Naperville ranks No. 1 on Niche's best cities in America list for second year in a row
For the second year in a row, the city has ranked No. 1 on Niche's list of Best Cities to Live in America.
Niche is an online rating database that annually ranks and reviews factors that figure into where someone decides to settle down — schools, work, public safety.
On Monday, the site released its 2025 lists for Best Places to Live in America. Naperville snagged the top spot among 230 cities evaluated for this year's rankings, retaining its position from last year.
It was also named the city with the best public schools in America as well as the No. 1 best city across the country to buy a house and raise a family.
'Where you live shapes so many aspects of your life, from career opportunities to the sense of community you feel,' CEO and founder of Niche Luke Skurman said in a news release. 'At Niche, we are proud to provide rankings that empower people to make informed decisions about what matters most to them, whether that's great schools, affordability, or access to parks and local businesses.'
Niche's best cities ranking is an amalgamation of a dozen different factors rated on a letter grading scale. Naperville received an overall A+ Niche grade, but the by-category rating was 'A+' for public schools, good for families and health & fitness; 'A' for jobs and outdoor activities; 'A-' for housing and diversity; 'B+' for commute and nightlife; 'B' for crime & public safety; 'B-' for cost of living; and 'C+' for weather.
Rankings are compiled using a combination of resident reviews and a host of data from the U.S. Census, Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to Niche.
This year marks Niche's 11th annual year of releasing Best Places to Live rankings.
Last year was Naperville's first time rising the ranks to No. 1. In 2023, the city came in at No. 4 for the Best City to Live in America. Before that, it sat at No. 3 from 2020 to 2022.
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