in Naperville is $14,200/year less than Hartford. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $184,600 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $15,800/year in Hartford, $8,700/year in Naperville.

How do Hartford and Naperville private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Hartford averages $28,000/year ($15,650 above average). Naperville averages $13,800/year ($1,450 above average).

Private School Cost: Hartford vs Naperville

Naperville averages $14,200/year less for private school (103% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $184,600 per child.

Bottom Line

Naperville is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $13,800/year vs $28,000/year in Hartford. Religious schools run $8,700/year on the low end.

Hartford

$28,000

avg tuition/year

$15,650 above national avg

Naperville

$13,800

avg tuition/year

$1,450 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Hartford	Naperville	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$28,000/yr	$13,800/yr	+$14,200
Religious Schools	$15,800/yr	$8,700/yr	+$7,100
Independent/Prep	$44,500/yr	$31,900/yr	+$12,600
Elementary (K-5)	$22,800/yr	$11,700/yr	+$11,100
Middle School (6-8)	$28,000/yr	$13,800/yr	+$14,200
High School (9-12)	$35,000/yr	$16,600/yr	+$18,400

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Hartford

$364,000

Naperville

$179,400

Choosing Naperville saves $184,600 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $369,200.

Sample Schools

Hartford

Kingswood Oxford School

Independent · 6–12 · $44,800-$47,200/yr

Loomis Chaffee School

Independent (Day) · 9–12 · $48,200/yr

Watkinson School

Independent · 6–12 · $36,800/yr

Northwest Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $17,800/yr

Naperville

Benet Academy (Lisle/Naperville area)

Catholic · 9–12 · $18,400/yr

Wheaton Academy

Christian · 9–12 · $18,200/yr

Full Hartford breakdown → Full Naperville breakdown →

Connecticut private school costs Illinois private school costs

About This Comparison

This comparison uses NCES Private School Universe Survey data, adjusted for metro-level cost-of-living differences. "Average tuition" blends religious schools (Catholic, Christian) and independent day/prep schools. Religious schools typically cost 60-70% less than independent schools in the same city.

Grade-level estimates (elementary, middle, high) are derived from the city average using national grade-level multipliers. High school tuition typically runs 15-25% above the city average; elementary runs 10-20% below.