The modern era of American politics—defined by polarization and nonstop intensity—began with the cataclysmic events of 1968, now celebrating, if that’s the right word, its 50th anniversary.
Everyone says the pace of events in the Trump presidency is overwhelming. Compared with 1968, the past year has been a walk in the park.
Nineteen sixty-eight was one of the greatest anni horribiles ever to happen inside the U.S., producing war, assassinations and riots.
During the 2008 Democratic primaries, Sen. Barack Obama, who turned 7 in 1968, took a generational shot at Sen. Hillary Clinton, who turned 21 at Wellesley: “Senator Clinton and others, they have been fighting some of the same fights since the ’60s.”
Well yes, it’s the fight that will never end.
It is impossible to understand the relevance of that year without a timeline.
Jan. 23: The USS Pueblo and its 82 survivors are captured and taken hostage by North Korea. On Jan. 30, North Vietnam launches the notorious Tet Offensive, including an invasion of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon. March 12, Minnesota’s Democratic Sen. Eugene McCarthy comes within a few hundred votes in the New Hampshire primary of upsetting President Lyndon B. Johnson. Within three weeks, Johnson announces he will not seek his party’s presidential nomination.
Four days later, Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated in Memphis. Urban riots break out across the U.S. April 23: Students occupy offices at Columbia University until police storm the building a week later. June 3: Andy Warhol is shot in New York by Valerie Solanas, author of the SCUM Manifesto, or “Society for Cutting Up Men.”
Then, on June 5, while running for the Democratic presidential nomination, Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated at a Los Angeles hotel.
Aug. 8, Republicans nominate Richard Nixon. Two weeks later, the Soviet Union invades Czechoslovakia.
In late summer during the Democratic Convention in Chicago, police fight a pitched battle with antiwar protesters in Grant Park. In October, at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos raise gloved fists as a black-power salute during a medal ceremony.
On Nov. 5, Nixon defeats Hubert Humphrey and a third-party populist, former and future Alabama Gov. George Wallace, who in the spirit of the times told a group of antiwar protesters: “I was killing fascists when you punks were in diapers.”
Also there is this: The graduations of 1968 included Bill Clinton (Georgetown), George W. Bush (Yale) and Donald J. Trump (Penn).
Historians have tried to decipher this one year’s volcanic eruptions. For some, it was the emerging political power of televised images; Vietnam was called “the living-room war.” There was also pot, and the pill.
Generally underemphasized by historians is that 1968’s politics had one other fuel source: rock ’n’ roll music.
The songs ran constantly in the background, producing a manic energy. But the sounds also smoothed and softened the reality of these events. A 1968 would not have happened if driven by the music of 1948, 1958 or 1978.
The Rolling Stones recorded “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” James Brown released, “Say It Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud,” and Steppenwolf raved through “Born to Be Wild.”
It wasn’t all a rush. People could bliss out on musical pillows like “Hey Jude” by the Beatles, Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay,” Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart” or Simon and Garfunkel’s dreamy “Scarborough Fair.”
The music, mayhem and merriment were inseparable. It was a year in which the idea of inhibition died. It hasn’t returned and likely never will.
Nineteen sixty-eight marked the start of political polarization. Contrary to current myth, the civil-rights legislation of a few years before was bipartisan. With the Vietnam War, unity began to unravel.
The late 1960s saw the beginning of left-liberal moral triumphalism. The opposition was no longer just wrong. It was morally suspect. For a new generation of Democrats, which increasingly included the theretofore politically neutral press, the Vietnam War was opposed as, simply, “a bright shining lie.”
A kind of political religiosity infused matters of sex, race and even foreign policy, and pushed the parties apart. The 1968 Kerner Commission Report on the urban riots in 1965-67 announced that America was “moving toward two societies.”
Some 10 years later, inevitably, the religious right emerged. And here we are today, fractured by politics and technology into myriad cultural subsets of separations that began in 1968. The Trump divide was a long time coming.
