America is the land of opportunity, freedom, and prosperity. The United States is also one of the wealthiest nations in the history of the world. Like most countries, some areas of the U.S. are richer and better off than others. Today, we’re breaking down the wealthiest cities in the U.S. and looking at some of the factors making these cities richer than others.
So, where in the nation can you find America’s wealthiest? StudyFinds did the research, consulting nine news and economic websites in an effort to discover the seven wealthiest cities in the U.S. Our list comprises the seven most frequently listed cities from across these sites. Think we missed a few cities? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
➡️ How Our “Best Of The Best” Lists Are Created
StudyFinds’ “Best of the Best” articles are put together with the idea of taking the work out of common consumer research. Ever find yourself searching for a product or service on Google and reading multiple reviews to find items listed across many of them? Our Best of the Best lists are created with that process in mind, with each item ranked by how frequently it appears on expert reviews or lists. With Best of the Best, you are getting consensus picks — making them truly the best of the best!
The List: Top 7 Wealthiest Cities in the U.S., According to Experts
1. Atherton, California
The top spot on the list of the wealthiest cities in the U.S. belongs to Atherton, California. Atherton is located just outside of Silicon Valley, and directly between San Francisco and San Jose, making it one of the most prominent cities in the country. As Nest Apple explains, Atherton’s median household income is well over $500,000, which is nearly seven times higher than the national average of around $69,000.
Atherton’s average household income isn’t the only reason this quaint little town is considered the wealthiest city in America, notes HGTV. A range of wealthy individuals call Atherton home from tech moguls such as Facebook’s CEO to NBA stars such as Golden State’s Steph Curry.
As Property Club highlights, Atherton is an exclusive place to live with strict zoning rules that cater to its residents. Atherton is home to less than 8,000 residents and property values are exponential here. Since Atherton is situated right in the middle of San Francisco and San Jose, residents have easy access to both of these thriving metropolitan areas.
2. McLean, Virginia
The next spot on the list of the wealthiest cities in America takes us back across the country to the East Coast and McLean, Virginia. This suburb of Washington, D.C. is one of the most exclusive cities in the country with a steep median household income, high property values, and a lot of good-paying jobs. As Consumers Advocate notes, McLean, Virginia is home to politicians, executives, and diplomats alike.
McLean is located in Virginia’s Fairfax County, which is renowned for its school system, notes Veranda. McLean sits just across the Potomac River from Potomac, Maryland, another extremely affluent and wealthy city. McLean is also just on the outskirts of the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. All of these factors dictate some of the highest home values in the nation at an average of over $1 million.
McLean is home to several large companies such as USA Today and Freddie Mac. The presence of high-paying jobs, the proximity to the capital, and the overwhelming number of luxury jewelry and high-end clothing stores all contribute to a pricey way of life in McLean, Virginia, furthers Movoto.
3. Scarsdale, New York
Next up on the list of the wealthiest cities in America is Scarsdale, New York. As Property Club notes, Scarsdale is an extremely desirable place to live. The average household income is well over $300,000 and its proximity to New York City makes it ideal for young professionals with families. You can make a good living in the city while leading a peaceful life out in Scarsdale.
Scarsdale is located just 35 minutes north of Manhattan in Westchester County, New York, explains HGTV. The beautiful architecture of the homes and the thriving public school system make Scarsdale incredibly attractive for high-earning professionals with families. Notable residents of Scarsdale have included celebrities such as Rob Reiner and Liza Minelli.
As Nest Apple describes, Scarsdale is a very small city with a population of around 18,000. The city is surrounded by woods, parks, and nature preserves that make living in Scarsdale increasingly serene and peaceful. The city is the perfect place to raise a family and still be able to go out and earn a great living in New York City.
4. Los Altos Hills, California
The next city on the list of the wealthiest cities in the U.S. takes us back out to the West Coast to Los Alto Hills, California. Los Altos Hills is one of the priciest places to live in Northern California, notes California.com. Los Altos Hills is all about the homeowners, too. There are zero commercial zones and excellent schools, making Los Altos Hills one of the nicest places to live in the state of California.
