Naperville, IL, known as 'The Golden City,' offers a unique blend of suburban tranquility and modern urban amenities. Located in DuPage and Will counties, Naperville is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Chicago (28 miles) and Aurora (10 miles) enhance its status as a central point in the region. Naperville's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Naperville is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Naper Settlement, the historic Moser Tower and Millennium Carillon, and the scenic Riverwalk Park. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Centennial Beach to the bustling Downtown Naperville, known for its shopping and dining. Naperville's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from American cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Naperville Ribfest and the Naperville Wine Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Naperville's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like North Central College contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Naperville is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Wentz Concert Hall and the Naperville Art League are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Naperville provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Naperville’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Chicago Fire FC (MLS) and the Chicago Red Stars (NWSL), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Naperville include healthcare, education, and technology, with significant employers such as Edward Hospital and Nicor Gas driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and Metra trains, making commuting convenient.
Amenities
A wealth of amenities, such as restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, parks and fitness facilities, are all conveniently located within walking distance.
Commute
An elevated score in the commute category points to excellent public transit accessibility and shorter-than-average work commute times in this area.
Crime
Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.
Employment
Higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates are seen in this area. The result is a high score in the employment category.
Housing
High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.
Cost Of Living
Living in this region comes with a high cost of living, translating to elevated costs for homes, goods and services, groceries, utilities, health care and transportation.
Located in the state of Illinois, Naperville is a medium-sized city with a population of 151,582 inhabitants. In Naperville, there are 3,918 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. If we look at the most recent Census, Naperville is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Asian and Black. Long, unnecessary commutes can be both frustrating and inconvenient when heading to work. Nationwide, the average one-way commute time takes 26 minutes, but regrettably, residing in Naperville entails a longer-than-average one-way commute time, averaging 34 minutes.
If you’re considering moving to any new city, it could be a very daunting task. However, it could also be a great experience if you are willing to get to know the area before actually living in Naperville, Illinois. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. To help you find the best places to live in and around Naperville, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, crime, health & safety, education, housing and more.
The livability score in Naperville is 83 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 97th percentile of all cities across America. Based on this score, Naperville would be considered a very livable city! Naperville is also ranked in the top 10 percentile of all cities across the USA. For each of the livability categories, we can establish that Naperville ranks very well for amenities (B+), crime (A+), education (A) and housing (A+). Unfortunately for Naperville, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: cost of living (F).
Living in Naperville offers many benefits and offers an extensive array of local amenities. These amenities play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life in this vibrant community. From readily accessible grocery stores to charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and generously spaced parks, Naperville provides a wide spectrum of resources for its residents. This ensures that your daily requirements are effortlessly met and creates abundant opportunities for leisure and recreation. The abundant local offerings contribute to the area's overall appeal, making it an attractive destination for those seeking convenience, variety and a fulfilling lifestyle. If you're considering a move, the wealth of local amenities continues could be a defining feature of this remarkable locale. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: Riverwalk, Hollywood Palms Cinema, and Dupage Children's Museum.
Low rates of violent crime, encompassing offenses such as murder, rape, robbery and assault, contribute significantly to a safer living environment. This reduction in crime minimizes the chances of personal harm, property theft, or violent incidents. Furthermore, low crime rates can have a positive impact on property values and the overall desirability of an area. There were 84 crimes per 100,000 residents, which signifies that Naperville boasts an impressively low violent crime rate that falls well below the national average.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Naperville has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Naperville real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Naperville. Median real estate prices in Naperville come in at $749,336, which is 142.8% higher than the Illinois average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Naperville, the home price to income ratio is 3.9, which is 11.4% higher than the Illinois average.
| Statistic | Naperville | Illinois | National |
| Average one way commute | 34min | 29min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 68.7% | 73.4% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 4.3% | 8.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 9.6% | 9.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.2% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.4% | 3.1% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 14.9% | 4.4% | 4.6% |
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