Special Report
The Richest Town in Every State
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In recent years, income inequality has taken a much more central role in the national discourse, and an increasingly-politicized one at that.
While there are several potential explanations for this change, the clearest is simply that income inequality is on the rise in the U.S. to an extent not seen in recent memory. While middle class incomes have stagnated or even declined at times, earnings of the wealthiest Americans have climbed steadily over the past few decades.
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Partially as a result, wealth has become increasingly concentrated in certain parts of the country. Today, the typical household in many U.S. towns well more than doubles the median income nationwide. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed Census data on some 2,640 towns across the United States to identify the richest town in every state.
Click here to see the richest town in every state.
Despite being thousands of miles apart, many of these towns share several common characteristics. For example, most are primarily residential towns located near a major urban center. Major U.S. cities tend to have concentrations of high paying jobs — and clusters of wealthy suburbs on their outskirts.
The industries present in these cities can partially determine just how wealthy these affluent suburbs are. For example, several of the wealthiest towns in the entire country can be found near the D.C. metropolitan area, where many find lucrative work as government contractors and lawyers. Several other towns on this list are within commuting distance of New York City and its high paying finance industry.
High-paying jobs often require highly skilled workers. As a result, residents of the highest earning town in every state also tend to be highly educated. The share of the adult population with at least a bachelor’s degree is greater than the corresponding statewide share in all but four towns on this list. Nationwide, about 30% of adults have at least a bachelor’s degree. The bachelor’s degree attainment rate exceeds 50% in 30 of the 50 towns on this list.
Higher incomes mean residents are more likely to be able to afford higher priced homes. Some towns on this list have among the most expensive residential real estate markets in the country. In Rolling Hills, California, for example, a typical home is worth over $2 million. In several other towns, including Darien, Connecticut and Travilah, Maryland median home values exceed $1 million. In every town on this list, the median home value is greater than the typical home value statewide.
To determine the richest town in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed median household incomes in every town with a population between 1,000 and 25,000 in each state from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. All social and economic figures are based on five-year estimates for the period of 2011-2015. To control for potential errors that can arise in low population areas, we did not consider towns where the margin of error at 90% confidence was greater than 10% of the point estimate of both median household income and population. We considered the percentage of adults who have at least a bachelor’s degree, poverty rates, uninsured rates, and median home value — all from the ACS. Income inequality, as measured by the Gini coeffecient, also came from the ACS.
These are the richest town in every state.
Source: Robert Donovan / Wikimedia Commons
1. Mountain Brook, Alabama
> Town median household income: $126,534
> State median household income: $43,623 (4th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 3.0%
> Town population: 20,518
While Alabama is one of the poorest states, not all corners of the state report such low incomes. The typical household in Mountain Brook earns $126,534 annually, nearly three times the statewide median household income of $43,623 a year.
A college education can lead to higher paying job opportunities. Approximately 85% of Mountain Brook adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, more than three times the comparable statewide rate of 23.5%, and one of the largest such shares in the United States.
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Source: Courtesy of Mike Juvrud via Flickr
2. Gateway, Alaska
> Town median household income: $92,739
> State median household income: $72,515 (2nd highest)
> Town poverty rate: 7.8%
> Town population: 5,610
The typical household in Gateway, Alaska earns $92,739 a year, or about $20,000 more than the median income statewide.
In Gateway, the higher median income means fewer people live in poverty. The town’s 7.8% poverty rate is lower than the 10.2% statewide poverty rate and well below the 15.5% national poverty rate. On the other hand, the town’s poverty rate is relatively high compared to other high income towns on this list.
Source: summitpost.org
3. Tanque Verde, Arizona
> Town median household income: $92,488
> State median household income: $50,255 (21st lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 6.0%
> Town population: 16,748
In Tanque Verde, Arizona’s wealthiest town, only 6.0% of the population lives in poverty, less than a third of the 18.2% statewide poverty rate. Real estate values in an area typically reflect residents’ income. The median home value in Tanque Verde is $358,800, more than double the median home value of $167,500 across Arizona.
