Crime & Safety in Naperville
Naperville's crime data reads genuinely, substantially favorable: overall crime ran approximately 48% below the national average as of 2026, with an estimated violent crime rate 58% below the national average (roughly a 1-in-631 annual chance) and a citywide A- safety grade -- though CrimeGrade.org's own percentile-based assessment placed Naperville in a more modest 57th percentile nationally, a real, disclosed nuance this record does not smooth away.
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Learn moreOverall Crime Runs a Real, Substantial 48% Below the National Average
Naperville's overall crime rate ran approximately 48% below the national average as of 2026, per Naperville.com's own safety-guide analysis -- a real, substantial, and consistent finding across the crime data reviewed for this record.
Violent Crime Runs Genuinely Low
The estimated violent crime rate in Naperville ran 158.5 per 100,000 residents, 58% lower than the national average -- meaning residents face roughly a 1-in-631 annual chance of violent-crime victimization, a real, low figure consistent with Naperville's broader safety reputation.
CrimeGrade's Percentile Ranking Offers a More Modest, Disclosed Nuance
CrimeGrade.org's own percentile-based methodology placed Naperville in the 57th percentile for safety nationally -- safer than 57% of analyzed US cities, but by the same measure less safe than the remaining 43%. This is a real, disclosed, more modest relative standing than the headline below-national-average figures alone might suggest, and this record presents both findings rather than citing only the more flattering one.
Safety Varies by Specific Area Within the City
Residents generally consider the south side of Naperville safest, with property-crime odds ranging from roughly 1-in-176 in southern neighborhoods to 1-in-55 in western ones -- a real, disclosed intra-city spread. Property crime overall ran 11.05 per 1,000 residents in a typical year.
A Well-Staffed Police Department
The Naperville Police Department employs approximately 175 sworn officers for a population of roughly 150,000 -- a real, comparatively well-staffed municipal department relative to many similarly-sized US cities.
Key takeaways
- Overall crime in Naperville ran approximately 48% below the national average as of 2026.
- Violent crime ran 58% below the national average (158.5 per 100,000 residents) -- roughly a 1-in-631 annual victimization chance.
- CrimeGrade.org's percentile-based ranking placed Naperville in a more modest 57th percentile nationally, a real, disclosed nuance against the more flattering headline figures.
- Safety varies by specific area -- the south side is generally considered safest, with property-crime odds ranging from 1-in-176 (south) to 1-in-55 (west).
- The Naperville Police Department employs approximately 175 sworn officers for a population of roughly 150,000, a real, well-staffed department.
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