Nearly every chronicle of 1968 omits the last thing that happened that year. On Dec. 21, Apollo 8 lifted off. On Christmas Day, as it orbited the moon, its commander, Col. Frank Borman, read from the Book of Genesis and said: “From the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck and merry Christmas, and God bless all of you—all of you on the good Earth.”
The American Dream promises to all the opportunity to attain financial security -- and even wealth -- through hard work. Just how widespread these opportunities are is a matter of debate, but there are towns that serve as evidence that the American Dream is alive and well, at least for some.
In almost every state -- rich or poor -- there is at least one town where most households earn far more than the typical state resident and the typical American. Though separated by vast distances, the states' wealthiest towns often have more in common with each other than with other communities in the same state -- even some that may be just a few miles down the road.
Almost without exception, the wealthiest towns have expensive real estate and are home to well-educated populations. With relatively high median incomes, they are also often home to large shares of extremely wealthy households -- those earning $200,000 or more -- and have relatively few residents living below the poverty line. Additionally, more often than not, the wealthiest town in each state is within commuting distance of a large city.
24/7 Wall Street reviewed the median annual household income in every American town with a population between 1,000 and 25,000 to identify the wealthiest town in each state. For comparison purposes, boroughs, census designated places, borough, cities, towns, and villages were all considered.
Median household income: $129,777 (state: $44,758)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 31.3% (state: 2.9%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 85.1% (state: 24.0%)
Median home value: $557,300 (state: $128,500)
Population: 20,532
The Birmingham suburb of Mountain Brook ranks as the wealthiest town in Alabama and one of only two towns in the state where most households earn six-figure incomes. Further underscoring the area's overall wealth is the near absence of poverty. Just 3.2% of area residents live in poverty, a fraction of the statewide poverty rate of 18.4%.
Higher educational attainment opens the door to higher-paying jobs, and wealthier populations tend to be better educated. In Mountain Brook, 85.1% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, the largest share of any town in the state and the fourth largest share in the country.
Fishhook, Alaska
Median household income: $95,030 (state: $74,444)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 9.2% (state: 6.8%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 28.3% (state: 28.8%)
Median home value: $281,000 (state: $257,100)
Population: 5,866
Fishhook is the wealthiest town in the second wealthiest state. The typical area household earns $95,030, above both the median income in Alaska of $74,444 and the nationwide median income of $55,322. Not only does Fishhook have the highest median income of any town in the state, but it also has the lowest poverty rate. Just 4.9% of area residents live below the poverty line, less than half the state poverty rate of 10.1% and less than a third of the 15.1% U.S. poverty rate.
Most wealthy American towns are well educated, but Fishhook is an exception. Just 28.3% of area adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, below both the 28.8% college attainment rate statewide and the 30.3% rate nationwide. A high median income and low educational attainment rate is partially due to the types of jobs available in the area. The region has higher than typical employment in installation, maintenance, and repair -- jobs than can be relatively high paying without high education requirements.
Households earning $200,000 or more: 14.2% (state: 4.2%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 50.4% (state: 28.0%)
Median home value: $361,600 (state: $176,900)
Population: 16,546
The Tanque Verde census area has the greatest concentration of wealth in Arizona. The typical area household earns $93,412 a year, more than anywhere else in the state. Additionally, 14.2% of all area households earn $200,000 or more a year, by far the largest share in the state and well above the 5.7% share of American households nationwide.
High-income areas are often home to large college-educated populations, and Tanque Verde is no exception. Tanque Verde is the only town in Arizona where over half of all adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Tontitown, Arkansas
Median household income: $75,027 (state: $42,336)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 8.6% (state: 2.6%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 31.7% (state: 21.5%)
Median home value: $252,100 (state: $114,700)
Population: 2,828
The median annual household income in Arkansas of $42,336 is the second lowest of any state. Still, some parts of the state are wealthier than many parts of the country. In Tontitown, the wealthiest town in the state, the typical household earns $75,027 a year, or nearly $20,000 more than the typical American household.
As is often the case, the area's high incomes are reflected in property values. The typical Tontitown home is worth $252,100, the most of any town in the state and more than double the median home value of $114,700 in Arkansas.