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/seandavis/
4. Marion, Arkansas
> Town median household income: $61,669
> State median household income: $41,371 (2nd lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 10.9%
> Town population: 12,328
The typical household in Arkansas earns $41,371 annually, the second lowest median income of any state. While Marion is the wealthiest town in the state, incomes are only slightly wealthier than they are nationwide. The typical Marion household earns $61,669 a year, nearly $8,000 more than the $53,889 the typical American household earns. Also, the median home value in Marion of $151,100 is far higher than the statewide median value of $111,400 yet below the nationwide value of $178,600.
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Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/danboarder/
5. Rolling Hills, California
> Town median household income: $216,458
> State median household income: $61,818 (9th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 2.0%
> Town population: 1,820
Rolling Hills is the wealthiest town in California and the third wealthiest in the United States. With a median household income of $216,458, it is one of only a few American towns where a majority of households earn over $200,000 annually. Located about 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles, Rolling Hill residents have easy access not only to amenities in the city, but also the Pacific Coast. The median home value in the area is over $2 million, more than in any other town on this list.
Source: Keflavich / Wikimedia Commons
6. Greenwood Village, Colorado
> Town median household income: $117,500
> State median household income: $60,629 (13th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 4.0%
> Town population: 14,920
The typical household in Greenwood Village earns $117,500 a year, the most of any town in Colorado and nearly twice the $60,629 statewide median household income. Greenwood Village contains parts of the Denver Tech Center, a business park and technology cluster that provide many residents with high-paying, steady jobs relatively close to home. An estimated 27% of Greenwood Village workers are employed within the town’s borders, nearly the largest share among high income towns reviewed.
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Source: Doug Kerr / Wikimedia Commons
7. Darien, Connecticut
> Town median household income: $208,906
> State median household income: $70,331 (4th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 5.4%
> Town population: 21,392
Darien is the wealthiest town in Connecticut and one of the wealthiest in the United States. Located along the Long Island Sound in between Stamford and Norwalk, the town is within commuting distance of New York City.
Higher incomes often require high educational attainment. Even compared to many places on this list, Darien’s adult population is relatively well educated. Darien is one of only 18 U.S. towns where four in every five adults have at least a bachelor’s degree.
Source: northstarcommunities.com
8. North Star, Delaware
> Town median household income: $142,622
> State median household income: $60,509 (14th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 1.0%
> Town population: 7,596
The typical North Star household earns $142,622 annually, by far the highest of any other town in Delaware and more than twice the $60,509 statewide median income. Glasgow has the next highest median income, at $86,813. Just 1.0% of North Star residents live in poverty, by far the lowest rate of any town in the state, and a fraction of the 12% poverty rate for Delaware as a whole. Like in most wealthy towns, most of North Star residents commute to high-paying jobs in large neighboring cities. More than nine in 10 workers living in North Star are employed outside of the town.
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/walterpro/
9. Keystone, Florida
> Town median household income: $113,741
> State median household income: $47,507 (13th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 2.5%
> Town population: 23,271
With the highest median income of any town in Florida, the median home value in Keystone is $337,400, more than double the $159,000 median home value across the state. Just as affluence is relatively common in Keystone, serious financial hardship is not. Only 2.5% of town residents live in poverty, far below the 16.5% statewide poverty rate.
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Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/grantdaws/
10. Skidaway Island, Georgia
> Town median household income: $106,042
> State median household income: $49,620 (20th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 2.4%
> Town population: 8,042
The typical household in Skidaway Island earns $106,042 a year, the most of any town in Georgia and more than twice the $49,620 statewide median household income. A majority of the island’s population lives in The Landings, one of the largest and most affluent gated communities in the United States, known for its waterfront properties and numerous golf courses. The typical home on Skidaway Island has a real estate market value of $433,400, more than triple the $148,100 statewide median home value.
