Naperville, Illinois is a suburb located just west of Chicago. With a population of over 150,000 people, Naperville is the fourth largest city in the state of Illinois. While it may just look like another Chicago suburb on the surface, Naperville has several unique claims to fame that have made it stand out over the years.
Low Crime Rate
One of the biggest things Naperville is known for is its incredibly low crime rate. In fact, Naperville has repeatedly been ranked as one of the safest cities in the entire United States. According to NeighborhoodScout, Naperville’s crime rate is lower than a whopping 89% of all communities in America. This is quite impressive for a city of its size.
There are a few key factors that contribute to Naperville’s low crime:
- Higher than average median income – The median household income in Naperville is over $120,000 per year. This means most families are financially stable and not forced into situations of desperation.
- Low poverty rates – Only about 3% of Naperville residents live below the poverty line. Poverty is often linked to higher crime rates.
- High education levels – Approximately 77% of adults in Naperville have a college degree. Better education typically leads to lower crime rates.
- Strong police force – The Naperville Police Department has over 200 sworn officers to serve the community. They utilize advanced policing strategies to prevent crimes.
- Sense of community – Naperville has an involved, connected community that looks out for each other and reports suspicious activity when needed.
With its prosperous economy and engaged community members, Naperville has created an environment where crime is rare. Families feel safe letting their children play outside and walk to school alone. Seniors aren’t afraid to leave their houses unattended. It’s this security and peace of mind that makes Naperville such a desirable place to live.
Top Ranked Schools
Another major claim to fame for Naperville is its nationally ranked public school system. In fact, Naperville School District 203 consistently ranks among the top school districts in the entire nation for academic performance.
Here is a breakdown of how Naperville schools achieve such high rankings:
- Exceptional teachers – Naperville invests heavily in recruiting and retaining the best teachers. Educators are well-compensated and given excellent training opportunities.
- Rigorous curriculum – Students are challenged with advanced coursework across all grade levels, including gifted programs and AP classes.
- Cutting edge technology – Millions are spent outfitting schools with modern computers, science labs, and other learning tools.
- Robust extracurriculars – Sports, arts, and other activities provide students with meaningful experiences outside the classroom.
- Parental involvement – Parents take an active role in their children’s education through groups like the PTA.
This winning formula has led Naperville High School to be ranked #1 in Illinois and #6 nationally by U.S. News and World Report. Exceptional teachers guiding enriched curriculums have also led to Naperville students scoring an average of 3 to 7 grade levels above the national average on standardized tests.
Families across Illinois – and even from other states – are drawn to Naperville for its schools alone. The exceptional academics provide students with a huge advantage heading into college and the working world later in life.
Walkable Downtown Area
Most Chicago suburbs have no discernible downtown area. Naperville stands out by having a vibrant downtown district with storefront shopping, restaurants, and community events. Key attractions include:
- The Riverwalk – A scenic paved path along the river through downtown with fountains, bridges, and amphitheater seating.
- Centennial Beach – A popular beach along the Riverwalk for swimming and relaxing in summer.
- DuPage Children’s Museum – A hands-on children’s museum with interactive science exhibits.
- Comedy Shrine – A comedy club hosting regular stand-up shows and improv nights.
- Dozens of boutique shops, coffee houses, and local eateries.
The vibrant downtown scene offers family-friendly entertainment, nightlife for adults, and community gathering spaces. Locals can walk to grab lunch at a cafe, browse shops, catch a show, and more. Downtown Naperville has maintained a small-town feel while also catering to the city’s rapid growth over the past few decades.
Lowest Electrical Rates in Illinois
Residents of Naperville benefit from the lowest electrical rates in Illinois through city-run utility company Naperville Electric. The average homeowner in Naperville pays only $720 annually for electricity.
In comparison, Chicago residents pay an average of $1,318 per year to Commonwealth Edison for the same amount of electricity usage.
Naperville Electric achieves these low rates through:
- Cost-efficient coal and natural gas power plants.
- Limited overhead costs due to being municipally owned.
- Buying electricity in bulk on the open market when beneficial.
- Conservative financial strategies to avoid market volatility.
Cheap electricity ensures hundreds of dollars of savings each year for local homeowners and businesses. It’s one of the many perks of living in Naperville.
High Ranking City and Suburbs
Naperville consistently ranks at the top of lists rating the best places to live in the United States. Recent accolades include:
- #1 Best City to Raise a Family – WalletHub (2020)
- #2 Happiest City in America – National Geographic (2016)
- #2 Best City for Early Retirement – SmartAsset (2015)
- #3 Best Place to Live – Niche (2023)
- #3 Best City for Families – Parenting Magazine (2019)
What makes Naperville stand out in these national rankings includes:
- High-paying job market.
- Top-notch healthcare facilities including Northwestern Medicine.
- Abundant parks, trails, community centers and family amenities.