Los Altos Hills, Calif.
Median household income: $243,701 (state: $63,783)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 56.2% (state: 8.7%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 84.6% (state: 32.0%)
Median home value: $2,000,000+ (state: $409,300)
Population: 8,376
Los Altos Hills is the wealthiest town in both California and the United States. The typical Los Altos Hills household earns $243,701 a year, nearly four times the median income of $63,783 in California. The area's high incomes are reflected in high property values. Los Altos Hills is one of only five American towns where over half of all homes are worth at least $2 million.
Higher education can open doors to higher-paying jobs, and high-income areas tend to have large college-educated populations. In Los Altos Hills, 84.6% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, the largest share of any town in California. Los Altos Hills is located in Silicon Valley, a region with a high concentration of high paying tech companies including Apple, Facebook, and Google.
The Pinery, Colorado
Median household income: $121,615 (state: $62,520)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 18.5% (state: 6.3%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 54.7% (state: 38.7%)
Median home value: $397,500 (state: $264,600)
Population: 12,160
In The Pinery Census designated area, the typical household earns $121,615, nearly double the median income of $62,520 across the state.
Like many towns on this list, The Pinery is within commuting distance of a major urban area. The Pinery is only about 30 miles south of downtown Denver, the largest city in Colorado and the state capital. Many of the largest employers in the Denver area are well-paying companies including defense contractors Raytheon and Lockheed Martin and financial services firm Charles Schwab.
Darien, Connecticut
Median household income: $208,125 (state: $71,755)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 51.5% (state: 10.2%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 79.5% (state: 38.0%)
Median home value: $1,248,200 (state: $269,300)
Population: 21,519
Darien, the wealthiest town in Connecticut, is one of only a dozen nationwide where the typical household earns over $200,000 a year.
As is often the case in wealthy towns, Darien is home to a well-educated population. Higher educational attainment can lead to better paying jobs, and just about four in every five adults in Darien have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Located in Southwestern Connecticut, area residents live in commuting distance of high-paying jobs in New York City.
North Star, Delaware
Median household income: $140,691 (state: $61,017)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 24.3% (state: 5.4%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 70.1% (state: 30.5%)
Median home value: $431,600 (state: $233,100)
Population: 7,567
In North Star, the wealthiest community in Delaware, over half of all households earn at least $140,000, and nearly one in every four households earn $200,000 or more annually. Across Delaware as a whole, just 5.4% of households earn $200,000 or more, and the typical household earns $61,017 a year.
Not only does North Star have the highest median income of any town in the state, but it also has the lowest poverty rate. Just 1.4% of North Star residents live in poverty, a fraction of both the 12.0% state 15.1% U.S. poverty rates.
Key Biscayne, Florida
Median household income: $124,504 (state: $48,900)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 31.5% (state: 4.4%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 70.6% (state: 27.9%)
Median home value: $1,034,800 (state: $166,800)
Population: 12,935
Key Biscayne, a barrier island off the Florida coast just south of Miami is by far the wealthiest town in the state. The typical area household earns $124,504 a year -- or about $14,000 more than the typical household in Keystone, the second wealthiest town in Florida.
Buying a home in Key Biscayne is likely prohibitively expensive for anyone outside the highest income bracket. It is the only town in Florida where over half of all homes are worth over $1 million. Statewide, the median home value is just $166,800.
Senoia, Georgia
Median household income: $82,485 (state: $51,037)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 5.5% (state: 4.6%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 36.8% (state: 29.4%)
Median home value: $212,300 (state: $152,400)
Population: 3,889
The typical household in Senoia earns $82,485 a year, more than any other town in the state and well above both the median annual income in Georgia of $51,037 and the U.S. median of $55,322. While incomes are higher in Senoia than the rest of the state, there are relatively few extremely wealthy households. Just 5.5% of area households earn $200,000 or more per year, in line with the 5.7% national share and only slightly higher than the 4.6% statewide share.
Like many of the towns on this list, Senoia is in commuting distance of a major metropolitan area. Senoia is located just 35 miles south of downtown Atlanta, the state’s capital and largest city.