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/smilygrl/
11. Maunawili, Hawaii
> Town median household income: $131,635
> State median household income: $69,515 (5th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 1.8%
> Town population: 2,149
The typical household in Maunawili, Hawaii earns $131,635 a year, more than any other town in state. High income towns tend to have relatively high home values, and this is especially the case in Maunawili. The median home value in Maunawili is $914,400, considerably higher than the median for Hawaii of $515,300, itself the highest of all states.
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Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dangregson/
12. Eagle, Idaho
> Town median household income: $78,939
> State median household income: $47,583 (14th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 5.1%
> Town population: 21,863
A suburb of the Boise metropolitan statistical area, Eagle is the wealthiest town in Idaho. The typical household in Eagle earns $78,939 a year, versus the $47,583 statewide median household income. Compared to low and average income areas, larger shares of residents of the richest towns tend to commute to neighboring urban areas. Eagle is something of an exception in this regard. An estimated 34% of workers living in Eagle are employed within the town’s borders, one of the largest shares among high income towns.
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Source: anarchosyn / Wikimedia Commons
13. Winnetka, Illinois
> Town median household income: $211,773
> State median household income: $57,574 (17th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 1.8%
> Town population: 12,407
Winnetka, the wealthiest town in Illinois, is located about 20 miles north of downtown Chicago, along the western shore of Lake Michigan. With access to high paying jobs in the largest city in the Midwest, about 83% of Winnetka’s labor force does not work inside the town. High employment outside town of residence is generally very common among residents of high income areas. The typical household in town earns $211,773 a year, nearly four times the median income statewide.
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/joasia242/
14. St. John, Indiana
> Town median household income: $95,777
> State median household income: $49,255 (16th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 2.9%
> Town population: 15,789
The typical household in St. John, the wealthiest town in Indiana, earns $95,777 a year, nearly twice the $49,225 median household income statewide. One reason for the high area incomes is the high level of education among town residents. An estimated 97.1% of St. John adults have graduated high school, the largest share in Indiana. Also, 37.6% of St. John adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, far more than the 24% statewide share. Nationwide, the typical high school graduate earns $8,000 more than the typical worker who did not finish high school, and college graduates earn $20,000 more.
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Source: Iowahwyman / Wikimedia Commons
15. Johnston, Iowa
> Town median household income: $97,457
> State median household income: $53,183 (24th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 4.7%
> Town population: 19,550
Johnston is located about 10 miles northwest of Des Moines, the largest city in Iowa. The affluent suburb’s poverty rate is only 4.7%, less than half the 12.5% statewide poverty rate, itself one of the lower rates of all states. High incomes and fewer people facing severe financial hardship means fewer Johnston residents rely on government assistance to meet their basic needs. Only 4.6% of the Johnston population receives SNAP benefits from the government, less than half the 11.7% statewide SNAP recipiency rate.
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gilchristlaura/
16. Andover, Kansas
> Town median household income: $83,608
> State median household income: $52,205 (25th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 2.7%
> Town population: 12,293
The typical Andover household earns $83,608 a year, roughly $31,000 more than the median household income across Kansas of $52,205. The area’s incomes are likely bolstered by the large share of town adults with a college education. Some 47% of Andover adults have a bachelor’s degree, versus the 31% statewide share. Some of the largest employers in the town are the Andover Unified School District #385, Kansas Medical Center, and Sherwin-Williams. As is generally the case in high income areas, however, the vast majority of Andover residents, 80%, are employed outside of the town’s borders.
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Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/decorativeconcrete/
17. Burlington, Kentucky
> Town median household income: $69,932
> State median household income: $43,740 (5th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 8.0%
> Town population: 16,892
Located about 16 miles from downtown Cincinnati across the Ohio River, Burlington is the wealthiest town in Kentucky. The typical Burlington household earns $69,932 a year, compared to the median income statewide of $43,740. While high incomes in an area can often be partially explained by high educational attainment, this is not the case in Burlington. Only 25.3% of Burlington adults have a bachelor’s degree, versus the 22.3% state figure but less than seven other towns in Kentucky with populations between 1,000 and 25,000.
