Each year, tens of millions of Americans journey to our nation’s coasts to enjoy the many beautiful beaches. Beaches offer natural beauty, enjoyable climates, and opportunities for countless physical activities involving both sand and water. For many, a summer isn’t complete without a trip to the beach.
Life by the beach is so desirable, in fact, that many people choose to live in close proximity to the ocean permanently. Due to the natural limitations of coastal real estate – as well as the country’s ever-increasing population – many beach towns have become coveted locations available to a limited number of residents. As a result, these towns have become havens for wealthy residents who can afford the high-priced housing.
To determine America’s richest beach towns, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed household income data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey in America’s coastal towns with beaches. Boroughs, census designated places, cities, towns, and villages were all considered.
While they may not be home to the country’s most popular beaches, many of the richest beach towns are located in the Northeast, especially around economic powerhouse New York City. Many coastal towns in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Long Island have median household incomes of well over $100,000, compared to the national median of just over $57,000. These places are also home to many of America’s richest towns overall.
Life by the ocean isn’t without its own unique stresses. Many homes are vulnerable to catastrophic weather events as well as flooding due to rising sea levels. While not all coastal communities face these threats at the same level, the beach towns that are predicted to soon be under water face potential ruin.
More than one-fifth of residents in wealthy beach towns such as Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina; Key Biscane, Florida; and Strathmere, New Jersey, currently live in homes at risk of chronic flooding by 2060, according to science advocacy organization the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Click here to see America’s richest beach towns.
24/7 Wall St. has identified America’s richest beach towns based on 5-year estimated median household income data from the Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey. Population and poverty rates for each town or city are also from the ACS. The percentage of total population living in at-risk homes refers to the share of homes that will be at risk of flooding by the year 2060, according to data in the Union of Concerned Scientists report “Underwater: Rising Seas, Chronic Floods, and the Implications for US Coastal Real Estate.” To qualify as a “beach town,” the area in question must have a beach that is both open to and actively used by residents. Only towns within the contiguous United States were considered.
Source: Iracaz / Wikimedia Commons
34. Mount Sinai, New York
> Median household income: $114,310
> Population: 12,362
> Poverty rate: 7.4%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.2%
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Source: Devin Stein / Flickr
33. Wading River, New York
> Median household income: $116,709
> Population: 7,742
> Poverty rate: 4.8%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.3%
Source: Wikimedia Commons
32. Blue Point, New York
> Median household income: $117,313
> Population: 4,581
> Poverty rate: 3.4%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 8.8%
Source: KenWiedemann / Getty Images
31. Scituate, Massachusetts
> Median household income: $117,973
> Population: 5,471
> Poverty rate: 4.0%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 3.1%
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Source: tupungato / Getty Images
30. Stinson Beach, California
> Median household income: $119,309
> Population: 603
> Poverty rate: 8.7%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 5.6%
Source: TraceRouda / Getty Images
29. Newport Beach, California
> Median household income: $119,379
> Population: 86,813
> Poverty rate: 6.2%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 6.6%
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Source: Iracaz / Wikimedia Commons
28. Miller Place, New York
> Median household income: $119,963
> Population: 11,985
> Poverty rate: 3.9%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.0%
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Source: Alex Potemkin / Getty Images
27. Port Washington, New York
> Median household income: $120,233
> Population: 15,925
> Poverty rate: 2.3%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.0%
Source: futurewalk / Getty Images
26. Centerport, New York
> Median household income: $120,391
> Population: 5,251
> Poverty rate: 2.8%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 1.2%
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Source: dougtone / Flickr
25. East Islip, New York
> Median household income: $120,528
> Population: 13,853
> Poverty rate: 7.4%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.5%
Source: Peter Bond / Wikimedia Commons
24. Shelter Island Heights, New York
> Median household income: $120,787
