If you ask AI, our future robot overlords will tell you that a Napervillian is a resident or native of Naperville, Illinois, a large suburb about 30 miles west of Chicago. It might also tell you that Naperville is the third-largest city in Illinois, with over 150,000 Napervillians. AI might tell you that little Napervillians go to elite public schools and that the average home costs more here than in neighboring cities.
People on the internet often criticize Napervillians for being snooty. Is it jealousy? Maybe. Is there some truth to it? Maybe.
However, most of the Napervillians I’ve met came here looking for a better life for their families. Some are snooty. Some are rich. Some are young parents from the big city, hustling to pay the mortgage on their starter home.
My wife and I met in Chicago. We love Chicago. But when our first child was born, we started looking for a different kind of life. We became Napervillians in 2024. When our second child was born, he became a native Napervillian. We’re a Michigander and a Coloradan who became Chicagoans on our way to becoming Napervillians.