Chicago commuter city that has seen population double since the 90s is named best place to live in America

Daily Mail​

04-05-2025

Many Americans may have never heard of Naperville, an Illinois suburban city outside of Chicago, but the wealthy town has now topped the list of best places to live in America for the second year in a row.
Niche, a popular rankings and review service, named Naperville as one of the best cities to live in, giving it a coveted A+.
Naperville was given a stellar report card from Niche, earning As in public schools, housing, jobs, outdoor activities, diversity, health and fitness, and was ranked best for families.
The lowest score Naperville received was a C+ for weather and Bs in cost of living, commuting, crime and safety, and nightlife.
'It's a big city with a small town feel,' Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli told DailyMail.com.
Jenna Mandolini, the director of sales and marketing at Hotel Arista, located in downtown Naperville, echoed a similar sentiment about the city.
'You commonly will recognize somebody at different restaurants out and about just from involvement in the school, involvement in the sports, and just involvement in the community. It feels like everybody knows everybody,' Mandolini told DailyMail.com.
'Even though it's a big city it feels like such a small town,' she added.
Longtime Naperville resident, Jessica Prah, agreed that even though Naperville is one of the largest cities in Illinois, it still feels like the small town that she grew up in.
Prah moved to Naperville with her family when she was seven and then left to explore other cities in college.
After 20 years away from Naperville, she decided to move back and has been there ever since.
She said that even though the city has grown 'immensely' since she was a child, the 'same community vibe continues today'.
'When I was growing up, we went to our community pool. You didn't have to lock your cars. You could ride your bike to the pool. Your parents didn't have to escort you to the bus stop every day. It was that safe, and I still live in a similar neighborhood in Naperville where it's kind of the same vibe,' Prah told DailyMail.com.
The administrators of the popular social media account, Naperville Now, said that people who expect to come to a 'manicured suburb' may be surprised to find pop-up poetry nights and neon-lit ramen bars.
Population boom
Naperville has grown exponentially in the past 45 years, experiencing a population boom in the 1980s and 1990s.
In 1980, the city only had a population of 45,500, which almost doubled in 1990 to 85,400, according to the World Population Review.
In 2000, Naperville's population hit 128,000, and now there are almost 150,000 residents in the city.
As a longtime Naperville resident, Wehrli attested to the uniqueness of the city and praised its growth.
'Naperville was about 20,000 residents when I was a little guy back in 1971,' he recalled.
Prah also attested to the transformation of the city since her upbringing, noting that it's become increasingly diverse.
She added that the commuting distance from Chicago has brought in more businesses and restaurants.
Wehrli explained that the city council passed an ordinance decades ago that required developers to donate land or cash for parks and school sites.
He said that the decision 'became a model for cities across the country' that wanted to prioritize outdoor spaces and high-quality education systems.
'It's a formula that really worked and really set the stage for what we've got to work with today,' Wehrli said.
Exploring Naperville
Naperville has seen a rise in business investments in the northern part of the city, which Wehrli said attracted the 'best and the brightest from around the world'.
Even though the city has grown significantly in recent years, Mandolini attested that there is still a 'small town feel' within the community.
'There's just so much to offer,' Mandolini said.
'There's a variety of different things for every guest. There is something for everyone,' she added.
Mandolini said Naperville boasted an 'eclectic' shopping scene with high-end shops and locally owned stores.
She added that Naperville has over 300 restaurants, including local steakhouse CityGate Grille as well as Italian eatery and Wine Spectator Award Winner Che Figata.
Wehrli praised Naperville residents' civic engagement, citing the public-private partnerships and volunteerism in the city.
The city built a Riverwalk in the center of downtown Naperville primarily by volunteers within the community.
Wehrli said Riverwalk, 'attracts people from all over the area to come down, walk, relax, see live music, do some sightseeing, maybe fishing in the river, you name it'.
Prah said Riverwalk was a 'staple' in the community and residents could easily explore nature preserves while having easy access to restaurants.
'The Naperville Riverwalk is a must when visiting the city for its charm,' Mandolini attested.
The administrators at Naperville Now said that mornings on the Riverwalk 'feel like a secret rehearsal before the rest of the day begins.'
Education
Naperville received an A+ by Niche for public schools and ranked first for the best public schools in America.
Over 33 percent of Naperville residents have advanced college degrees, while 39 percent have a bachelor's degree.
Wehrli said that families move to Naperville for the education system and that the town has 'all the opportunities for the kids to grow and learn'.
Prah noticed that many of the new residents in her community moved for the school systems.
She added that she's seen an increase in young people in the city as the local university, North Central College, has grown.
Safe for families
Niche named Naperville the best city in America to raise a family for five years in a row.
Wehrli said that public safety was a top priority, noting that it was 'imperative that you have a community by and on public safety'.
'It's just not a police certified job, it is everybody's job,' he said.
The mayor added that residents in the city view public safety as a 'participation sport', and are committed to making Naperville a secure place to live.
'They're [residents] keeping an eye on each other in their neighborhoods and they are very cognizant of what's going on,' he said.
Naperville has topped Niche rankings for its safe neighborhoods, highly rated public schools, access to recreational activities, and parks.
The Woodlands in Texas came in second, Cambridge, Massachusetts, placed third, Arlington, Virginia, came in fourth, and Irvine, California, rounded out the top five.