This Is the Wealthiest City in Your State
Have you wondered where the wealthiest cities in the country are? New York City and San Francisco might come to mind, but big businesses and high rents donāt necessarily translate to wealth for a cityās residents. In fact, what separates some of the wealthiest cities from their less wealthy counterparts might surprise you.
In this study, GOBankingRates defined the āwealthiestā cities as those with high median household incomes. To find the wealthiest city in each state, GOBankingRates isolated all cities with more than 1,000 households and, from there, found each stateās richest city in terms of (1) median household income.
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Wealthiest City in Alabama: Highland Lakes
Number of households: 1,868
Median household income: $152,774
Highland Lakes is a census-designated place, meaning it isnāt incorporated. Residents clearly value education, with 99.1% of adults having graduated from high school.
Wealthiest City in Alaska: Fishhook
Number of households: 1,768
Median household income: $106,310
Residents of Fishhook have easy access to the Alaska State Fair, which is held annually in Palmer, about 13 miles south. The 2021 fair will be held Aug. 20 through Sept. 6, and scheduled concert performers include Martina McBride and Billy Idol.
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Wealthiest City in Arizona: Paradise Valley
Number of households: 5,352
Median household income: $211,393
Residents of the Phoenix suburb enjoy an average of 294 days of sun per year, giving them plenty of opportunities to play golf or participate in other outdoor activities. Paradise Valley was the longtime home of U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, and the town honored him with the Goldwater Memorial.
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Wealthiest City in Arkansas: Cave Springs
Number of households: 1,421
Median household income: $134,740
Located in northwest Arkansas, Cave Springs isnāt far from outdoor recreational areas, such as the Ozark National Forest, Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area and Beaver Lake.
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Wealthiest Cities in California: Atherton, Hillsborough, Los Altos Hills, Monte Sereno, Woodside
Number of households in Atherton: 2,215
Number of households in Hillsborough: 3,633
Number of households in Los Altos Hills: 3,016
Number of households in Monte Sereno: 1,128
Number of households in Woodside: 1,799
Median household income: $250,000-plus
It shouldnāt be a surprise that Californiaās richest communities are clustered together near Silicon Valley. After all, the region is the home of the giants in the tech industry, including Apple, Google, Hewlett Packard, Intel and Oracle.
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Wealthiest City in Colorado: Cherry Hills Village
Number of households: 2,243
Median household income: $250,000-plus
Cherry Hills Village is south of Denver and a primarily residential suburb consisting of 6 1/2 square miles. It was incorporated in 1945.
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Wealthiest City in Connecticut: Darien
Number of households: 6,895
Median household income: $232,523
Darien is part of Connecticutās Gold Coast, located alongside Long Island Sound. It offers waterfront living while still being commutable to New York City. Itās about an hour away.
Wealthiest City in Delaware: North Star
Number of households: 2,745
Median household income: $137,917
In North Star, a suburb of Philadelphia, the median housing value is $445,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Wealthiest City in Florida: Pinecrest
Number of households: 6,033
Median household income: $156,875
Pinecrest, incorporated on March 12, 1996, turned 25 this year. It is in Miami-Dade County and south of downtown Miami. It has a lot of titles: Tree City USA, Playful City USA and Community of Respect.
Wealthiest City in Georgia: Druid Hills
Number of households: 3,579
Median household income: $129,740
Druid Hills, one of Atlantaās first suburbs, was designed at the turn of the 20th century by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Central Park in New York City, Stanford University, the grounds of the U.S. Capitol and a number of large estates, including the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.
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Wealthiest City in Hawaii: East Honolulu
Number of households: 16,560
Median household income: $133,165
East Honolulu is part of Hawaiiās capital city but also is recognized independently as a census-designated place. It is popular among retirees, with more than 25% of its population age 65 or older.
Wealthiest City in Idaho: Eagle
Number of households: 9,946
Median household income: $92,807
Outdoors activities abound for residents of Eagle. Eagle Island State Park, bordered by the Boise River, has a picnic area, disc golf course, swimming beach, and trails for hiking, walking and horseback riding.
Wealthiest City in Illinois: Winnetka
Number of households: 4,107
Median household income: $250,000-plus
Winnetka, about 30 minutes north of Chicago, is a haven for those who love their green space. It has 242 acres of parkland, as well as forest preserve land.
Wealthiest City in Indiana: Zionsville
Number of households: 9,865
Median household income: $137,377
Located 20 minutes north of Indianapolis, Zionsville has small-town charm in the shadow of the big city. Zionsville is known for its award-winning school district, as well as its unique shops, dining options and art galleries.
Wealthiest City in Iowa: Robins
Number of households: 1,215
Median household income: $131,078
A suburb of Cedar Rapids, Robins knows how to celebrate special occasions, annually hosting the Bluegrass Festival, summer fireworks, the Robins Roundup, an egg hunt at Easter and the Santa Claus Christmas party. The population has grown by 83% since 2000.
Wealthiest City in Kansas: Mission Hills
Number of households: 1,218
Median household income: $250,000-plus
Mission Hills was developed by urban planner J.C. Nichols as a garden community, and it doesnāt disappoint. Those green spaces. and other locations, are decorated with statues, sculptures, fountains and urns, some of them imported from foreign lands.
