While we may recognize rich towns and cities like New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago, there are plenty of lesser-known rich towns in America. Ranked by their median household income, these are twelve of the richest towns in America that you may not have known about.
12. Sammamish, Washington
Our twelfth richest town is in the state of Washington. Sammamish is located in King County on a plateau, bordered by Lake Sammamish to the west and the Snoqualmie Valley to the east. A part of the Seattle metropolitan area, Sammamish has an affluent community and is also one of the wealthiest cities in Washington. Along with its high income, Sammamish was on the 2012 list of “Friendliest Towns in the United States” and is one of the safer towns in the country.
–Median Household Income: $201,370
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11. Dublin, California
The first of several California towns, Dublin is a city in the East Bay located in the Amador Valley. Around 35 miles away from San Francisco and 23 miles east of downtown Oakland, Dublin is quite close to several large California cities. Dublin got its name from Dublin, Ireland, due to the large population of Irish that emigrated to the area. Data from 2019 showed Dublin was one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.
–Median Household Income: $205,219
10. Travilah, Maryland
We travel back to the East Coast for our tenth-richest town. Travilah is an area in Montgomery County, Maryland, located along the Potomac River. In the late 1800s and early 1900s the town was a popular crossroads for farmers as it was close to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. In 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau started recognizing the area around the original Travilah crossroads as a census-designated place, so much of the community is large homes on large pieces of land, with some parks and natural preserves mixed in.
–Median Household Income: $238,194
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9. South Run, Virginia
Another census-designated location is South Run, Virginia, which is located in Fairfax County. A suburb of Washington, D.C., many consider South Run to be one of the best places to live in Virginia. There are several larger houses and tracts of land for owners, giving this town a rural feel. In addition to the large open spaces, South Run also has a lot of parks scattered around.
–Median Household Income: $238,456
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8. Brewer Subdivision, Hillsborough, California
We return to California for our eighth richest town, which is located in Hillsborough. The Brewer Subdivision is the closest Hillsborough neighborhood to San Mateo. The region used to be dotted with California ranch-style homes, but in more recent years new owners have been replacing the existing homes with larger residences. Most of these homes are in the $3 million price range, with some homes even selling for upwards of $10 million.
–Median Household Income: $240,000
7. Lyons, New Jersey
One of our smaller towns on the list is Lyons, New Jersey, home to only a few hundred residents. Lyons is an unincorporated community in the Bernards Township in Somerset County. The town is named for the fourteen Lyons families that lived in the area in the early 1800s, one of which was David Lyon. Lyons was the first town to have a VA Hospital in the state until 1952, and it’s presence continues to impact the community today.
–Median Household Income: $245,226
6. Flower Hill, New York
We travel up to New York for our sixth selection, also known as Flower Hill. Located in Nassau County on the North Shore of Long Island, the eastern half is considered part of the Greater Roslyn area, while the western and northern parts are more associated with Manhasset and Port Washington. There are several parks and preserves located in town, with the population hovering around 5,000.
–Median Household Income: $246,533
5. University Park, Texas
Heading down south, our fifth richest city is located in Dallas County, Texas. University Park is bordered on the south by Highland Park, creating the Park Cities. The town is one of the most affluent places in Texas, and in 2018 was the second wealthiest city in the United States. There are several parks scattered around the town, including Burleson Park, Caruth Park, and Coffee Park.
–Median Household Income: $247,045
4. Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania
Fox Chapel is a borough in Allegheny County, and our fourth richest town in the U.S. A suburb of Pittsburgh, Fox Chapel is located six miles away from downtown. The borough repeatedly garners national prominence and is home to many of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Pennsylvania. This region used to be home to the Seneca Native Americans in the 1750s until Virginia and Pennsylvania claimed their territory.
–Median Household Income: $247,930
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3. Noroton, Connecticut
One of the only towns located on the water in our list, Noroton is a census-designated place in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The southern part of the town occupies Noroton Neck and is bordered by Stamford to the west. Its real estate prices are more expensive than 95% of neighborhoods in Connecticut and the United States. Most of the homes are medium to large single-family homes, along with some apartment complexes.
–Median Household Income: $248,125
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2. Columbine Valley, Colorado
Our second richest town in the U.S. is located in Colorado. Columbine Valley is in western Arapahoe County and has around 600 homes with a population of 1,500. The town was an outgrowth of a Home Owner’s Association comprised of 17 families who built around the Columbine Country Club in 1955. The town became official in 1959 and has grown ever since.
–Median Household Income: $248,974
1. Orinda, California
Last on our list is Orinda, which is located in California and is the richest town in the United States. The land started as rural, mainly used for ranching and summer cabins. Its popularity for year-round houses grew after 1937 when the Caldecott Tunnel was completed, providing easier access to the west. Many notable people have lived in Orinda including Stephen Curry, Bryan Barker, Jim Barnett, Karen Moe, and more.
–Median Household Income: $248,984