The Top Income Cities Per Capita in the United States
The United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and has more wealth than many other nations combined. It is also a nation of contrasts, with some of the wealthiest cities bordering some of the poorest. The cities with the highest income per capita in the United States are teaming with industry, access to economic development, substantial real estate growth and high quality of life.
Cities Versus Metropolitan Areas
The highest income per capita cities is clustered in three major areas of the country. The Northeast, the West Coast, and the Midwest. These regions all have metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) that have an average household income of more than $75,000.
San Jose, California
According to Bloomberg Markets, San Jose has the highest household income per capita, with an average household income of $105,482. The San Jose MSA includes cities in California that are referred to as the Bay Area. These include cities like Oakland, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. San Jose is considered the wealthiest MSA in America, with several other cities in California rounding out the top of the list.
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the MSA in Fairfield County, Connecticut, one of the wealthiest counties in the world. Encompassing towns like Greenwich, Darien, and New Canaan, the Bridgeport MSA has an average household income of $94,349. This area also has the starkest gap between rich and poor. Just 20 miles from Darien, where the average home price is just under $500,000, lies Bridgeport city, one of the poorest in the nation.
San Francisco, California
With the highest overall rent pricing of any other American city, San Francisco takes third place when it comes to global family wealth and per capita income. The average household income is $80,643 in San Francisco, and those incomes are rising each year. The top 1% of residents of San Francisco earn more than $425,000 annually, on average. Part of San Francisco’s wealth is fueled by nearby Silicon Valley, home of some of the world’s largest tech firms.
Seattle, Washington
Home to Starbucks Coffee and many other tech giants, Seattle has always been regarded as one of the cities with the highest income per capita in the United States. With its proximity to Vancouver and coastal waterways, it is also a magnet for the shipping and travel industry. Seattle is widely regarded as the gateway to Alaska. The average household income for Seattle is $75,874, higher than many other cities in the Pacific Northwest.
Boston, Massachusetts
Beantown is known as a bastion of higher learning and is home to Ivy League giant Harvard. The average household income in Boston is $74,746, according to Bloomberg, and salaries are only climbing. Boston, like most coastal cities, grew to affluence due to their position on the waterfront and importing and exporting history. Boston is also home to several corporate headquarters, making it an East Coast powerhouse when it comes to overall wealth.
Washington, D.C.
Our Nation’s Capital is no stranger to wealth. The Potomac region is one of the wealthiest in the nation, with many members of government calling it home. Washington, D.C. is, of course, home to the President of the United States, which skews the data somewhat. Washington, D.C. also suffers from substantial income disparities between its richest and poorest residents. The average household income in D.C. is $72,191.
New York City
Rounding out fifth is New York City, a giant of industry and one of the largest cities by population. The New York City MSA, which includes parts of Northern New Jersey, is a hoe to more millionaires than any other large city in the United States. Many of New York’s residents are employees of Wall Street financial firms, where the average salaries hover around $600,000. New York City’s average household income is $70,830, one of the highest in the region. Housing prices reflect this overall wealth, with the average price around $700,000 and climbing.
Dallas, Texas
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and apparently, that includes household income as well. The average household income is $66,168, higher than any other city in the region. Much of Texas’ wealth comes from oil, and there is no shortage of titans in the Dallas MSA. Dallas is the only city on the list from the South, and fortunes continue to grow in this area as developers move in and build the city.
Des Moines, Iowa
With relatively low housing costs and higher than average salaries for the region, Des Moines is one of the wealthiest cities in the country. One of the only high-income cities in the Midwest, Des Moines has a highly educated populous and a diverse workforce. Because of its relatively low cost of living, the city was able to attract new business, driving up the average household income to $67,256.
