Chicago Suburb Naperville, Which Has No Beaches, Named Top Beach Town
While the Chicago area boasts access to several beaches, you might not consider it a “beach town.” But WalletHub released a list of the top beach towns in America, and, surprisingly, the Chicagoland suburb of Naperville made the list at number 30.
WalletHub ranked each city using 49 factors, including affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and overall quality of life.
Naperville — located 30 miles west of Chicago, where actual lakefront beaches are found — earned a total score of 59.73. The suburb has the second-highest median household income compared to the other cities on the list.
The closest thing Naperville has to a beach is Centennial Beach, a water-filled quarry. Which it is technically considered a beach by the Illinois Department of Health, some would consider it more of a poolside since the quarry is chlorinated.
Florida, unsurprisingly, dominated the top spots on the list. WalletHub’s top 10 best beach towns include:
- Naples, Florida
- Key West, Florida
- Eden Prairie, Minnesota
- Traverse City, Michigan
- St. Augustine, Florida
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Marco Island, Florida
- Key Biscayne, Florida
- Boca Raton, Florida
- Duluth, Minnesota