Water and wealth: Here are the 10 richest suburbs in America

New York state, California and Texas are home to eight of the 10 wealthiest suburbs in America, according to a new ranking drawn from Census data. 

The nation’s wealthiest suburb is Scarsdale, in New York’s leafy Westchester County, with an average household income of $601,193, according to an analysis released July 16 by the personal finance site GOBankingRates. The Westchester County suburb of Rye ranks second, with an average household income of $421,259. 

No two suburbs are alike, but the cities near the top of this ranking share some features in common. Many are on the water, or near it. Several are college towns. Affluent suburbs tend to sit a good distance from the urban center but close enough for a sane commute. 

"You can stay in your bubble but also get out of your bubble and still get the things you need," said  Rudri Patel, a senior financial expert at GOBankingRates. 

The ranking is based on average household incomes for suburbs of at least 5,000 households, according to the 2023 American Community Survey.  

If you don’t see your favorite wealthy suburb on the list, that may be the result of statistical choices that shaped the results. This GOBankingRates ranking considers mean household incomes, which can be skewed by the ultra-rich. Other rankings have looked at median incomes, which are often lower.

By median income, the wealthiest U.S. city is Sammamish, Washington, a Seattle suburb, according to a U.S. News analysis. The median household income in Sammamish is $238,750.

Some wealthy suburbs were too small for the GOBankingRate ranking. The Chicago suburb of Kenilworth and the Washington, DC, suburb of Chevy Chase, for example, have fewer than 5,000 households each.

Here are the 10 wealthiest suburbs in America

Here are mini-profiles of the 10 wealthiest suburbs in America.

1. Scarsdale, New York. This New York suburb, in Westchester County, boasts an average household income of $601,193 as of 2023. The average Scarsdale home is worth $1.2 million as of May 2025. 
2. Rye, New York. Another Westchester suburb, Rye is known for its waterfront. Average household income is $421,259. Average home value is $1.9 million. 
3. West University Place, Texas. An unsung suburb of Houston, the city is named for nearby Rice University. Average household income is $409,677. The average home value is $982,834 – positively modest, compared with other cities on this list. 
4. Los Altos, California. A suburb of San Jose, Los Altos is better-known as part of Silicon Valley. Household incomes average $403,512. The average home is worth a whopping $4.6 million. 
5. Alamo, California. This Oakland suburb sits in Contra Costa County, east of San Francisco. Household incomes average $403,334. Home values average $2.6 million. 
6. University Park, Texas. The word “university” seems to go a long way if you’re a suburb in Texas. This Dallas suburb is named for Southern Methodist University. The average household income is $389,868, and home values average $2.5 million. 
7. Southlake, Texas. This Dallas/Fort Worth suburb is named for Grapevine Lake. Household incomes average $382,520. Home values average $1.3 million. 
8. Hinsdale, Illinois. Most people associate Chicago’s North Shore with suburban wealth, but the city’s wealthiest suburb now sits to the west. Hinsdale has an average household income of $376,366. Home values average $1.2 million. 
9. Orinda, California. Another Oakland suburb, Orinda sits in Contra Costa County, east of Berkeley. Household incomes average $369,073, and home values average $2 million. 
10. Wellesley, Massachusetts. The only Boston suburb in our Top 10, Wellesley is home to Wellesley and Babson colleges. Household incomes average $368,179, and home values average $2.1 million. 

Here are the richest suburbs of other big cities

Don’t see your city or suburb on the Top 10? Here are some big metros and their wealthiest suburbs:

• Los Angeles: Its wealthiest suburb is Palos Verdes Estates, part of the tony Palos Verdes Peninsula and ranked 11 in the nation. Household incomes average $367,178. Home values average $2.8 million. 
• Washington, DC: Its most affluent suburb is McLean, Virginia, home to diplomats and spies, and ranked 12th on the list. The average household income is $364,591, and home prices average $1.7 million. 
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida: The honor goes to Palm Beach, part-time home to President Donald Trump, although locals associate themselves more with neighboring West Palm Beach. Palm Beach ranks 13th among suburbs nationally. Household incomes average $356,467, and the average home value is an eye-popping $10.3 million. 
• Miami: You don’t hear much about Pinecrest, Miami’s wealthiest suburb, south of the city. It ranks 21st on the national list. Household incomes average $312,591, and home values average $2.4 million. 
• Seattle: The wealthiest Seattle suburb is Mercer Island, which is an actual island, east of the city. It ranks 29th nationally. Household incomes average $303,425, and home values average $2.5 million. 
• Birmingham, Alabama: Mountain Brook ranks 30th among wealthiest U.S. suburbs, with an average household income of $302,510 and an average home value of $1 million.
• Orlando, Florida: Lake Butler is part of a lake-intensive region west of the city, not far from Walt Disney World. Its national ranking is 40. Household incomes average $289,593, and the average home is worth a modest $283,493. 
• Nashville: Its wealthiest suburb is Brentwood, the 50th most affluent in the nation. Average household income is $261,248, and home values average $1.4 million.