Naperville named America’s best city to live in for 2025

For the second year in a row, Naperville has been named the best city to live in the U.S.

Niche, an online database, surveyed more than 50,000 cities, suburbs and big-city neighborhoods to determine the best places to live. Cities across the country were graded by combining dozens of the most up-to-date public information, including census data and Department of Education research — with reviews from users.

For the second straight year, Naperville was ranked tops for best cities to live in America.

Out of 229 cities, Naperville also ranked first in best cities in which to buy a home, best cities to raise a family and cities with best public schools.

Chicago was ranked 69th.

Naperville’s strong housing market, jobs outlook, economy and affordability score are what made the western suburb stand out compared with other top-ranked cities, a Niche spokesperson said.

Three suburbs, including Naperville, scored in the top 50 in the Niche rankings of best places to live in America.

Naperville ranked 23, followed by Clarendon Hills at 25 and Hinsdale at 29, Niche reported.

Three other suburbs also made the top 100, with Vernon Hills at 69, Kildeer at 97 and Lincolnshire at 98.

“Where you live shapes so many aspects of your life, from career opportunities to the sense of community you feel,” Luke Skurman, chief executive and founder of Niche, said in a statement. “At Niche, we are proud to provide rankings that empower people to make informed decisions based on what matters most to them, whether that’s great schools, affordability or access to parks and local businesses.”

Here are the top five cities to live in, according to Niche:

1. Naperville
2. The Woodlands, Texas
3. Cambridge, Massachusetts
4. Arlington, Virginia
5. Irvine, California

Here are this year’s top 20 best places to live in Illinois:

1. Naperville
2. Clarendon Hills
3. Hinsdale
4. Vernon Hills
5. Kildeer
6. Lincolnshire
7. Evanston
8. Loop
9. Buffalo Grove
10. Long Grove
11. West Loop
12. Northbrook
13. Wilmette
14. Western Springs
15. Riverwoods
16. Hawthorn Woods
17. Greektown
18. Lake Bluff
19. Riverside
20. Printers Row