DuPage & Will Counties · Illinois
Naperville, IL
The award-winning western suburb where top schools, historic charm and a riverfront downtown make every season feel like home.
About the city
What makes Naperville, Naperville
Naperville sits 28 miles west of downtown Chicago on the banks of the DuPage River. Founded in 1831, it has grown from a frontier trading post into Illinois' fourth-largest city — 153,337 residents as of the latest ACS estimate (City of Naperville).
The city is best known for three things: its nationally ranked public schools (Districts 203 and 204), its 1.75-mile Riverwalk, and a downtown that blends 150 years of history with independent boutiques, restaurants, and a top-ranked public library. In March 2024, Niche named Naperville the #1 Best City to Live in America.
Add a strong job market — Edward Hospital, Nokia, BP, Kraft Heinz and Calamos all have significant operations here — and it's easy to see why families relocate from across the country and stay for generations.
Recognition
Why Naperville stands out
Nationally recognized rankings that matter for families, professionals, and investors.
#1
Best City to Live In
America — Niche 2024
#1
Public Library in the U.S.
Nine-time national winner
#1
Best School District in Illinois
Niche 2024 ranking
Top 5
Safest Cities in America
Consistently ranked among the safest
By the numbers
Demographics & economy
Population
153,337
ACS 2024 1-yr estimate · 4th largest city in Illinois
Median household income
$163,540
ACS 2020-2024 · more than 2× the U.S. median
Median home value
$487,300
ACS 2020-2024 owner-occupied
Bachelor's degree or higher
75.6%
Census QuickFacts · adults 25+
Owner-occupied homes
80.4%
Census QuickFacts
Median age
41.5
ACS 2024
Naperville skews family-aged; U.S. median is 39.0.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts · Census Reporter · CMAP Community Snapshot.
Schools & parks
Education, recreation, and 130+ parks
Naperville CUSD 203
District 203
#1
District in IL
16,500+
Students
22
Schools
Ranked the #1 school district in Illinois by Niche, serving central and eastern Naperville (Niche, naperville203.org).
Indian Prairie CUSD 204
District 204
Top 10
District in IL
26,000+
Students
33
Schools
The third-largest unit district in Illinois, covering western and southern Naperville plus Aurora (Niche, ipsd.org).
High schools, ranked
U.S. News 2024 →
District 203
Naperville Central High School
#23
IL rank
#545
Nat'l
2,800+
Students
District 203
Naperville North High School
#19
IL rank
#489
Nat'l
2,900+
Students
District 204
Neuqua Valley High School
#31
IL rank
#712
Nat'l
3,900+
Students
District 204
Metea Valley High School
#42
IL rank
#1,019
Nat'l
3,000+
Students
District 204
Waubonsie Valley High School
#56
IL rank
#1,290
Nat'l
2,700+
Students
After graduation
Where Naperville grads go
~95% college-bound across both districts (Illinois Report Card)
Naperville's high schools consistently send graduates to flagship Big Ten universities and top liberal-arts colleges. The most popular destinations (per district senior-exit surveys for District 203 and District 204):
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Indiana University Bloomington
- University of Iowa
- University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Purdue University
- University of Michigan
- Marquette University
- Loyola University Chicago
Locally, many also choose North Central College right in downtown Naperville (founded 1861) and Benedictine University in neighboring Lisle.
Photo gallery
A walk around town
Naper Settlement
12-acre outdoor history museum with 30 restored 19th-century buildings.
Visit site →
Centennial Beach
A 6-acre former quarry turned beloved swim park with sand beach and diving well.
Visit site →
Naperville Riverwalk
1.75 miles of brick paths, fountains, covered bridges and gardens along the DuPage River.
Visit site →
Cantigny Park (nearby Wheaton)
500-acre former McCormick estate with formal gardens, a military museum and golf.
Visit site →
Downtown Naperville
Walkable shopping and dining district — over 100 independent shops and restaurants.
Visit site →
Centennial Park
Ice rink, paddle tennis, sled hill and the city's most photographed holiday-light display.
Visit site →
Photography is illustrative. For visitor information, please follow the linked official sites.
Location
Where Naperville sits on the map
Naperville, IL — public high schools
- Naperville Central High SchoolDistrict 203 · 440 Aurora Ave, Naperville, IL 6054041.7726° N, 88.1521° W
- Naperville North High SchoolDistrict 203 · 899 N Mill St, Naperville, IL 6056341.7891° N, 88.1495° W
- Neuqua Valley High SchoolDistrict 204 · 2360 95th St, Naperville, IL 6056441.7104° N, 88.1656° W
- Metea Valley High SchoolDistrict 204 · 1801 N Eola Rd, Aurora, IL 6050241.7704° N, 88.2389° W
- Waubonsie Valley High SchoolDistrict 204 · 2590 Ogden Ave, Aurora, IL 6050441.7568° N, 88.2336° W
Interactive map loads when JavaScript is available.