> Population: 1,386
> Poverty rate: 0.0%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.8%
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Source: csfotoimages / Getty Images
23. Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina
> Median household income: $120,850
> Population: 2,049
> Poverty rate: 6.7%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 20.5%
Source: Joseph Trentacosti / Getty Images
22. Babylon, New York
> Median household income: $123,110
> Population: 12,130
> Poverty rate: 4.5%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 19.2%
Source: DanTD / Wikimedia Commons
21. Massapequa, New York
> Median household income: $123,384
> Population: 21,820
> Poverty rate: 2.4%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 7.9%
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Source: lavendertime / Getty Images
20. Key Biscayne, Florida
> Median household income: $128,563
> Population: 12,935
> Poverty rate: 6.5%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 34.7%
Source: KenWiedemann / Getty Images
19. Hingham, Massachusetts
> Median household income: $130,375
> Population: 5,777
> Poverty rate: 4.3%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.4%
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Source: CWii / Wikimedia Commons
18. Stony Brook, New York
> Median household income: $131,308
> Population: 13,437
> Poverty rate: 7.4%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.0%
Source: DanTD / Wikimedia Commons
17. Fort Salonga, New York
> Median household income: $131,818
> Population: 9,835
> Poverty rate: 6.4%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.7%
Source: Agiorgio / Wikimedia Commons
16. Atlantic Beach, New York
> Median household income: $131,964
> Population: 1,574
> Poverty rate: 2.4%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.4%
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Source: jeremyiswild / Getty Images
15. Malibu, California
> Median household income: $134,282
> Population: 12,853
> Poverty rate: 10.2%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 1.8%
Source: littleny / Getty Images
14. Wantagh, New York
> Median household income: $136,214
> Population: 18,490
> Poverty rate: 1.9%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 2.4%
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Source: dentok / Getty Images
13. Bodega Bay, California
> Median household income: $137,946
> Population: 608
> Poverty rate: 5.5%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 1.0%
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Source: Traitor / Wikimedia Commons
12. Setauket-East Setauket, New York
> Median household income: $141,863
> Population: 14,174
> Poverty rate: 1.8%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.1%
Source: davidwoodberry / Getty Images
11. Montecito, California
> Median household income: $146,250
> Population: 9,193
> Poverty rate: 8.0%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.0%
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Source: trishhamme / Flickr
10. Point Lookout, New York
> Median household income: $146,389
> Population: 1,128
> Poverty rate: 0.0%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 1.7%
Source: Billvinny / Wikimedia Commons
9. Fishers Island, New York
> Median household income: $150,703
> Population: 303
> Poverty rate: 0.9%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.2%
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Source: tiburonstudios / Getty Images
8. Tiburon, California
> Median household income: $151,429
> Population: 9,170
> Poverty rate: 2.5%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 7.1%
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Source: SorinVidis / Getty Images
7. Rye, New York
> Median household income: $172,422
> Population: 15,949
> Poverty rate: 3.2%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.5%
Source: Victoria Walsh / Getty Images
6. Westport, Connecticut
> Median household income: $181,360
> Population: 27,511
> Poverty rate: 4.3%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 4.3%
Source: Alex Potemkin / Getty Images
5. Larchmont, New York
> Median household income: $198,661
> Population: 6,031
> Poverty rate: 1.9%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.3%
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Source: WalkingGeek / Flickr
4. Southport, Connecticut
> Median household income: $200,139
> Population: 1,694
> Poverty rate: 4.5%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.2%
Source: Max Pixel
3. Darien, Connecticut
> Median household income: $208,848
> Population: 21,519
> Poverty rate: 3.7%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 2.1%
Source: Michael Ver Sprill / Getty Images
2. Strathmere, New Jersey
> Median household income: $222,031
> Population: 181
> Poverty rate: 3.1%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 63.4%
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Source: dougtone / Flickr
1. Old Greenwich, Connecticut
> Median household income: $236,250
> Population: 7,000
> Poverty rate: 4.9%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 7.6%
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