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Bizjournals analyzed 2,065 cities during its study of America's wealth centers. Here are the top 10 cities as ranked in the study. A key fact for each city follows.
1. McLean, Va.
No U.S. city enjoys a wider range of affluence. Typical household income is $156,292. Typical home is worth $863,700.
2. Lake Forest, Ill.
Five percent of households in this Chicago suburb have annual incomes in excess of $1.15 million. Median is $150,670.
3. Saratoga, Calif.
Residents of this San Jose suburb love to drive. One-seventh of all households have four or more vehicles, leading the top 10.
4. Potomac, Md.
Sits across Potomac River from top-rated McLean. Has top 10’s biggest share of large homes: 55 percent have nine-plus rooms.
5. Darien, Conn.
Leads the nation in per capita income at $97,047, which is nearly four times the national average of $26,178.
6. Westport, Conn.
Unsurprisingly similar to Darien, eight miles away. Per capita income is a shade lower (though still very high) at $90,034.
7. Garden City, N.Y.
One of only nine U.S. communities where more than 35 percent of all households have annual incomes above $200,000.
8. Mountain Brook, Ala.
Education levels are higher here than anywhere else in the top 10. Eighty-one percent of adults hold college degrees.
9. Los Altos, Calif.
Located 12 miles northwest of No. 3 Saratoga. Median household income of $158,745 is third-highest in all of America.
10. La Canada Flintridge, Calif.
Million-dollar homes are common in the Los Angeles area’s top entry. Twelve percent of households have at least four vehicles.
What irritates me about these rankings is that wealth and affluence should mean how much money people earn/make-period. More specifically median or average income. I dont know why these studies throw in other things such as home price when clearly that isnt the same thing as most affluent.
Saratoga, for example is very nice. But its hardly the richest city in California. As far as income, its probably in the Top 20 but not 1st.
What irritates me about these rankings is that wealth and affluence should mean how much money people earn/make-period. More specifically median or average income. I dont know why these studies throw in other things such as home price when clearly that isnt the same thing as most affluent.
Saratoga, for example is very nice. But its hardly the richest city in California. As far as income, its probably in the Top 20 but not 1st.
IMO a ranking on per capita income would be more accurate because I think there are more self sufficient singles living in smaller homes/apartments in the Northeast and SF. Of course by household income, Mclean would dominate - it's all upper middle class suburbanites that make >100k.
But these aren't listed by home price, so I'm not understanding what you mean.
IMO a ranking on per capita income would be more accurate because I think there are more self sufficient singles living in smaller homes/apartments in the Northeast and SF. Of course by household income, Mclean would dominate - it's all upper middle class suburbanites that make >100k.
I think median incomes have their usefulness, say from a market research perspective. But they handicap cities as you stated. On the other hand, Per Capita severly puts suburbs at a disadvantage. Dunno what's better?
And as far as $100,000+in urban cities, Manhattan and San Francisco do quite well.
Households Earning $100,000+ Annually
Manhattan 33.3%
San Francisco 32.9%
Quote:
But these aren't listed by home price, so I'm not understanding what you mean.
Uh, #9 has a higher median income than #1 but McLean is first because they factor in home prices.
Counties by Per Capita Income
1 Teton, Wyoming $132,728
2 New York, New York $120,790
3 Loving, Texas $99,593
4 Pitkin, Colorado $93,465
5 Marin, California $91,483
6 Fairfield, Connecticut $81,576
7 Westchester, New York $74,878
8 San Mateo, California $71,753
9 Morris, New Jersey $71,713
10 San Francisco, California $71,342
11 Somerset, New Jersey $70,949
12 Alexandria City, Virginia $70,632
13 Arlington, Virginia $68,270
14 Fairfax, Virginia $67,909
15 Montgomery, Maryland $67,525
16 Bergen, New Jersey $67,125
17 Hunterdon, New Jersey $66,449
18 Sully, North Dakota $64,352
19 Blaine, Idaho $64,207
20 Collier, Florida $63,276
21 Nassau, New York $62,981
22 District of Columbia $62,484
23 Norfolk, Massachusetts $62,129
24 Montgomery, Pennsylvania $62,086
25 Martin, Florida $61,868
26 Sublette, Wyoming $61,411
27 Monroe, Florida $61,216
28 Santa Clara, California $60,107
29 Ozaukee, Wisconsin $60,059
30 Indian River, Florida $59,419
The rest...
BEA : 250 Highest Per Capita Personal Incomes of the 3111 Counties in the United States, 2007 (http://www.bea.gov/regional/reis/pcpihigh.cfm - broken link)
Affluent communities = Wealth+Exclusive homes+Percent of population with college degree or higher.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 18Montclair
What irritates me about these rankings is that wealth and affluence should mean how much money people earn/make-period. http://www.city-data.com/top2.html
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