Stylized city outline with the five public high schools pinned. Coordinates approximate; for turn-by-turn directions, view in OpenStreetMap.
Climate
A comfortable four-season welcome
Naperville enjoys a classic Midwest climate that feels genuinely welcoming year round. Summers are warm and sunny — ideal for evening walks along the Riverwalk or a swim at Centennial Beach. Autumns arrive crisp and bright, painting the canopy in gold and amber. Winters bring a manageable, picturesque layer of snow that turns the downtown into a cozy holiday scene, while springs are gentle and refreshingly green. With reliable rainfall across the year and temperatures that rarely reach extremes, the weather here invites you outside rather than keeping you in.
84°
Summer High
17°
Winter Low
39"
Annual Rain
35"
Annual Snow
Temperature (°F)
Precipitation (inches)
Approximated from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals at DuPage Airport (KDPA), the nearest official station to Naperville (NOAA NCEI). Annual total: ~39 in of rain and ~35 in of snow.
Year-round
A town for all four seasons
Spring
The Riverwalk bursts back to life, magnolias bloom along Jefferson, and Cantigny's tulip gardens hit peak color in late April.
Summer
Centennial Beach is the city's iconic quarry swim hole, the Last Fling festival closes out Labor Day, and the Riverwalk fountains run all season.
Fall
Downtown Naperville is one of Illinois' best leaf-peeping walks. Apple picking, pumpkin patches, and Friday-night high-school football define September through November.
Winter
Naperville's Holiday Walk, Tree Lighting, and Festival of Lights transform downtown into a Hallmark-set glow from November through January.
Culture
Libraries, museums & historic places
Nichols Library (downtown)
Flagship of the Naperville Public Library system, repeatedly ranked among the nation's best.
95th Street Library
Modern branch with a 250-seat program room and tech lab.
Naper Boulevard Library
Family-favorite branch with a beloved children's wing.
Naper Settlement Museum
Smithsonian-affiliate living-history campus on 12 downtown acres.
DuPage Children's Museum
Three floors of award-winning hands-on STEAM exhibits for ages 0-10.
Millennium Carillon
160-foot bell tower at the Riverwalk with seasonal concerts.
Getting around
Roads, Metra & commuting
Metra BNSF — Naperville Station
28-min express to Chicago Union Station; one of the busiest stops on the line.
Largest park-and-ride lot on the entire Metra system.
I-88 (Reagan Memorial Tollway)
Northern boundary — 35 min to O'Hare, fast access west to Aurora and east to Oak Brook.
I-355 (Veterans Memorial Tollway)
Eastern edge — north-south spine connecting I-88, I-55 and I-80.
Route 59 & Ogden Avenue (US 34)
Primary commercial corridors threading the city.
Pace bus + Ride DuPage
Local fixed-route buses and on-demand suburban service.
Dining
Restaurants, bars & local favorites
Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House
Seafood · steakhouse
SixtyFour Wine Bar
Wine bar · small plates
Quigley's Irish Pub
Pub · live music
Empire Burgers + Brew
Burgers · craft beer
Heaven on Seven
Cajun · Creole
Features Bar & Grill
Sports bar · brunch
See more on the Downtown Naperville Alliance directory.
Economy
Top employers & corporations
Edward-Elmhurst Health (Endeavor Health)
~5,600 employees · regional hospital system
Nokia Solutions and Networks
Telecom R&D campus
BP North America
Energy headquarters
Kraft Heinz
CPG corporate offices
Nicor Gas
Utility headquarters
School District 203 & 204
Combined ~7,000 employees
ALDI U.S.
Grocery HQ (Batavia, nearby)
Calamos Investments
Asset management HQ
Source: Naperville Development Partnership.
What's new
Real-estate developments to watch
Water Street District — Phase II
Riverfront expansion adding boutique retail, residences and a second hotel along the Riverwalk.
5th Avenue Station redevelopment
Transit-oriented project around the Naperville Metra stop — luxury apartments, townhomes and a public plaza.
CityGate Centre East
Continued build-out of mixed-use office, residential and Hotel Arista on the I-88 corridor.
Polo Club Townhomes
New for-sale townhome community on the south side near Route 59.
Just for fun
Naperville fun facts
- ★Founded in 1831, Naperville is the oldest settlement in DuPage County.
- ★Niche named Naperville the #1 Best City to Live in America in 2024.
- ★Naperville Public Library has been ranked the #1 library in the U.S. nine separate times.
- ★The Naperville Riverwalk was built in 1981 to celebrate the city's 150th anniversary.
- ★Centennial Beach is a former limestone quarry — it's been a swim park since 1931.
- ★Naperville is home to North Central College, a small liberal-arts school founded in 1861.
Considering Naperville?
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