For the seventh consecutive year, Naperville has been pronounced the Best City to Raise a Family and the City with the Best Public Schools in the country by niche.com.
Niche, a leading online platform that connects students and families with colleges and schools, this week published its 2023 lists of Best Places to Live in America.
The company has produced these rankings for nine years from analyses of 228 cities and 17,932 towns and neighborhoods, which helps users find a new place to call home.
In seven of those nine years, Naperville has been named the Best City to Raise a Family and No. 1 in the list of Cities with the Best Public Schools, according to statistics provided by Alicia Stetzer, Niche director of communicaitons.
The only times it missed out on the top slot for Best City to Raise a Family was in 2016, when it ranked fifth, and 2015, when it was third. In the best public schools category, it came in second in 2016 and 22nd in 2015.
Overall in 2023, the city came in at No. 4 in the Niche category of Best City to Live in America, falling from No. 3, the spot it held in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Naperville earned a No. 2 ranking in 2017 and 2018.
The three cities to top Naperville were Cambridge, Massachusetts; Arlington, Virginia; and The Woodlands, Texas.
To determine rankings, Niche collects data from sources such as the U.S. Census, FBI, Bureau of Labor Statistics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and then combines the information with resident reviews.
The company also considers other factors, including affordability, the local housing market, neighborhood diversity, area public schools and walkability.
In the Niche ratings, Naperville earned an A+ for its public schools, for its health and fitness, and for the city being a good place for families.
Dragging down the scores were the city’s cost of living — rated a C — and the weather, rated a C+.
According to Niche, Naperville is one of the best places to live in Illinois.
“Living in Naperville offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes,” Niche said.
Niche also noted the city’s abundant restaurants, coffee shops and parks, and that residents tend to have moderate political views.
Luke Skurman, CEO and founder of Niche, in a news release said his company’s Best Places to Live rankings have helped people find a new neighborhood to call home based on what matters most to them, whether that’s affordable housing, easy access to amenities or excellent local schools.
Naperville also ranked No. 3 on Niche’s Best Cities to Buy a House in America.