Source: trulia.com
18. Shenandoah, Louisiana
> Town median household income: $88,990
> State median household income: $45,047 (7th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 4.8%
> Town population: 18,874
Louisiana is one of the poorest states in the country. Not all parts of the state report such low incomes however. The typical household in Shenandoah earns nearly $89,000 a year, or about $35,100 more than the typical American household. Located just east of the state capital Baton Rouge, about nine in every 10 working Shenandoah residents commute to a job outside of the town.
Source: Josh and Melanie Rosenthal / Wikimedia Commons
19. Saco, Maine
> Town median household income: $53,715
> State median household income: $49,331 (17th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 10.0%
> Town population: 18,874
Despite ranking as the wealthiest town in Maine, the typical household in Saco earns only $53,715 a year, in line with the median income nationwide. High-paying industries that require higher levels of education are not especially common in the region. Some 31.9% of adults in Saco have at least bachelor’s degree. While this is a slightly higher share than the 29.0% of Maine adults with similar education, it is one of the smallest such shares among high income towns on this list.
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Source: Creative Commons / Wikimedia Commons
20. Travilah, Maryland
> Town median household income: $206,827
> State median household income: $74,551 (the highest)
> Town poverty rate: 3.9%
> Town population: 12,106
One of only a handful of U.S. towns with a median household income above $200,000, Travilah, Maryland is the richest town in the richest state in the country. Many high paying jobs are often only available to college-educated workers, and slightly more than 75% of adults in Travilah have at least a bachelor’s degree. In comparison, only about 30% of American adults have similar educational attainment.
Source: Moonshine4711 / Wikimedia Commons
21. Winchester, Massachusetts
> Town median household income: $143,017
> State median household income: $68,563 (6th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 3.4%
> Town population: 22,075
A suburb of Boston, people living in Winchester have access to a range of jobs in high paying businesses operating in the urban area. The typical Winchester household earns just over $143,000 a year, more than double the median income across Massachusetts of $68,563.
Like Massachusetts, Winchester’s adult population is very well educated. More than 72% of adults in the town have at least a college degree, well above the state percentage of 40.5%, itself the highest college attainment rate of all states.
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Source: Traveler100 / Wikimedia Commons
22. Franklin, Michigan
> Town median household income: $143,289
> State median household income: $49,576 (19th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 5.3%
> Town population: 3,198
While Michigan is one of the less wealthy states, the typical household in the village of Franklin earns $143,289 a year, $89,400 more than the typical U.S. household. Franklin became the first historic district in Michigan in 1969, and today it is home to a number of expensive historically-preserved homes built in Greek Revival, Colonial Revival, American Foursquare, and other vintage architectural styles. The typical home in Franklin is worth $478,500, nearly four times the $122,400 statewide median home value and far more than the $178,600 national median.
Source: Bobak Ha'Eri / Wikimedia Commons
23. Carver, Minnesota
> Town median household income: $113,571
> State median household income: $61,492 (10th highest)
> Town poverty rate: <1%
> Town population: 4,136
The typical household in Carver, Minnesota earns $113,571 a year, the most of any town in the state. At an estimated less than 1% of Carver residents, the town has nearly the smallest poverty rate of any U.S. town.
Carver, which became one of the first historic districts in Minnesota in 1980, has numerous expensive, historically-preserved properties. The typical Carver home is worth $273,800, far more than the $186,200 state median home value.
Source: Ditch Fisher / Wikimedia Commons
24. Brandon, Mississippi
> Town median household income: $71,944
> State median household income: $39,665 (the lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 7.0%
> Town population: 22,897
One of the poorest places in the country, Mississippi is the only state where the median household income falls below $40,000 annually. Not all parts of the state report such low incomes, however. In Brandon, a town about 20 minutes drive from downtown Jackson and the state Capitol, the typical household earns about $32,300 more than the typical Mississippi household. Also, only 7.0% of town residents live in poverty compared to 22.5% of Mississippi residents.
