GOBankingRates looked at the data.
They wanted to know which small towns are packing the most wealth. The method? Census data, AreaVibes, Zillow. They filtered for places with 500 to 1,500 houses. The result is a list of 50 spots where money doesn’t seem to sleep.
Median incomes here jump from $100k to $250k. Homes go from $200k to… well. $4.5 million is on the board. That’s not a typo.
It’s worth noting the livability scores aren’t always high. Money doesn’t guarantee a smile. Here is the rundown by state.
The Southeast
Mountain Brook, Alabama feels like the right answer. It’s a suburb of Birmingham, sure. But look at the median income: $191,125. Average homes hit over $1 million. AreaVibes gives it a 64. It’s rich but not exactly “liveable” according to their metrics.
Sterling, Alaska is colder. Income sits around $110k. Houses are cheaper here—$336k—mostly because land is hard to sell when it’s minus twenty. Almost a quarter of the population is over 65. Retirement isn’t always tropical.
Paradise Valley, Arizona. Between Phoenix and Scottsdale. This is where the houses get crazy expensive. $3.3 million on average. Income matches the zip code at $236k. It’s the second most expensive spot on the entire list.
Goshen, Arkansas isn’t big. About 2,500 people live near Fayetteville. They make $177k. The average home is $700k. Most folks here aren’t retired. Just young and cashed in.
Palos Verdes Estates. California. $2.6 million homes. The third most expensive in the batch. It sits on a peninsula. The air is good. The wallets are fatter. Income averages $247k.
The Midwest & Great Plains
Castle Pines near Denver. It’s 20 miles from downtown. The income is close to $190k. Houses run $892k. The livability score is a low 60. Why? Probably the commute.
Newtown, Connecticut. Just another dot near New York City, except the homes cost $667k and people bring in $161k. It’s in the middle of the wealth pack. Safe. Boring? Maybe.
Hockessin, Delaware is old money. 24% are over 65. Homes cost $593k. Income is $172k. It’s close to Philadelphia and PA.
Parkland, Florida sits on the edge of the Everglads. $1.07 million homes. $200k income. One of eighteen cities breaking the million-dollar home threshold.
Berkeley Lake. Atlanta suburbs. $780k houses. It’s a retirement magnet with nearly 28% over 65. The lake helps. The tax code helps more.
Riverwoods. Northern Chicago. The money flows there. $942k homes. Fifth highest income in the study at $243k. People who live here probably drive to the city but don’t live there.
Zionsville near Indianapolis. $159k income. $675k homes. Young town. Only 15% are retired.
Polk City, Iowa. North of Des Moines. $435k homes. $163k income. Only 10% are old. Just a lot of people with good jobs in a quiet town.
Leawood. Kansas. Nestled between Overland Park and KC. Income is solid at $184k. Homes hit $760k. It’s comfortable.
Prospect. Kentucky. 34% are retired. That’s a lot. Louisville is nearby. Houses are $650k.
Clancy, Montana. Small. Under 2,000 people. $630k homes for a median income of $116k. You’re buying mountain air here.
Gretna. Nebraska. Between Omaha and Lincoln. Homes are cheap by this list’s standards—$421k. But people make $118k.
Horace. North Dakota. Tiny population. Young people. Houses go for $396k.
Muttontown. New York. Long Island. This is where it gets ugly for livability. A score of 56. Why? Maybe traffic. The houses are $2.2 million though. And people make $247k. Money doesn’t fix congestion.
Summerset. South Dakota. Along I-90. $422k homes. Low income for this club at $115k. It’s on the map.
The South
Broussard. Louisiana. $276k homes. That’s cheap compared to the coast. $116k income. Mostly young folks.
Bloomfield Hills. Michigan. $729k homes. Detroit is in the rearview mirror. Lots of retirees here.
North Oaks. Minnesota. Saint Paul’s northern cousin. $235k income. Homes sit at $916k.
Mooreville. Mississippi. Young. Only 2% over 65. Houses are just over $216k. The cheapest homes in this wealthy bunch.
Clarkson Valley. Missouri. Suburbs of St. Louis. The worst livability score in the whole group. A 59. But houses cost $890k. Rich and miserable? Seems possible.
Nichols Hills. Oklahoma. Just north of OKC. $203k income. Houses cross the $1 million line.
Prospect. Wait. That was Kentucky. Nichols Hills is OK. Got it.
Incline Village. Nevada. Lake Tahoe. $1.7 million average home price. High value. Moderate livability (60). Water is cold. Wallets are warm.
Wilton… wait, Weddington. North Carolina. Charlotte is close. Homes exceed $1 million. It’s a southern suburb that spends like a northern one.
Charlestown. Rhode Island. The Atlantic breeze comes with a cost. 45% are over 65—almost half the town is retired. Homes run $710k.
Kiawah Island. South Carolina. This place is exclusive. $2.55 million average home value. The fourth most expensive. Half the population (55%) is over 65. You pay to sit by the water and not age.
The Northeast
Paradise Valley? No. Arizona was earlier. Hanover, New Hampshire is up now. $1.07 million home value. Western NH. It’s quiet.
Glen Ridge. New Jersey. Highest livability score. A perfect 88? AreaVibes likes this place. Homes cost $1.13 million. Just 15 minutes from Manhattan if the train runs.
Boxford. Massachusetts. Small population. $238k income. Boston is south. Houses cost a million.
Fulton. Maryland. Near Baltimore. High income—sixth best at $240k. Homes hit $1 million. The DMV effect is strong here.
Edgeworth. Pennsylvania. Smallest city on the list. 1,600 folks. Houses are nearly $1 million ($957k). It’s Pittsburgh’s richest secret.
The West & Beyond
West Linn. Oregon. Just south of Portland. The second highest livability score (86). The Willamette River flows by. $788k homes.
Gorham. Maine. 10 miles from Portland. Lower income for the list at $125k. But that $544k house pays the taxes.
Kailua. Hawaii. The big one. Population nearly 40,002. That’s not small town. That’s city-sized. But they counted it. $1.5 million homes. Income is $146k. Honolulu is 12 minutes away.
Los Alamos. New Mexico. Scientists and money. $609k homes. Livability is high. 81.
West Linn was listed earlier? Yes.
Eagle. Idaho. $118k income. Low for the club. But $800k houses near Boise? Sure. Why not.
So what is the takeaway?
You don’t need a metropolis to have disposable income. You need the right zip code.
Some places have great houses but low livability scores. Others are perfect but unaffordable. There isn’t a perfect fit.
The data is out. The list is real. The homes are expensive.
Do you really want to move to Muttontown just to get a $2.2 million house and a bad quality of life score?
Maybe you stay where you are.
Or maybe you start saving.
It’s just math. And grass. And hills.
Wealth isn’t a destination. It’s a coordinate.
Check the links if you’re curious. The data is public.
Money talks. Small towns whisper.
Which one sounds better?
You tell me.
The Richest Small Town List via GOBankingRates.
Sources: U.S. Census ACS, AreaVibes, Zillo.
