Living in Naperville, Illinois

The U.S. has plenty of suburbs to choose from. It does, however, have a shortage of suburban areas with everything Naperville has to offer. Cheaper than Chicago, but with the city still well within reach, Naperville has a lot going on in town. Beautiful walks and shops by the river, and some of the best public schools in the nation are the most obvious attributes of the city, but it also has local museums and good beaches that provide culture and play to people of all ages. Naperville also has several big companies in town, ranging from healthcare and manufacturing to research and tech for those who want a short drive to work.

With all of the good things that come with living in the epitome of a boujee suburb come all of the things those who prefer cities struggle with as well. It is safe, with amazing schools, and one of the most family-friendly cities in the country - see our guide to "the most family-friendly cities".

While cheaper than living in the big city, the average cost of living is almost 50% higher than the national average. Living “downtown” in Naperville is considered pretty cool, with easy access to lots of restaurants, in addition to a surprisingly active nightlife. Being a nice and growing suburb, there are a lot of great housing options for families. Neighborhoods like Still Water and Cress Creek offer tons of homes with backyards, front yards, easy access to parks, and great public schools that are a walk or short bike ride away.

If you're curious what happens in Naperville check out the calendar of events.

We highly recommend visiting Naperville and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for living among the locals. You can also receive discounted travel fares via our partnership with Expedia.

Naperville is nationally recognized for its outstanding public schools and is featured in our guide to Cities with the Topic Public Schools in the U.S.. The city is served by two top-ranked districts — Naperville Community Unit School District 203 and Indian Prairie School District 204. Both are consistently rated among the best in Illinois and the country, with rigorous academics and amazing extracurricular opportunities.

District 203 covers central and northern Naperville, while District 204 serves the southern and western parts of the city. Between the two, families have access to nearly 40 elementary schools, multiple middle schools, and several highly rated high schools.

Naperville North High School and Naperville Central High School (District 203) are both “A+” rated schools, offering International Baccalaureate programs, and award-winning athletics, music, and arts programs.

Neuqua Valley High School, Waubonsie Valley High School, and Metea Valley High School (District 204) also rank among the best in Illinois, with strong STEM programs and AP course offerings.

In addition to the public schools, Naperville offers several private and parochial options, including Benet Academy, All Saints Catholic Academy, and Montessori schools, giving families further choices.

As a bonus Naperville regularly ranks as one of the safest cities in the United States - featured in our guide to the U.S. Safest City Rankings. National crime data shows that both violent and property crime rates are well below state and national averages. Families moving here often cite safety as a key reason for choosing the city, alongside its schools.