Ocean Pointe, Hawaii
Median household income: $111,729 (state: $71,977)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 10.8% (state: 7.3%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 37.5% (state: 31.4%)
Median home value: $582,700 (state: $538,400)
Population: 12,274
Ocean Pointe, a small community on the island of Oahu, is the wealthiest town in Hawaii. The typical Ocean Pointe household earns $111,729 a year, about $40,000 more than the median income in Hawaii of $71,977 a year, which itself is among the highest of any state.
Real estate is expensive across Hawaii -- the state has the highest median home value in the country. While incomes are far higher in Ocean Pointe than the state, the town’s median home value is in line with Hawaii’s. The typical Ocean Pointe home is worth $582,700, only slightly higher than the $538,400 statewide median. The typical American home is worth $184,700.
Eagle, Idaho
Median household income: $82,577 (state: $49,174)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 11.1% (state: 2.9%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 46.4% (state: 26.2%)
Median home value: $327,800 (state: $167,900)
Population: 22,711
The typical household in Eagle, Idaho, earns $82,577 a year, the most of any town in the state. Eagle is also the only town in Idaho in which more than one in every 10 households earn at least $200,000 a year. Better-educated Americans are more likely to hold better paying jobs, and in Eagle, 46.4% of the population has a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above both the state bachelor’s attainment rate of 26.2% and the U.S. rate of 30.3%.
As is the case in many towns on this list, Eagle residents have easy access to jobs and cultural amenities in a larger city. Eagle is less than 10 miles from the state capital, Boise.
Winnetka, Illinois
Median household income: $207,857 (state: $59,196)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 52.3% (state: 6.2%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 88.1% (state: 32.9%)
Median home value: $989,600 (state: $174,800)
Population: 12,437
Winnetka is one of only 12 towns and villages nationwide -- and the only one in Illinois -- where the typical household earns at least $200,000 a year. One of the wealthiest villages in the United States, Winnetka is also the best educated. Some 88.1% of Winnetka’s adult residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher, the largest share of any U.S. town.
As is the case with many towns on this list, Winnetka is within commuting distance of a major urban area. Chicago, the largest city in the Midwest, is less than 30 miles south of Winnetka.
St. John, Indiana
Median household income: $98,545 (state: $50,433)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 8.0% (state: 3.0%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 35.4% (state: 24.6%)
Median home value: $257,000 (state: $126,500)
Population: 15,777
The typical household in St. John, the wealthiest town in Indiana, earns $98,545 a year, nearly double the state annual median of $50,433. The area also has one of the lowest poverty rates nationwide. Just 3.0% of St. John residents live below the poverty line, one-fifth of Indiana’s 15.0% poverty rate.
The cost of living in St. John is likely high enough to largely exclude all but the wealthiest Americans. With a median home value of $257,000, St. John is the only town in the state where over half of all homes are worth over a quarter of a million dollars.
Households earning $200,000 or more: 12.9% (state: 3.5%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 56.7% (state: 27.2%)
Median home value: $237,600 (state: $132,800)
Population: 19,491
Johnston, a small city just northwest of Des Moines, is the wealthiest town in Iowa. The typical household in the area earns $95,565 a year, about $5,000 more than the median income in Asbury, the second wealthiest town in the state.
Both for individuals and across broad populations, incomes tend to go up with educational attainment. Not only is Johnston the wealthiest town in Iowa, but also it is the best educated. Some 56.7% of area adults have at least a bachelor’s degree. In comparison, 27.2% of adults in Iowa and 30.3% of American adults have similar levels of education.
Fairway, Kansas
Median household income: $102,821 (state: $53,571)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 23.7% (state: 4.0%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 71.7% (state: 31.6%)
Median home value: $335,800 (state: $135,300)
Population: 3,964
Fairway is the only town or small city in Kansas where over half of all households earn six-figure incomes, making it by far the wealthiest town in the state. Real estate is expensive in Fairway, which may partially explain the concentration of high-income residents. The typical Fairway home is worth $335,800 -- over $100,000 more than the median home value in Prairie Village, the town with the second most expensive real estate in Kansas.