Wealthiest City in Kentucky: Indian Hills
Number of households: 1,107
Median household income: $190,313
Located along the Ohio River, which separates Kentucky and Indiana, Indian Hills is a suburb of Louisville. There is a pride of ownership in Indian Hills, where 99.3% of homes are owner-occupied, according to Lenihan Sothebyās International Realty.
Wealthiest City in Louisiana: Prairieville
Number of households: 10,928
Median household income: $99,953
Even Louisianans who donāt live in Prairieville might have been there, drawn by the Flea Market of Louisiana. It has 400 covered booths and is open weekends throughout the year, rain or shine.
Wealthiest City in Maine: Cumberland Center
Number of households: 1,072
Median household income: $99,500
Cumberland Center is one of three distinct areas within the Town of Cumberland. On the coast of Southern Maine, Cumberland still retains its rich agricultural roots, which are showcased each September at the Cumberland Fair.
Wealthiest City in Maryland: Travilah
Number of households: 3,602
Median household income: $241,369
Travilah is known for its big houses on big plots of land. Itās a bedroom community of Washington, D.C., about 20 miles north along the Potomac River.
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Wealthiest City in Massachusetts: Wellesley
Number of households: 8,449
Median household income: $197,132
Wellesley is a center of higher education, with Babson College and Wellesley College, within its limits. A Wellesley College professor, Katharine Lee Bates, wrote āAmerica the Beautifulā in 1893.
Wealthiest City in Michigan: Bloomfield Hills
Number of households: 1,325
Median household income: $178,894
Bloomfield Hills is known, in part, as the home of the Cranbrook Institute of Science. Founded in 1904, it is a nationally known science center, observatory, artifact museum and research hub.
Wealthiest City in Minnesota: North Oaks
Number of households: 2,100
Median household income: $178,816
The master-planned North Oaks community is rare in that it is governed by both the City of North Oaks and the North Oaks Home Ownersā Association. The city takes care of services such as police, fire and planning; the association oversees recreational programs, facilities and road maintenance. All of North Oaksā roads are privately owned.
Wealthiest City in Mississippi: Madison
Number of households: 8,972
Median household income: $114,521
Madison is a spot for both young families and retirees. While almost 28% of the residents are under age 18, Madison also is a certified retirement community. As such, it offers educational, cultural and recreational programs for its older residents.
Wealthiest City in Missouri: Frontenac
Number of households: 1,305
Median household income: $217,768
A suburb of St. Louis, Frontenac became a city in November 1950. It attracted horse lovers, many of whom built stables, and the community maintains its equestrian history through its street names. Today, people are drawn to the area to shop at Plaza Frontenac, which consists largely of high-end stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
Wealthiest City in Montana: Helena Valley Northeast
Number of households: 1,227
Median household income: $96,146
North of Helena, Montanaās capital city, Helena Valley Northeast is surrounded by open space, including national forests.
Wealthiest City in Nebraska: Gretna
Number of households: 1,954
Median household income: $83,103
Popular with visitors to Gretna is the Stations of the Cross, a walking tour located at The Cloisters on the Platte. The Stations of the Cross depicts, in 14 sculptures, the time of Christās life from his trial through his burial.
Wealthiest City in Nevada: Spring Creek
Number of households: 4,559
Median household income: $99,854
Spring Creek is far removed, both literally and figuratively, from Las Vegas. Unlike the glitzy city about 420 miles south, Spring Creek is a rural community, where family activities such as canoeing are the main attraction.
Wealthiest City in New Hampshire: Hanover
Number of households: 1,859
Median household income: $109,514
Nestled along New Hampshireās western border, Hanover is the home of Dartmouth University. Itās one of just 10 towns in the United States where the Appalachian Trail runs down Main Street.
Wealthiest City in New Jersey: Short Hills
Number of households: 4,153
Median household income: $250,000+
Short Hills, part of the Town of Millburn, is accessible for commuters. Itās 10 miles from Newark, New Jersey, and about 25 miles from Manhattan. Philadelphia is about 90 miles away.
Wealthiest City in New Mexico: White Rock
Number of households: 2,247
Median household income: $135,964
White Rock is located in Los Alamos County, which in June 2021 was named the No. 1 Healthiest Community in the United States by U.S. News & World Report in partnership with the Aetna Foundation. The study looked at 84 health and related metrics in 10 categories and analyzed about 3,000 locations.
Wealthiest City in New York: Lloyd Harbor and Scarsdale
Number of households in Lloyd Harbor: 1,196
Number of households in Scarsdale: 5,577
Median household income: $250,000-plus
Located 45 miles apart, Scarsdale is a tony community northeast of Manhattan near the Connecticut border, while Lloyd Harbor is on Long Island. In June 2021, the median home listing price in Scarsdale was $1.2 million, according to Realtor.com. In Lloyd Harbor, it was $1.7 million.
Wealthiest City in North Carolina: Marvin
Number of households: 1,867
Median household income: $206,469
If a home on a big lot is what you want, the Charlotte suburb could be your destiny. Under Marvin zoning regulations, no more than 86 homes can be built per 100 acres. The village was incorporated in 1994.
