Naperville
RANK #359 / 996 NAT · #23 / 28 IL · POP 930,559
1YR FORECAST: +3.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +27%
DuPage County, Illinois, located just 20 miles west of Chicago, offers a blend of suburban living and natural beauty. The county is characterized by its extensive network of over 25,000 acres of forest preserves and more than 500 miles of trails, including the Illinois Prairie Path, which was the first successful "rail-to-trail" conversion in the United States. Commute options to Chicago are available via Metra commuter rail lines, with 29 stations across four lines within the county. Towns like Naperville and Glen Ellyn feature downtown areas with shops and restaurants.
DuPage County consistently ranks among the healthiest counties in Illinois. The area attracts families, partly due to its public school districts, which receive high ratings. The local economy is diverse, with major investments flowing into data centers, supported by factors like access to renewable energy, an extensive fiber network, and a skilled workforce. The county also benefits from its proximity to major transportation hubs, including O'Hare International Airport.
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.3x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
CyrusOne Data Center Campus (Wood Dale)
CyrusOne
|
$1,000M | Under Construction |
|
CyrusOne Data Center (Aurora)
CyrusOne
|
$350M | Under Construction |
|
Edged Chicago Campus - Second Data Center (Aurora)
Edged US
|
$250M | Under Construction |
|
Karis Critical Data Center (Naperville)
Karis Critical Data Centers
|
$250M | Proposed |
|
Oppidan Data Center (Carol Stream)
Oppidan
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
NTT DATA Cloud Storage Facility (Itasca)
NTT DATA
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 64/100, DuPage County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $107,035 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in IL.
Housing in DuPage County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $361,700 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.30, with rents averaging $1,551/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in DuPage County are both close to flat — population -0.4% YoY and jobs +0.1%. Home values shifted +5.0% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.7% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests DuPage County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +5.0% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in DuPage County is now valued at $361,700. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.