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Source: Courtesy of Clarkson Valley
25. Clarkson Valley, Missouri
> Town median household income: $162,452
> State median household income: $48,173 (15th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 3.4%
> Town population: 2,634
Higher educational levels typically lead to higher paying job opportunities. In Missouri, only 27.1% of adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, a smaller share than in most states. In Clarkson Valley, however, more than three in every four adults have a bachelor’s degree, more than double the comparable 29.8% national share.
Higher educational attainment rates tend to help explain higher incomes, which in turn lead to higher home prices. The typical Clarkson Valley home is worth over $600,000, by far the most of any Missouri town with between 1,000 and 25,000 people.
Source: flickr
26. Helena Valley Northwest, Montana
> Town median household income: $78,737
> State median household income: $47,169 (12th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 2.9%
> Town population: 3,990
The typical household in Helena Valley Northwest earns $78,737 annually, nearly $32,000 more than the $47,169 median household income statewide. A relatively small town of roughly 4,000 people, the majority of working residents commute to high paying jobs in larger cities nearby. Some 93% of workers living in Helena Valley Northwest are employed outside of the town’s borders, one of the largest such shares of any town nationwide. Helena Valley Northwest is about 13 miles from Helena, the state capital.
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Source: Wikimedia Commons
27. Waverly, Nebraska
> Town median household income: $83,081
> State median household income: $52,997 (25th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 3.1%
> Town population: 3,614
The typical household in Waverly, Nebraska earns $83,081 annually, more than any other town in the state. Unlike many towns on this list, home values in Waverley are not especially high. The typical Waverly home is worth only $154,500, less than the $178,600 value of the typical American home. Higher paying industries are often more common in urban centers and Waverly residents are only a 20 minute commute from the state capital of Lincoln.
Source: Rich Williamson / Flickr
28. Spanish Springs, Nevada
> Town median household income: $78,604
> State median household income: $51,847 (24th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 4.5%
> Town population: 15,789
The typical household in Spanish Springs, the wealthiest town in Nevada, earns $78,604 a year, nearly $27,000 more than the $51,847 median household income statewide. Area residents are able to earn high incomes despite relatively low educational attainment. Just 21.9% of Spanish Springs adults have a bachelor’s degree, nearly the smallest share of any U.S. town with a median household income above $75,000 annually.
About six miles south of Spanish Springs down State Route 445 is the town of Sun Valley, Nevada’s poorest town. The typical household in Sun Valley has an income of just $44,013.
Source: John Phelan / Wikimedia Commons
29. South Hooksett, New Hampshire
> Town median household income: $91,495
> State median household income: $66,779 (7th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 3.0%
> Town population: 5,825
South Hooksett is a suburb located just north of Manchester, the largest city in New Hampshire. Median annual household income in South Hooksett is $91,495, more than the $66,779 state median and the $53,889 national median.
New Hampshire is a relatively wealthy state with comparatively low income inequality. The difference between the median income in the wealthiest town and statewide is only about $25,000, which is less than half the $67,000 average disparity across all 50 states. Just 8.9% of New Hampshire residents live in poverty, the smallest share of any state in the country.
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Source: EdZa / Wikimedia Commons
30. North Caldwell, New Jersey
> Town median household income: $200,152
> State median household income: $72,093 (3rd highest)
> Town poverty rate: 2.3%
> Town population: 6,415
North Caldwell is a small borough in Essex County, New Jersey. The typical North Caldwell household earns $200,152 a year, more than twice the $72,093 statewide median and among the most of any U.S. town. The borough is almost entirely residential, with most businesses in the town concentrated in two small commercial districts on the north and southern ends of town. An estimated 95% of North Caldwell workers are employed outside of the borough and commute to nearby cities which include Newark, Jersey City, and New York.
A large share of these commuters are professionals with excellent salaries, as evidenced by the over 70% bachelor’s attainment rate in the area, approximately double that of the state.
