Special Report
The Richest Town in Every State
May 16, 2017 1:10 pm
Last Updated: January 12, 2020 11:57 am
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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