Naperville again tops Niche list as ‘best city to live’

For a third straight year, Naperville has taken the No. 1 spot among “Best Cities to Live in America” according to the Niche website.

Earning an overall “Niche grade” of A+, Naperville topped Cambridge, Massachusetts, and The Woodlands, Texas, in the rankings released Monday.

“It’s a tremendous honor. But more than anything I think it’s a reflection of the people of Naperville,” Mayor Scott Wehrli said.

“This recognition really belongs to the families that put down their roots here and the educators who shape our kids, our police and fire fighters who keep us safe, our professional staff at city hall, a business community that constantly is investing in our future, and the volunteers and community partners who make this community so special,” he said.

Niche is an education tech platform that uses interviews and data from sources, including the FBI, U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Niche graded Naperville with an A+ in its public schools, being “good for families,” and health and fitness. It assigned an A for outdoor activities and an A- for housing, jobs, nightlife, and diversity.

The sole C+ grade was beyond Naperville’s control — for weather.

“One thing I always tell people is while we’re proud of the rankings, what matters most is why Naperville continues to earn them, and that’s because of our community, our public safety, and our quality of life,” said Wehrli, elected as mayor in 2023.

Naperville, the state’s third-largest city with a population of about 153, 337, was the only Illinois city listed among Niche’s top 50. Chicago was ranked No. 63, Springfield No. 98. Peoria (126), Elgin (133), and Rockford (189) also drew mention among cities with a population of 100,000 or more.

Naperville recently earned further accolades from Livability, 24/7 Wall Street, Zippia.com, Money, and U.S. News & World Report.

“People always ask me, how do we apply for these things, and we don’t,” Wehrli said. “We never apply for any of these awards. We find out when everybody else does. It’s certainly an honor to be recognized, but it’s also a reminder of how fortunate we are to be living in a city that has been well run for decades.”

Niche also listed Clarendon Hills No. 1 among “Best Suburbs to Live in America.” The village earned Niche’s overall A+ grade with similar marks in public schools and “good for families,” and an A in crime and safety.