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bdungard/
31. White Rock, New Mexico
> Town median household income: $107,688
> State median household income: $44,963 (6th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 2.6%
> Town population: 5,927
White Rock was initially established as a commuter town for construction workers of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, when in 1947 the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission purchased the land and began development. While the town has expanded since, White Rock remains largely residential, with roughly 80% of land dedicated to single-family homes and 10% to parks and recreation. Los Alamos National Laboratory is still the top area employer, providing high-paying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs to qualified residents.
Some 61.1% of White Rock adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, the largest share in New Mexico and more than twice the 29.8% national college attainment rate. The typical White Rock household earns $107,688 a year, the most of any town in the state.
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Source: Thinkstock
32. Scarsdale, New York
> Town median household income: $242,782
> State median household income: $59,269 (15th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 2.3%
> Town population: 17,621
Not only is Scarsdale the wealthiest town in New York, but it is also the wealthiest in the nation. The typical household in the New York City suburb earns $242,782 annually, more than four times both the $59,269 state and $53,889 national median incomes. The town is home to a large share of highly educated residents, many of whom commute to high-paying jobs in New York City. An estimated 87% of Scarsdale adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, the third largest share of any town nationwide.
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/
33. Morrisville, North Carolina
> Town median household income: $91,206
> State median household income: $46,868 (10th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 4.4%
> Town population: 21,726
While North Carolina is one of the poorest states, not all parts of the state report low incomes. The typical household in Morrisville earns $91,206 a year, well above the $46,868 state median income and the $53,889 median income nationwide.
Morrisville is adjacent to the Research Triangle business park and technology cluster where many qualified residents work at high-paying STEM jobs. About 65.4% of Morrisville adults have a bachelor’s degree, more than twice the 28.4% share statewide.
Source: Lindsey G / Wikimedia Commons
34. Williston, North Dakota
> Town median household income: $90,171
> State median household income: $57,181 (18th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 11.0%
> Town population: 22,051
Since the discovery of the Parshall oil field in Williston Basin in 2006, incomes in Williston have risen dramatically. The median household income in the town rose from $49,742 in 2009 to $90,171 in 2015 — today the highest of any town in the state. The population has also risen substantially as people from all over the United States and the world flocked to the region. The population grew from roughly 12,000 in 2009 to more than 22,000 today. The North Dakota oil boom has offered workers with little more than a high school education the chance to earn high incomes. Just 21.9% of Williston adults have a bachelor’s degree, less than both the 27.7% state and 29.8% national college attainment rates.
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Source: Kellsboro / Flickr
35. The Village of Indian Hill, Ohio
> Town median household income: $206,250
> State median household income: $49,429 (18th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 1.2%
> Town population: 5,793
Not only is the Village of Indian Hill the wealthiest town in Ohio, but also one of the wealthiest towns in the country. The typical household in the Cincinnati suburb earns $206,250 a year, more than four times the $49,429 statewide median household income and far more than three times the $53,889 national median. With some of the wealthiest and most educated residents, the town’s housing market is one of the most expensive in the country. Nearly 90% of Indian Hill adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, the largest share of any U.S. town with a population between 1,000 and 25,000. The typical Indian Hill home is worth $925,600, more than five times the $178,600 national median home value.
Source: woodleywonderworks / Flickr
36. Jenks, Oklahoma
> Town median household income: $86,747
> State median household income: $46,879 (11th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 3.6%
> Town population: 19,030
The typical household in Jenks earns $86,747 annually, or nearly $40,000 more than the typical Oklahoma household. Higher incomes in the area can be attributed to a host of factors — including a high educational attainment rate. Some 46.6% of adults in Jenks have at least a bachelor’s degree, the largest share of any town in the state, and well above the comparable 29.8% share nationwide.
