Scarsdale, New York, and West University Place, Texas, currently stand as the two most affluent suburbs in the United States. A recent ranking of the nation’s wealthiest suburbs, based on household income, reveals that significant wealth is concentrated within a few major metropolitan areas, specifically New York City, Houston, Dallas, and San Francisco. In fact, eight of the top 10 most prosperous suburbs are located within just three states: California, New York, and Texas.
The data, released on June 1 by the personal finance platform MoneyLion, utilized figures from the 2024 American Community Survey. The study focused on cities with at least 5,000 households that function as suburbs to larger urban centers. While these communities vary, they often share characteristics such as proximity to water, the presence of major colleges, and a location that balances distance from the urban core with a manageable commute.
Rudri Patel, a certified financial expert at MoneyLion, noted that these areas are frequently sought after for their superior school systems and limited housing inventory. However, she also cautioned that such high levels of affluence can attract risks, including identity theft, wire fraud, and various financial scams. Furthermore, because the ranking relies on mean household income, the results can be influenced by the presence of ultra-wealthy residents, whereas other studies focusing on median income—such as a 2025 U.S. News analysis—might highlight different locations, like Sammamish, Washington.
The Top 10 Wealthiest Suburbs
- Scarsdale, New York: Average household income of $612,591; average home value of $1.7 million.
- West University Place, Texas: Average household income of $439,594; average home value of $1.7 million.
- Rye, New York: Average household income of $428,806; average home value of $2.4 million.
- Los Altos, California: Average household income of $417,182; average home value of $4.8 million.
- Paradise Valley, Arizona: Average household income of $408,500; average home value of $3.7 million.
- University Park, Texas: Average household income of $407,253; average home value of $2.6 million.
- Alamo, California: Average household income of $401,221; average home value of $2.6 million.
- Southlake, Texas: Average household income of $384,530; average home value of $1.3 million.
- McLean, Virginia: Average household income of $379,689; average home value of $1.8 million.
- Orinda, California: Average household income of $376,741; average home value of $2 million.
Wealthiest Suburbs in Major Metros
- Chicago: Hinsdale, Illinois, ranks 11th nationally with an average household income of $367,874 and average home values of $1.3 million.
- Boston: Wellesley, Massachusetts, ranks 12th, featuring Wellesley and Babson colleges, with average incomes of $367,512 and home values of $2.1 million.
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale: Palm Beach ranks 13th, with average household incomes of $357,254 and average home values reaching $10.3 million.
- Los Angeles: La Cañada Flintridge ranks 20th, with average household incomes of $329,425 and home values of $2.5 million.
- Seattle: Mercer Island ranks 23rd, with average household incomes of $318,528 and home values of $2.5 million.
- Birmingham, Alabama: Mountain Brook ranks 24th, with average household incomes of $318,286 and home values of $1.1 million.
Some historically wealthy areas, such as Kenilworth, Illinois, and Chevy Chase, Maryland, were excluded from the primary ranking due to having fewer than 5,000 households. The report also notes that with an income of $428,806, the Westchester suburb of Rye dropped to third in the annual ranking. The report also notes that in a 2025 ranking, Rye placed second. The report also notes that as measured in the 2024 American Community Survey, moneyLion ranked the nation’s 50 most affluent suburbs by household income. The report also notes that the celebrated village in New York’s leafy Westchester County, you may have heard of Scarsdale. The report also notes that affluent suburbs tend to sit a good distance from the urban center but close enough for a sane commute. The report also notes that patel notes another potential downside to wealthy suburbs: They can be magnets for white-collar crime.