Los Altos Hills is situated in beautiful Santa Clara County and is located just outside of San Jose, notes HGTV. Los Altos Hills is also close in proximity to the top city on this list, Atherton, as both are considered great places for super-rich techies to escape and enjoy a more private, quieter way of life.
As Property Club highlights, the medium household income for Los Altos Hills is over $400,000 while home prices continue to go up year over year. With quick access to San Jose and San Francisco, Los Altos Hills is perfect for high-earning professionals who want to enjoy an outdoor lifestyle and privacy from the big metropolitan areas.
5. Darien, Connecticut
The next spot on the list of the wealthiest places in America is Darien, Connecticut. Connecticut is home to a lot of pricey neighborhoods and cities, but Darien is one of the state’s most exclusive places to live, notes Consumers Advocate.
Darien is located in Connecticut but it’s just 35 minutes away from New York City, making it a great place to live and commute to the city for high-paying jobs. As Property Club explains, Darien’s average household income is well above $300,000 with home prices averaging well over $1 million.
Like many of the cities on the list, Darien is a great place to raise a family. Darien is safe and offers some of the best school districts in the country, explains Nest Apple. Connecticut is full of great places to live but Darien is clearly one of the best.
6. Winnetka, Illinois
The next city to make the list of the wealthiest cities in America is a suburb of Chicago, Illinois – Winnetka, Illinois. Winnetka is a midwestern paradise located just a few miles north of Chicago on the shores of Lake Michigan, notes Nest Apple. With tree-lined streets, great schools, and safe neighborhoods, Winnetka, Illinois is regularly considered one of the best places to live in the country.
Winnetka is also home to one of the most infamous houses in America – the beautiful red brick house from the Christmas classic, “Home Alone.” As HGTV explains, the house draws tourists from all over the United States, but anyone with their sights set on living in this city might want to check their wallet first. Winnetka is one pricey place to call home.
Residents of Winnetka can enjoy the best of both worlds as the city is only a few miles from Chicago. With an average household income well over $350,000 and average home prices hovering over $1 million, Property Club agrees that Winnetka, Illinois is one of the wealthiest cities in the country. Winnetka is the perfect place for high-earning parents to raise their children while working in Chicago.
7. Lexington and Newton Massachusetts
Rounding out the list of the wealthiest cities in the U.S. are two suburbs of Boston located right next to one another – Lexington and Newton Massachusetts. Take your pick of these highly wealthy suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts as they’re both very affluent cities located just miles from one another on the west side of Boston. Many of the wealthiest cities in the country are suburbs of large metropolitan cities such as New York City, Chicago, and Boston, but these two cities sit adjacent to one another and Boston, a triangle of cities.
Both Newton and Lexington boast average household incomes well above the national average. According to U.S. News and World Report, 70 percent of residents in Newton make more than $100,000 while the average household income across the two areas exceeds well over $130,000.
As Movoto notes, Lexington is where the Revolutionary War began and it’s where the “shot heard round world” was fired, but today’s residents are some of the wealthiest in the state of Massachusetts. While Newton’s population of approximately 90,000 is nearly triple that of Lexington, the two cities make up one of the wealthiest areas along the East Coast.
As Moneywise explains, over half of the population across the area holds a Bachelor’s Degree or better with Harvard and Boston University being the two major institutions fueling the well-educated population. With a thriving hospital system and some of the nation’s top medical facilities, the Newton area is full of educated citizens with high-paying jobs.
Sources:
- U.S. News and World Report
- Veranda
- Movoto
- Property Club
- HGTV
- California.com
- Nest Apple
- Moneywise
- Consumers Advocate
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.
Los Altos and Los Altos Hills are two different communities, though adjacent and both very upscale. Your author may wish to revise the article
Newton and Lexington are west of Boston. The only thing east of Boston is the ocean.
Every blue city on this list need to get 25 busloads of illegals because folks get the government they deserve.
Lexington and Newton are west of Boston, not east. If you wanted to live east of Boston, you would need a boat.
Uh, the shot heard ‘round the world was fired at ‘the rude bridge’ in Concord, MA — another expensive town (adjacent to Lexington)