Naperville, IL
Naperville, IL scores 64/100 (Fair) on Your Area Score. It is a mid-sized city with a relatively expensive cost profile, a stronger safety profile, and a manageable climate. Whether it is a good place to live will depend heavily on your budget, neighborhood choice, and priorities.
Based on affordability, safety, climate, infrastructure, schools, grocery access, and risk.
Pros
- Infrastructure
- Schools
Cons
- Risk
- Climate
At a Glance
Why Naperville, IL scored 64/100
Top strengths
- Safety is one of the strongest categories for this city.
- Schools also helps lift the overall score.
- Naperville, IL may appeal most to families.
Main trade-offs
- Cost of Living is one of the weaker categories here.
- Risk may be a deciding factor depending on your priorities.
- Neighborhood choice still matters because citywide averages never tell the full story.
Category Scores
This city is on the more expensive side for many households, median gross rent is about $1,787, median home value is about $482,600, and the local economy may feel narrower than in larger metros. See cheaper cities in IL.
This city has a strong safety profile. Violent crime is very low at 83.7 per 100k residents, and property crime is very low at 883.6 per 100k. It ranks among the safer options for relocation in its region. Source: FBI UCR 2024. Compare safer cities in IL.
The climate in Naperville, IL is generally four-season. This can be a positive or negative depending on your tolerance for heat, humidity, cold, rain, or seasonal swings.
Larger cities usually score better here because they support more services, access, and everyday convenience.
School quality is mixed to solid overall. Some districts and attendance zones perform better than others, so neighborhood-level research is important.
Most residents should have solid grocery access, though convenience and store variety can depend on which side of the city they live in.
Living in Naperville, IL
This section turns the score into day-to-day reality: housing, comfort, family fit, convenience, and the main trade-offs you would notice after moving.
Cost, housing, and daily setup
This city is on the more expensive side for many households, median gross rent is about $1,787, median home value is about $482,600, and the local economy may feel narrower than in larger metros.
- Median rent: $1,787
- Median home value: $482,600
- Best fit: families
Bottom line
Naperville, IL is currently rated Fair with a MoveScore of 64/100. Its strongest areas are Safety and Schools, while the biggest trade-offs are Cost of Living and Risk.
Climate and comfort
The climate in Naperville, IL is generally four-season. This can be a positive or negative depending on your tolerance for heat, humidity, cold, rain, or seasonal swings.
Risk and drawbacks
This area carries more meaningful environmental risk, especially around winter weather and neighborhood-level variation. Neighborhood selection and property type matter more than usual here.
Schools and family fit
School quality is mixed to solid overall. Some districts and attendance zones perform better than others, so neighborhood-level research is important.
Errands and convenience
Most residents should have solid grocery access, though convenience and store variety can depend on which side of the city they live in.
Entertainment & Things To Do
Naperville, IL is more likely to rely on general local amenities than on major event venues, so entertainment value may depend more on neighborhood and nearby regional options.
Best Fit For
- Families who want a workable mix of schools, services, and convenience.
Less Ideal For
- Buyers or renters looking for one of the more affordable city options in Illinois.
- People who want fewer weather, insurance, or location-specific risk trade-offs.
Neighborhood Reality
Naperville, IL is not uniform. Some areas perform significantly better than others across safety, schools, and overall livability. Where you choose to live within the city will have a major impact on your experience.
What stands out
Major event venues are not a defining strength here right now, so entertainment value may depend more on restaurants, shopping, parks, and nearby regional options.
Relocation takeaway
People who care about weekend options usually want to know whether a city feels quiet, convenient, or event-driven. Naperville, IL currently leans toward everyday livability rather than major venue-centered entertainment.
Crime & Safety Reality
This is a practical interpretation of the city-level safety score. It should be treated as a broad relocation signal, not a substitute for neighborhood-level research.
What the current score suggests
Naperville, IL has a stronger city-level safety profile than many comparable markets, though neighborhood conditions still vary. This area carries more meaningful environmental risk, especially around winter weather and neighborhood-level variation. Neighborhood selection and property type matter more than usual here.
What movers should do next
- Compare neighborhoods, not just city averages.
- Check commute routes after dark, not only daytime convenience.
- Look for trade-offs between affordability, access, and perceived safety.
Traffic & Commute Reality
Traffic quality is not just about how many roads exist. It is about whether the city gives you enough route options to handle daily commuting, errands, and regional travel.
How travel may feel here
Naperville, IL has workable everyday connectivity, though travel times can stretch depending on commute direction and time of day. A few strong road connections help with local and regional travel, but commute quality will still depend heavily on where you live and where you work.
Why this matters
Cities with stronger access routes usually feel easier for airport runs, cross-town errands, and commuting to job centers. That does not eliminate congestion, but it does improve flexibility when one corridor slows down.
Primary Access & Connectivity
These are some of the main road connections near Naperville, IL. They help show how easy it is to move around locally, reach job centers, and make longer regional trips.
Interstate 355
Strong regional and long-distance access for commuting, airport runs, and cross-metro travel.
Interstate 88
Strong regional and long-distance access for commuting, airport runs, and cross-metro travel.