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Source: Steve Morgan / Wikimedia Commons
37. Bethany, Oregon
> Town median household income: $116,535
> State median household income: $51,243 (23rd lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 2.5%
> Town population: 22,346
Bethany is the only town in Oregon with a population between 1,000 and 25,000 with a six-figure median household income. The high median income in the Portland suburb means a relatively small share of the population lives in poverty. Only about 2.5% of the town’s 22,000 plus residents live in poverty, a small fraction of the state’s 16.5% poverty rate. Bethany is one of the very few towns in Oregon where the typical home is worth over $400,000.
Source: Wolfe House and Building Movers / Wikimedia Commons
38. Edgeworth, Pennsylvania
> Town median household income: $155,170
> State median household income: $53,599 (21st highest)
> Town poverty rate: 2.2%
> Town population: 1,657
Edgeworth, Pennsylvania, the most affluent town in the state, is a Pittsburgh suburb located on the north bank of the Ohio River. High home values tend to reflect the desirability of a particular real estate market, as well as the disposable incomes of area residents. The typical area home is worth $478,500, nearly three times the median home value statewide. In addition to high incomes, infrastructural amenities likely drive up real estate value.
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jbranca/
39. Cumberland Hill, Rhode Island
> Town median household income: $77,164
> State median household income: $56,852 (19th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 4.5%
> Town population: 8,439
The town of Cumberland Hill is located in the northeast corner of Rhode Island, not far from the Massachusetts state border. The wealthiest town in the state, the typical Cumberland Hill household earns $77,164 a year, about $20,000 more than the statewide median income.
Despite higher incomes, real estate values in Cumberland Hill closely resemble home values across Rhode Island. A typical home in Cumberland Hill is worth about $240,600, in line with the $238,000 median home value statewide.
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Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/aggiesoft/
40. Five Forks, South Carolina
> Town median household income: $115,050
> State median household income: $45,483 (9th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 1.5%
> Town population: 16,398
Residents of the Greenville suburb of Five Forks are the highest earners in South Carolina. While South Carolina as a whole is a relatively poor state, Five Forks residents tend to be anything but — over half of all area households earn six-figures annually.
The town’s affluence is also reflected in the relatively small share of residents facing serious financial hardship. Only 1.5% of the Five Forks population live on poverty level incomes, the smallest share of any town in the state and well below the 15.5% national poverty rate.
Source: teasd.com
41. Tea, South Dakota
> Town median household income: $76,078
> State median household income: $50,957 (22nd lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 3.6%
> Town population: 4,427
Tea, named over a century ago after the popular drink, is an affluent suburb of Sioux Falls, the largest city in South Dakota. Many high paying jobs are only available to people with a college education, and in Tea, 37.3% of adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, about 10 percentage points higher than the comparable share statewide. Home values tend to be substantially higher in areas with higher median incomes, but the typical house in Tea is worth just $169,000, compared to the statewide median home value of $140,500, and less than the national value of $178,600.
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Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pamwood707/
42. Lookout Mountain, Tennessee
> Town median household income: $121,319
> State median household income: $45,219 (8th lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 3.5%
> Town population: 1,871
Boasting scenic beauty and the largest publicly accessible underground waterfall, real estate in Lookout Mountain is not cheap. Lookout Mountain is the only town in Tennessee with a median home value above half a million dollars.
The wealthiest town in Tennessee, Lookout Mountain is also the best educated. Some 78.5% of area adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, more than triple the comparable 24.9% statewide share.
Source: Djmaschek / Wikimedia Commons
43. Fulshear, Texas
> Town median household income: $175,990
> State median household income: $53,207 (23rd highest)
> Town poverty rate: 3.2%
> Town population: 3,228
Many of America’s wealthiest towns largely consist of college-educated adults, and Fulshear, the wealthiest town in Texas, is no exception. The town is one of only 13 statewide where over half of all adults have at least a bachelor’s degree.
Less than an hour drive from downtown Houston, Fulshear’s population has grown in tandem with the state’s largest city. Now home to over 3,000 residents, only about 600 people lived in Fulshear as recently as 1988.