Indian Hills, Kentucky
Median household income: $159,737 (state: $44,811)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 40.5% (state: 2.9%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 81.3% (state: 22.7%)
Median home value: $468,900 (state: $126,100)
Population: 2,953
The typical Indian Hills household earns $159,737 a year, more than triple the median income across Kentucky of $44,811. Like many high-income areas, a far smaller than typical share of Indian Hills residents struggle financially. Though Kentucky’s 18.8% poverty rate is nearly the highest of any state, in Indian Hills, just 1.7% of the population live below the poverty line, one of the lowest poverty rates of any town in the country.
Zachary, Louisiana
Median household income: $75,472 (state: $45,652)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 6.7% (state: 3.7%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 34.3% (state: 23.0%)
Median home value: $206,300 (state: $148,300)
Population: 16,154
Louisiana is one of the poorest states in the country. The typical household in the state earns $45,652 a year, nearly $10,000 less than the typical American household. Additionally, about one in every five state residents live below the poverty line, the third highest poverty rate of any state.
Despite the high statewide poverty rate and low median income, some parts of Louisiana are affluent. In Zachary, a small city just north of Baton Rouge, the median household income is $75,472 a year, about $20,000 more than the median income nationwide. Additionally, the town’s 8.8% poverty rate is well below the national poverty rate of 15.1%.
Saco, Maine
Median household income: $59,740 (state: $50,826)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 4.7% (state: 3.3%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 32.5% (state: 29.3%)
Median home value: $232,200 (state: $176,000)
Population: 19,008
The median household income in Maine of $50,826 a year is about $4,500 less than the median income nationwide. Even in the wealthiest town in the state, the median income is relatively modest. The typical household in Saco earns $59,740 a year, only about $4,400 more than the typical American household.
Despite ranking as the wealthiest town in Maine, Saco is home to a relatively small share of extremely wealthy households. Just 4.7% of area households earn $200,000 or more per year compared to 5.7% of households nationwide.
Travilah, Maryland
Median household income: $215,688 (state: $76,067)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 52.9% (state: 9.7%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 78.8% (state: 38.4%)
Median home value: $1,055,400 (state: $290,400)
Population: 11,858
Travilah, Maryland, is the wealthiest town in the wealthiest state. The typical household in Travilah earns $215,688 a year, nearly triple Maryland’s median income of $76,067, which is the highest of any state. The area's high incomes are largely attributable to high-paying government and contracting jobs in and around the nation's capital -- which is less than 20 miles away.
Like many cities on this list, Travilah is an expensive place to live. It is the only town in Maryland where over half of all homes are worth over $1 million.
Winchester, Massachusetts
Median household income: $149,321 (state: $70,954)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 37.5% (state: 9.6%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 74.3% (state: 41.2%)
Median home value: $796,500 (state: $341,000)
Population: 22,491
The typical household in the Boston suburb of Winchester earns $149,321 a year, the most of any town in Massachusetts. It is also the only town in the state where more than one in every three households earn at least $200,000 a year. With two stops on the commuter rail line, Winchester’s workforce has access to high-paying jobs in and around Boston, the state’s capital and largest city.
Like most wealthy towns, Winchester is home to a relatively well-educated population. Nearly three out of four adults in the town have a bachelor’s degree or higher. In comparison, fewer than one in three adults nationwide have a four-year college degree.
Village of Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan
Median household income: $151,440 (state: $50,803)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 33.7% (state: 3.8%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 70.5% (state: 27.4%)
Median home value: $431,200 (state: $127,800)
Population: 2,933
Grosse Pointe Shores, a Detroit suburb located on the western shore of Lake St. Clair, is the wealthiest town in Michigan. Franklin, the second wealthiest town in the state with a median income of $150,250, is located just 30 miles west of Grosse Pointe Shores. Across Michigan as a whole, the typical household earns $50,803, about a third of the median income in Grosse Pointe Shores.