- Low crime rates and good schools discussed earlier.
- Plenty of attractive neighborhoods with new housing options.
Naperville offers an extremely high standard of living at a more affordable price point than nearby Chicago. The combination of quality education, safety, prosperity, and community has made Naperville a model city that continues gaining accolades.
Nicknames Based on History
Throughout its 180-year history, Naperville has gained several nicknames that highlight the city’s origins:
- Mudhole: Early settlers nicknamed the area “Mudhole” in the 1830s due to the muddy dirt roads curving through town.
- Preferred Address for the Midwest: A slogan created in the early 1900s when Naperville became a popular suburban escape from Chicago’s congestion.
- The City of Trees: Earned for the many trees lining older residential streets and Naperville’s annual Arbor Day tree planting tradition.
- The Windy City’s Bedroom Community: Referring to Naperville as a commuter suburb for white-collar Chicago workers.
While not official nicknames, these monikers each tie back to important eras and developments in Naperville’s history. They tell the story of Naperville growing from a remote farming outpost into a bustling residential community filled with nature and commuters. The nicknames offer a glimpse into the past that shaped present-day Naperville.
Unique Festival Traditions
Naperville is known for several unique festivals that highlight community traditions:
- The Last Fling – A massive Labor Day festival spanning several days with three stages of music, carnival rides, fireworks, a petting zoo and over 130 food vendors.
- Naper Nights Community Concert Series – A summer concert series in Naperville’s Knoch Park with performances by nationally renowned artists.
- Naperville Ribfest – One of the largest BBQ rib competitions in the Midwest, drawing championship rib teams and crowds over 100,000 strong.
- Naperville Ale Fest – A premier craft beer festival with tastings from over 200 beers and live music.
The festivals bring big crowds from around the region to experience the food, music, entertainment and community spirit that represent Naperville. Events like Last Fling have taken place for decades and are beloved local traditions.
Notable Businesses Started in Naperville
Several major corporations can trace their roots back to modest origins in Naperville. Here are some top companies that built their nationwide success from Naperville headquarters:
- Nicor – Currently the largest distributor of natural gas in Illinois, Nicor started as a small utility founded in Naperville.
- Jel Sert – The food manufacturer responsible for popular gelatin, pudding and powdered drink mixes got its start in Naperville in the early 1900s.
- Tellabs – A global provider of communication networking equipment that was based in Naperville until being acquired by Marlin Equity Partners.
- Dukane Precast – One of the world’s largest precast concrete companies began with a small operation in Naperville.
- Bauer Hockey – The company that supplies ice hockey equipment to the NHL had its first headquarters in Naperville.
Naperville offered key ingredients for business success – available land, a skilled workforce, proximity to Chicago – that enabled these companies to prosper. Even as they grew into national corporations, many kept their headquarters in Naperville and contributed to the area’s booming economic development.
Notable Historic Sites
For history lovers, Naperville has several interesting sites around town offering a window into the past:
- Naper Settlement – An outdoor museum with over a dozen historic buildings moved from their original locations in Naperville and restored.
- Centennial Beach – A beach along the Riverwalk that was a gathering place for Naperville residents back to the early 1900s.
- Old Nichols Library – Naperville’s original public library building, constructed in 1897 with funding from Mr. Nichols. It now serves as a museum.
- Naperville Cemetery – This cemetery dates back to the founding of Naperville and features engraved markers from the 1800s.
Walking through places like Naper Settlement, history buffs can find themselves immersed in life from over a century ago. The well-preserved buildings and artifacts offer a lens into Naperville’s early times as a developing prairie town. It’s a side of Naperville worth exploring off the beaten path.
Development of High Profile Companies
Naperville was once home to the headquarters of several Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies. This includes:
- ConAgra Foods – This major food manufacturer moved its HQ to Naperville in the 1990s before relocating to Chicago in 2014.
- BP Amoco – The global gas corporation was based in Naperville after Amoco merged with British Petroleum. It has since moved to Chicago.
- Nicor – Mentioned earlier, it was on the Fortune 500 list while headquartered in Naperville until being acquired by AGL Resources in 2011.
- OfficeMax – Now merged with Office Depot, OfficeMax previously had its corporate offices in Naperville for over 20 years.
Naperville offered large plots of land for expansive corporate campuses along with easy transportation access. This made it attractive to major companies looking to establish headquarters outside of the congestion of downtown Chicago. While some have since relocated back downtown, Naperville still touts its history of attracting prominent corporations.
Final Thoughts
Naperville clearly stands apart from other Chicago suburbs with its low crime rates, highly ranked schools, charming downtown, and many corporate success stories. But those unique traits barely scratch the surface of what makes Naperville special. It’s the people – from the pioneering settlers of the 1800s to the diverse families of today – that breathed life into the city and shaped its welcoming, prosperous community. Naperville’s citizens are its greatest asset and the true source of its fame.