Halloween is almost here and, while kids are preoccupied with their costumes and how much candy they can eat, parents might be worrying about everything that could go wrong during a night of trick-or-treating. From darting across dark streets to knocking on strangers’ doors, the beloved Halloween tradition can rattle even the steeliest of nerves. But for families in Naperville, a Chicago suburb, there’s good news: you’re celebrating in one of the safest cities for trick-or-treating in America.
According to a new analysis by SafeHome.org, Naperville ranks as the second-safest U.S. city for trick-or-treaters this Halloween, earning a near-perfect safety score of 96. The Chicago suburb was edged out of the top spot only by Yonkers, New York, a city that boasts a much higher ratio of police officers per resident.
SafeHome’s 2025 study examined 154 cities with at least 150,000 residents each, weighing five key factors: violent crime rate, property crime rate, pedestrian fatalities, registered sex offenders and law enforcement staffing. Naperville racked up impressive scores across the board. The city’s violent crime rate sits at just 8.4 per 10,000 residents, and it has one of the lowest registered sex offender rates in the country. Add minimal pedestrian fatalities and strong police presence, and it’s clear why Naperville has become a model for safe, family-friendly Halloween fun.
Naperville wasn’t the only Illinois city to stand out. Aurora nearly cracked the top 10, landing at number 11, while Joliet rounded out the list at number 25. More than half of the top 25 safest cities came from just four metro areas—Chicago, Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth and New York City/New Jersey—highlighting where safety infrastructure and community design are paying off.
For Naperville parents, this ranking might just make that extra handful of mini Snickers taste sweeter. With crisp fall air, tree-lined streets and a city that takes safety seriously, Halloween night here promises all the excitement—with a lot less worry.
Top five safest cities for trick-or-treaters
- Yonkers, NY
- Naperville, IL
- New York City, NY
- Gilbert, AZ
- Frisco, TX