Median household income varies enormously across the country. These 50 cities top the list, with many clustered in the Northeast and West Coast suburbs. High income does not always translate to comfortable living. Housing costs in many of these areas are equally elevated. Compare income to rent and home values to see which cities offer the best overall package.
| # | City | Median Income | Median Rent | Rent-to-Income | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McLean, VA | $250,001 | $3,376 | 16.2% | 50,232 |
| 2 | Southlake, TX | $250,001 | $3,501 | 16.8% | 31,044 |
| 3 | Los Altos, CA | $250,001 | $3,501 | 16.8% | 30,736 |
| 4 | Wellesley, MA | $250,001 | $2,849 | 13.7% | 29,906 |
| 5 | University Park, TX | $250,001 | $2,940 | 14.1% | 25,104 |
| 6 | Saratoga, CA | $241,348 | $3,501 | 17.4% | 30,335 |
| 7 | Potomac, MD | $239,205 | $2,616 | 13.1% | 46,230 |
| 8 | San Carlos, CA | $233,333 | $2,802 | 14.4% | 29,797 |
| 9 | Cupertino, CA | $231,139 | $3,501 | 18.2% | 58,886 |
| 10 | Sammamish, WA | $227,273 | $2,728 | 14.4% | 66,375 |
| 11 | Danville, CA | $223,206 | $3,501 | 18.8% | 43,426 |
| 12 | Lafayette, CA | $222,393 | $2,855 | 15.4% | 25,277 |
| 13 | Palo Alto, CA | $220,408 | $3,328 | 18.1% | 67,231 |
| 14 | Dix Hills, NY | $219,636 | $2,804 | 15.3% | 25,042 |
| 15 | Lexington, MA | $219,402 | $2,816 | 15.4% | 34,085 |
| 16 | Ridgewood, NJ | $217,250 | $2,340 | 12.9% | 26,076 |
| 17 | Westfield, NJ | $212,700 | $2,211 | 12.5% | 30,760 |
| 18 | Needham, MA | $212,241 | $2,412 | 13.6% | 32,059 |
| 19 | Los Gatos, CA | $207,891 | $2,969 | 17.1% | 32,773 |
| 20 | Belmont, CA | $207,609 | $2,894 | 16.7% | 27,505 |
| 21 | Menlo Park, CA | $206,588 | $3,156 | 18.3% | 32,775 |
| 22 | Dublin, CA | $205,046 | $3,174 | 18.6% | 70,542 |
| 23 | Colleyville, TX | $203,566 | $3,194 | 18.8% | 25,906 |
| 24 | Mercer Island, WA | $202,359 | $2,464 | 14.6% | 25,282 |
| 25 | Parkland, FL | $200,156 | $3,306 | 19.8% | 35,799 |
| 26 | San Ramon, CA | $197,358 | $2,916 | 17.7% | 85,734 |
| 27 | Manhattan Beach, CA | $193,904 | $3,492 | 21.6% | 34,584 |
| 28 | Foster City, CA | $193,633 | $3,501 | 21.7% | 32,964 |
| 29 | Wilmette, IL | $192,300 | $1,968 | 12.3% | 27,550 |
| 30 | Bethesda, MD | $191,348 | $2,437 | 15.3% | 67,403 |
| 31 | South Riding, VA | $190,701 | $2,853 | 18% | 34,200 |
| 32 | Prosper, TX | $187,603 | $2,152 | 13.8% | 34,567 |
| 33 | North Tustin, CA | $186,250 | $2,397 | 15.4% | 26,038 |
| 34 | Pleasanton, CA | $186,206 | $3,017 | 19.4% | 77,500 |
| 35 | Plainview, NY | $185,531 | $3,026 | 19.6% | 26,251 |
| 36 | Newton, MA | $184,989 | $2,388 | 15.5% | 88,504 |
| 37 | Leawood, KS | $184,976 | $1,753 | 11.4% | 33,844 |
| 38 | Brentwood, TN | $184,720 | $2,497 | 16.2% | 45,272 |
| 39 | Princeton, NJ | $184,113 | $2,448 | 16% | 30,451 |
| 40 | Mill Creek East, WA | $183,466 | $3,013 | 19.7% | 25,461 |
| 41 | Sunnyvale, CA | $181,862 | $3,065 | 20.2% | 153,455 |
| 42 | Mountain View, CA | $179,917 | $2,975 | 19.8% | 82,363 |
| 43 | Burke, VA | $179,063 | $2,715 | 18.2% | 43,336 |
| 44 | Clarksburg, MD | $178,641 | $2,298 | 15.4% | 29,246 |
| 45 | Fulshear, TX | $178,398 | $1,889 | 12.7% | 26,986 |
| 46 | Belmont, MA | $178,188 | $2,387 | 16.1% | 27,009 |
| 47 | Milton, MA | $178,053 | $1,503 | 10.1% | 28,481 |
| 48 | Hoboken, NJ | $176,943 | $2,819 | 19.1% | 58,340 |
| 49 | Milpitas, CA | $176,822 | $3,112 | 21.1% | 78,216 |
| 50 | Fremont, CA | $176,350 | $2,905 | 19.8% | 228,518 |
Key Takeaways
- McLean, VA ranks #1 with median income of $250,001.
- The top 5 cities are: McLean, VA; Southlake, TX; Los Altos, CA; Wellesley, MA; University Park, TX.
- The gap between #1 ($250,001) and #50 ($176,350) shows significant variation even within the top 50.
Methodology
Rankings based on US Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. All cities with valid data and populations above 25,000 are included. Rent-to-income ratio is calculated as (median gross rent x 12) / median household income. Data reflects the most recent available estimates.