Wealthiest City in North Dakota: Beulah
Number of households: 1,358
Median household income: $99,125
Beulah is a rural community with rolling hills and farming. But itās also rich in coal and bills itself as the Energy Capital of North Dakota.
Wealthiest City in Ohio: Village of Indian Hill
Number of households: 2,032
Median household income: $207,174
Indian Hill is a quiet residential community in Hamilton County, Ohio, northeast of Cincinnati. Itās known for her large residential lots of three acres or more.
Wealthiest City in Oklahoma: Nichols Hills
Number of households: 1,604
Median household income: $186,912
From the outset, Nichols Hills was designed to be an exclusive community. As developer Gilbert A. Nichols planned Nichols Hills, he wanted it to contain mansions on big lots. He got the idea from a colleague in real estate who suggested the area should be modeled after Beverly Hills, California.
Wealthiest City in Oregon: Cedar Mill
Number of households: 6,019
Median household income: $145,057
Cedar Mill is a suburb of Portland and a short distance to Beaverton, where the world headquarters of Nike are located.
Wealthiest City in Pennsylvania: Fox Chapel
Number of households: 1,797
Median household income: $205,987
The wooded suburb of Pittsburgh features grand homes built by some of the nationās wealthiest families, including the Heinzes and the Carnegies, and is 100% residential, except for schools, churches and private clubs.
Wealthiest City in Rhode Island: Cumberland Hill
Number of households: 3,141
Median household income: $89,456
Since Cumberland Hill is just 13 miles from Providence, residents have access to the big city while maintaining their small-town lifestyle.
Wealthiest City in South Carolina: Tega Cay
Number of households: 3,531
Median household income: $130,918
Located along Lake Wylie, Tega Cay offers water activities such as boating and swimming, as well as golf and hiking.
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Wealthiest City in South Dakota: Dakota Dunes
Number of households: 1,318
Median household income: $118,966
Residents of Dakota Dunes can live, work and play there. Thatās because itās a 2,000-acre master-planned community, started in 1988, that includes 434 acres set aside for offices, retail shops and light industrial activities, and nearly 1,000 acres for open space, public use and golf courses.
Wealthiest City in Tennessee: Forest Hills
Number of households: 1,796
Median household income: $203,056
Forest Hills, a suburb of Nashville, has no commercial development and is nearly 100% residential. High-density housing isnāt allowed.
Wealthiest Cities in Texas: Hunters Creek Village, Piney Point Village, West University Place
Number of households in Hunters Creek Village: 1,540
Number of households in Piney Point Village: 1,214
Number of households in West University Place: 5,419
Median household income: $250,000-plus
All three communities are located within 11 miles of each other west of Houston, which is the fourth-largest city in the United States.
Wealthiest City in Utah: Silver Summit
Number of households: 1,343
Median household income: $147,404
Silver Summit, in Summit County, is northeast of Park City and its ski slopes, hiking and biking trails.
Wealthiest City in Vermont: Essex Junction
Number of households: 4,295
Median household income: $80,019
The Champlain Valley Fair is held each summer in Essex Junction. With more than 120,000 attendees each year, it is the stateās biggest event.
Wealthiest City in Virginia: Great Falls
Number of households: 4,928
Median household income: $238,125
Great Falls is a Washington, D.C., bedroom community, but itās also a destination. The National Park Service manages Great Falls Park, through which the Potomac River flows. The 800-acre park features waterfalls and rapids and is just 15 minutes from the capital city.
Wealthiest City in Washington: Clyde Hill
Number of households: 1,131
Median household income: $238,958
Clyde Hill is east of Seattle and offers views of some of the Pacific Northwestās most spectacular sites, including Mount Rainier, the Olympic and Cascade mountains, Lake Washington and the Seattle skyline.
Wealthiest City in West Virginia: Cheat Lake
Number of households: 3,362
Median household income: $89,310
George Washington surveyed the area in the 1700s, envisioning using the Cheat River as a transportation system. Eventually, Lake Lynn was built in the area for hydroelectric power generation and renamed Cheat Lake in 1976, Homes have cropped up in the area, with residents taking advantage of both water views and activities.
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Wealthiest City in Wisconsin: Merton
Number of households: 1,169
Median household income: $154,464
Residents of Merton, in Waukesha County, enjoy fishing in five lakes, as well as parks, snowmobiling and hiking.
Wealthiest City in Wyoming: Ranchettes
Number of households: 2,345
Median household income: $99,403
Ranchettes, in Laramie County, has pricey real estate. The average list price in June 2021 was $627,500, according to Realtor.com.
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Morgan Quinn contributed to the reporting for this article.
Last updated: July 20, 2021
Methodology: For this piece, GOBankingRates used the 2019 American Community Surveyās 5-year data to find the richest city in every state. First, GOBankingRates isolated all cities with more than 1,000 households, and from there, GOBankingRates found each stateās richest city in terms of (1) median household income. All data was collected and is up to date as of June 29, 2021.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: This Is the Wealthiest City in Your State
