Scarsdale, New York, and West University Place, Texas, currently stand as the two most affluent suburbs in the United States. A recent study highlights that much of the country’s 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 wealthiest suburbs are located within California, New York, or Texas.
Data released on June 1 by the personal finance platform MoneyLion identifies Scarsdale as the nation’s wealthiest suburb, boasting an average household income of $612,591 as of 2024. Houston’s West University Place follows in second place with an average income of $439,594. Rye, another Westchester County suburb, holds the third position with an average income of $428,806, marking a slight decline from its second-place ranking in 2025.
The study analyzed the 50 most affluent suburbs using 2024 American Community Survey data, focusing on cities with at least 5,000 households. While these communities vary, they often share characteristics such as proximity to water, the presence of colleges, and a balance between distance from urban centers and commute feasibility. Rudri Patel, a certified financial expert at MoneyLion, noted that these areas are frequently defined by high-quality school systems and restricted housing inventories.
High earnings in these suburbs often correlate with significant home values. For instance, homes in Los Altos, California—the fourth-wealthiest suburb—average $4.8 million. Patel also cautioned that such affluence can attract risks like wire fraud, identity theft, and various scams. Variations in rankings can occur based on whether mean or median income is used, or if a suburb is too small to meet the 5,000-household threshold, such as Kenilworth, Illinois, or Chevy Chase, Maryland. The report also notes that the median household income in Sammamish is $238,750. The report also notes that here are mini-profiles of the 10 wealthiest suburbs in America. 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.
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 Metropolitan Areas
- Chicago: Hinsdale, Illinois, ranks 11th nationally with an average household income of $367,874 and home values averaging $1.3 million.
- Boston: Wellesley, Massachusetts, ranks 12th nationally with an average household income of $367,512 and home values averaging $2.1 million.
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale: Palm Beach, Florida, ranks 13th nationally with an average household income of $357,254 and home values averaging $10.3 million.
- Los Angeles: La Cañada Flintridge, California, ranks 20th nationally with an average household income of $329,425 and home values averaging $2.5 million.
- Seattle: Mercer Island, Washington, ranks 23rd nationally with an average household income of $318,528 and home values averaging $2.5 million.
- Birmingham, Alabama: Mountain Brook, Alabama, ranks 24th nationally with an average household income of $318,286 and home values averaging $1.1 million.