Recognized by Money Magazine as the 2nd "Best Place to Live" in the U.S., in 2006, Naperville is located in both DuPage and Will Counties and also has a place designated as "Safety Town" where safety lessons are given to children and residents.
Originally founded as a small farming town on the banks of the DuPage River, Naperville has since developed into an affluent community and in 2010 it was named the wealthiest city in the Midwest, as well as the 11th wealthiest city in the entire nation. As far as size goes, Naperville is the fifth largest city in the state of Illinois behind Chicago, Aurora, Rockford and Joliet. The city is divided between DuPage County and Will County, with the majority of Naperville residents living on the DuPage County side.
This guide will provide you with some helpful tips and information on just about everything you need to know if you're going to be making the move to Naperville. From the city's neighborhoods and school systems to the employment options and recreational activities available within the city, you'll find it all in this guide so that you can go into your move with the knowledge that is needed to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Naperville Climate
Cold winters and warm summers characterize the humid continental climate of Naperville. Minor fluctuations in temperature, humidity, cloudiness, and wind direction are observed habitually. The spring and fall seasons feature comfortably warm sunny days and a crisp breeze, and are considered a pleasant time to visit Naperville.
The weather in the city is typical of most Midwest cities in this region, and is also influenced by Lake Michigan, which moderates the temperature and boosts the snowfall for the city significantly during the winter months.
Naperville Neighborhoods
The city of Naperville stretches out for almost 40 square miles and is comprised of six different townships located in both DuPage County and Will County in Northeast Illinois, just outside of Chicago.
The six townships included Winfield Township, located in the northwest corner of the city, Milton Township, located in the northeast corner of the city, Naperville Township in the west, Lisle Township in the east, Wheatland Township in the southwest and DuPage Township in the southeast.
The biggest township in the city, in regards to population, is Lisle Township. The second largest number of Naperville residents call Naperville Township their home, while Wheatland Township has the fewest number of residents.
Living Costs in the City
Naperville is one of the wealthiest cities in the country, and the average living costs within the city certainly reflect that. The median household income in the city is $105,585, while the median income for a family is around $130,164. These figures represent the growth of wealth within Naperville and the rise of affluent properties is reflected by the median home price in the city, which is $335,000, significantly higher than the national average of $265,929. The per capita income in Naperville is $48,239.
Compared to the national average job growth of24.63 percent, Naperville has a moderate job market, more so than many other Midwestern cities have witnessed since the recession, which is generating new jobs and employment opportunities. With a job growth rate of 14.76 percent, you shouldn't have too much difficulty finding employment in Naperville. However, it's still always a wise idea to procure employment before making your move to Naperville.
Registering Your Car
Upon your arrival in Illinois after moving to the state permanently, you have a total of 30 days to update your registration and have your vehicle registered in the state before you may be required to pay a penalty.
An Illinois Driver's License can be obtained at any Illinois DMV location. The state requires new Illinois residents to update their license from their previous state to an Illinois driver's license within 90 days of moving. If you fail to update your driver's license within this 90-day window, you may have to pay a fine. Also, there is a $10 fee to update your driver's license.
Naperville Moving Resources
Moving and storage companies are ready and willing to help you with your move to Naperville, whether you're moving from out of state or from another county in Illinois. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:
Naperville Schools
Naperville is home to a number of schools and colleges. Some of these include – Naperville Central High, Neuqua Valley High, St. Peter & Paul Catholic School, North Central College, Northwestern College and more.
There are two main public school districts that serve the city of Naperville and its residents in grades K-12. The first one, Naperville Community Unit School District 203, serves a portion of central Naperville and a few surrounding areas and contains Naperville Central High School and Naperville North High School. In addition to the high schools, there are five junior high schools and 14 elementary schools.
The other school district, Indian Prairie School District 204, contains Neuqua Valley High School, along with five junior high schools and 14 elementary schools. In addition to the public schools located in Naperville, the city also has seven private schools located within the city, including Chesterbrook Academy, Calvary Christian School, Naperville Christian Classical Academy and Bethany Lutheran School. The colleges and universities with campuses located in Naperville are Northern Illinois University, DePaul University, the College of DuPage, Governors State University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Naperville Employment
The city of Naperville is located within the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor, so employment is always available at one of the many tech companies in the city, and major corporations like Western Electric, BP and Ineos, Tellabs and ConAgra have all contributed to the city's steady population growth over the past few decades. OfficeMax, Kraft Foods, Fermilab and Argonne National Laboratory also have offices in Naperville.
Some of the major employers of Naperville include – Bell Labs, Alcatel-Lucent, Nalco, Nicor and more. The 2010 top 10 employers of Naperville according to the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report include – Edward Hospital, BP America and more.
In addition to the major corporations located in the city, there is also a wide range of retailers and car dealerships. There are 11 car dealerships in Naperville, along with a host of downtown retail shopping areas like Freedom Commons, the Springbrook Prairie Pavilion, and others that are all along Route 59 and Ogden Avenue within the city limits.
Public Transportation
Naperville has a good public transit system with regular commuter rail and bus services. Passenger rail service is provided by Metra and Amtrak and three railways tracks are also present in Naperville which belongs to BNSF Railway. The BNSF Railway runs through the north end of the city, and there are three Amtrak routes which pass through Naperville, including the Illinois Zephyr line, the California Zephyr line and the Southwest Chief line.
There is also a commuter bus service that operates in the city of Naperville called Pace. Pace typically provides service around the city, as well as two and from the Metra stations, and operates during the day with routes running from Naperville to Aurora and Wheaton, as well as other places. The two closest major airports to Naperville are Chicago Midway International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport, which are located between 25-28 miles from the city.
Culture and Contemporary Life
There are many interesting sites to see and places to visit in Naperville, including sites that are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Naperville Historic District is one of those sites, as well as the Moser Tower and the Millennium Carillon. Moser Tower, which is a bell tower located just north of Aurora Avenue, contains a Carillon with 72 bells and was dedicated to the city back in 2000.
The Naperville Public Library is also a landmark in its own right, and has been voted the number one public library in the United States each year since 1999. The three libraries that comprise the Naperville Public Library, the Nichols Library, Naper Boulevard Library and 95th Street Library, have an average annual circulation of five million items and serves almost one and a half million visitors each year.
Naperville also hosts the Naperville Independent Film Festival each year, an event that showcases the work of independent filmmakers and attracts thousands of attendees and movie buffs from all over the state of Illinois.
Moving to Naperville
Whatever your reasons for moving to Naperville, whether it be for a change of scenery or for employment, the city beckons you with its charm. The first step in the process of moving to Naperville is choosing a moving company after first checking their BBB ratings, insurance and license. The moving rates are charged by the hour if you are moving within the state boundary, while for a long distance move the charges will depend on the total weight or volume in cubic feet of your belongings. In the latter case, you can ask about a flat rate or any special discounts that are available with the mover.