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These suburbs are getting harder to enter
Naperville and Frisco still attract families, but buying there is tougher than many middle-class households expect. SmartAsset’s 2026 study says Frisco has the third-highest upper bound for middle-class income among the 100 largest U.S. cities. Its range runs from $96,963 to $290,888.
Redfin’s latest city snapshot also shows Frisco’s median sale price at $710,000. Those figures show how a suburb can look successful while still becoming harder for ordinary buyers to reach.
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Naperville’s appeal comes with a high price
Naperville remains one of the strongest suburban markets in Illinois, and that helps keep costs high. Census data for 2020 through 2024 shows a median household income of $155,105, a median owner-occupied home value of $540,200, and median monthly owner costs with a mortgage of $3,154.
Niche also places Naperville near the top of Illinois suburb rankings. A place with strong schools, steady demand, and high household earnings can become difficult for middle-class families trying to buy their first house.
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Frisco grew fast and housing followed
Frisco’s size and speed of growth help explain its rising costs. Census says the city had 200,509 residents in 2020, up from 116,989 in 2010. From April 2020 to July 2024, its population rose by another 17.3%…