Rolling in the Dough: 10 Cities With the Richest Residents
It might be hard to believe for some, but the average American’s household income has grown in recent years. This fact holds true even when adjusting for inflation, according to USAFacts. While not everyone lives like a celebrity, there are plenty of lavish locations in the States.
Wondering where the wealthiest people in the country reside? U.S. News and World Report used Census Bureau figures to crunch the numbers. You may have guessed it: Several of the top ten wealthiest spots are opulent suburbs of California’s biggest cities.Â
1: Dublin, California
Dublin comes in as the number one wealthiest city in America. No, we’re not talking about the popular Irish destination. Long known as a San Francisco Bay Area crossroads, Payscale reports Dublin, California’s housing expenses are 148% higher than the national average. The city’s median household income is $205,219, with 77.5% of households making more than $100K annually.
2: Sammamish, Washington
Despite its silly-sounding name, Sammamish is a gorgeous city with rolling hills, cozy neighborhoods, and rich folks. Its median household income comes in at a whopping $201,370. Data from the Census Bureau shows more than 6,500 residents working in a computer-related field. Almost 80% of residents make more than $100K in household income.
3: Palo Alto, California
Home to Stanford University, Palo Alto is another California city that has no shortage of affluent inhabitants. Its median household income is $195,781. Realtor.com’s median listing home price for Palo Alto is a whopping $3.1 million.
4: Newton, Massachusetts
Ranked by Niche as one of the best places to live in Massachusetts, Newton is a Boston suburb with well-heeled households. Most residents own their homes and have a median household income of $183,208. With highly rated public schools and many young professionals, 70.7% of households make more than $100K annually.
5: Milpitas, California
Another Silicon Valley city landed on the list of America’s wealthiest: Milpitas. The progressive community is on the southern end of San Francisco Bay, with 72.4% of households making more than $100,000 per year.
6: Bethesda, Maryland
Located about 20 minutes from Washington, DC, Bethesda is one of the country’s most renowned and wealthiest communities. This laid-back suburb has an eye-popping median household income of $167,162.
7: San Ramon, California
Nestled in a Northern Californian valley, San Ramon is a family-friendly city known for its bustling economy and thriving tech industry. Home to glorious parks and hiking trails, the picturesque area also has high-value residents. Seventy-three percent of residents have a household income higher than $100,000, and the medium income is $162,388
8: Mountain View, California
Known for its iconic views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Mountain View is a picturesque city home to 83,500 residents. Most notably, Mountain View is home to Google’s innovative headquarters. The median household income is $157,243, and 70% of residents have a household income higher than $100K.
9: Sunnyvale, California
Its name is just about as fitting as the experience you can have in Sunnyvale. It’s yet another Silicon Valley-based California city that garners glowing reviews from residents and visitors alike. With a median household income of $156,059, it’s safe to say residents aren’t clamoring for cash.
10: Fremont, California
With a median household income of $155,968, Fremont, California, is the tenth wealthiest city in America. It’s the fourth largest city in Silicon Valley and is a vibrant place to reside that lands on several “best places to live” lists. Nearly 70% of residents have a household income higher than $100,000.
Average Income
According to USAFacts, the real median household income is the inflation-adjusted amount of money a specific residence earns annually. As of the most recent census data in 2022, the median American household income is $74,580.
Raking It In
According to the Census Bureau, American households in the 90th percentile brought in an average of $211,956 yearly. That’s over 13 times the income of those in the 10th percentile—the broadest that gap has been since at least 1967. Cities that broke the top ten on this list have households earning at least $150,000 annually on average.
California Dreaming
It likely comes as little surprise to many that several California cities made the list, and data from real estate resource The Real Deal shows that there’s one homeowner worth more than $30 million for every 372 residents in metro San Jose. That makes it the fourth-highest concentration of super-rich people in the world.
How Much Money It Takes To Be in the Top 1%
Whether you dream of being in the top 1% or think you might already be there, one thing is certain: The income a household makes to be in the top 1% club varies by state. Here’s how much you need to make to have a higher income than 99% of Americans.
How Much Money It Takes To Be in the Top 1% in Each State
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