Source: a4gpa / Flickr
44. Highland, Utah
> Town median household income: $116,971
> State median household income: $60,727 (12th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 3.2%
> Town population: 17,030
About 12.3% of Utah residents live in poverty, a smaller share than in most states. In Highland, the wealthiest town in Utah, only about 3.2% of all residents live in poverty. The price of real estate in an area tends to reflect the ability of area residents to pay, and places with expensive real estate can drive out low income residents. The typical home in Highland is worth $424,400 — almost double the $215,900 median home value across the state as a whole.
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Source: Thinkstock
45. South Burlington, Vermont
> Town median household income: $65,840
> State median household income: $55,176 (20th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 6.7%
> Town population: 18,536
Incomes do not vary dramatically across Vermont. For example, the typical household in South Burlington, the wealthiest town in the state, is $65,840 a year, or only about $10,700 more than the median income statewide.
A college education is often a prerequisite for a high paying career. In South Burlington, 53.9% of adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, well above the statewide college attainment rate of 36.0%.
Source: Thinkstock
46. Great Falls, Virginia
> Town median household income: $234,091
> State median household income: $65,015 (8th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 1.9%
> Town population: 15,764
The typical household in Great Falls earns $234,091 a year, more than any other town in Virginia and nearly the most of any town nationwide. Located along the western bank of the Potomac just northwest of the D.C. Beltway, many of Great Falls residents commute to high paying jobs in and around the nation’s capital.
Like many towns on this list, adults in Great Falls tend to be well educated. More than four in every five town adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, well more than double the 36.3% statewide college attainment rate, which itself is among the highest of all states.
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Source: Kelvin Flores / Flickr
47. Cottage Lake, Washington
> Town median household income: $135,291
> State median household income: $61,062 (11th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 2.8%
> Town population: 23,703
Cottage Lake is the wealthiest town in Washington state and one of only five across the state where the typical home is worth over half a million dollars. The majority of the town’s labor force commutes to jobs outside of Cottage Lake as the town is only a short drive from downtown Seattle.
A four-year college education, at minimum, is typical in professions that support the kind of incomes common in Cottage Lake, and nearly 60% of all adults in the town have at least a bachelor’s degree, well above the 32.9% share across the state.
Source: Michelle Spooner
48. Bethlehem, West Virginia
> Town median household income: $63,587
> State median household income: $41,751 (3rd lowest)
> Town poverty rate: 9.9%
> Town population: 2,589
West Virginia is one of the poorest states in the country, and the typical income even in its wealthiest town is lower than the median household income across eight states. Still Bethlehem’s $63,587 median annual household income is about $10,000 more than the median American household income.
While the typical home in most towns on this list is worth more than a quarter million dollars, this is not the case in Bethlehem. A typical Bethlehem home is worth only about $130,200, about $48,400 less than a typical home nationwide.
Source: movoto.com
49. Merton, Wisconsin
> Town median household income: $133,315
> State median household income: $53,357 (22nd highest)
> Town poverty rate: 1.8%
> Town population: 3,492
Within commuting distance of Milwaukee, Merton residents have access to high paying jobs in Wisconsin’s largest city. The typical Merton household earns $133,315 a year, well more than double the $53,357 statewide median income. Not surprisingly, a typical home in Merton is worth $373,800, also more than double the $165,800 median home value statewide.
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Source: Thinkstock
50. Green River, Wyoming
> Town median household income: $72,656
> State median household income: $58,840 (16th highest)
> Town poverty rate: 10.6%
> Town population: 12,604
In many towns on this list, poverty is nearly non-existent. The same cannot be said for Green River, Wyoming’s wealthiest town. The town’s poverty rate of 10.6% is roughly in line with the statewide poverty rate of 11.5%.
The area’s higher incomes likely do not come from jobs with especially high educational requirements. Despite having the highest median household income in the state, only about one in five adults in Green River have a bachelor’s degree, a smaller share than the statewide share of about one in four adults.
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