A well-educated town, every adult in Grosse Pointe Shores has a high school diploma and over 70% have a bachelor’s degree.
Dellwood, Minnesota
Median household income: $171,250 (state: $63,217)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 41.3% (state: 5.7%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 71.9% (state: 34.2%)
Median home value: $528,800 (state: $191,500)
Population: 1,206
The Twin Cities suburb of Dellwood is by far the wealthiest town in Minnesota. The typical Dellwood household earns $171,250 a year, or about $28,000 more than the median income in Minnetrista, the second wealthiest town in the state, and more than double the median annual household income across the state as a whole of $63,217.
High property values in Dellwood make the town prohibitively expensive for lower-income families and individuals. Dellwood is the only town in Minnesota where more than half of all homes are worth over half a million dollars.
Brandon, Mississippi
Median household income: $71,485 (state: $40,528)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 5.8% (state: 2.3%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 40.8% (state: 21.0%)
Median home value: $169,800 (state: $105,700)
Population: 23,186
Mississippi is the poorest state in the country, with a median annual household income of $40,528 and a poverty rate of 22.3%.However, some towns in the state are relatively well off. In Brandon, the typical household earns $71,485 a year, the highest median income of any Mississippi town. Despite the relatively high median income, the town does not have an especially high concentration of extremely wealthy households. Just 5.8% of households in Mississippi’s wealthiest town earn $200,000 a year or more, in line with the 5.7% national share.
Town and Country, Missouri
Median household income: $156,899 (state: $49,593)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 39.4% (state: 3.5%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 76.0% (state: 27.6%)
Median home value: $659,700 (state: $141,200)
Population: 11,001
Town and Country is a small Missouri city less than 20 miles west of downtown St. Louis. The wealthiest town in the state, Town and Country’s median household income of $156,899 a year is more than triple the statewide median of $49,593. Incomes often rise with educational attainment, and not only does Town and Country have the state’s highest median income, it is also home to the state’s largest share of adults with college degrees. More than three in every four adults in the state have a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above the 27.6% share of adults across the state as a whole.
Households earning $200,000 or more: 3.8% (state: 3.3%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 34.9% (state: 29.9%)
Median home value: $230,900 (state: $199,700)
Population: 3,967
Helena Valley Northwest is the wealthiest town in Montana, with a median annual household income of $79,283 compared to the statewide median of $48,380. The town is designated as distinct by the U.S. Census Bureau from the adjacent town Helena Valley West Central, which, with a median household income of $70,441, is the second wealthiest town in the state. Helena Valley Northwest and Helena Valley West Central are the only two towns considered in the state with median household incomes above both the state median and the national median of $55,322.
Waverly, Nebraska
Median household income: $82,500 (state: $54,384)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 5.7% (state: 3.7%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 36.0% (state: 30.0%)
Median home value: $157,000 (state: $137,300)
Population: 3,686
Waverly is the only town in Nebraska where the majority of households earn over $80,000 a year. In comparison, the typical American household earns $55,322 a year and the typical household across Nebraska earns $54,384. While there are a larger than typical share of high earners in Waverly, there is not an especially high concentration of extremely wealthy residents. Some 5.7% of town households earn $200,000 or more per year, in line with the comparable U.S. share and only slightly higher than the 3.7% share of households earning such high incomes across Nebraska.
Spring Creek, Nevada
Median household income: $92,908 (state: $53,094)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 7.2% (state: 3.7%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 21.8% (state: 23.2%)
Median home value: $218,300 (state: $191,600)
Population: 13,310
The typical household in Spring Creek, the wealthiest town in Nevada, earns $92,908 a year, about $11,500 more than the median income in Spanish Springs, the state’s second wealthiest town. Spring Creek also has the state’s lowest poverty rate at 3.4%. In comparison, 14.9% of Nevada’s population and 15.1% of Americans nationwide live below the poverty line.
Most wealthy towns are home to a well-educated population, but Spring Creek is a notable exception. Just 21.8% of adults in the town have a bachelor’s degree or higher, below both the bachelor’s degree attainment rate of 23.2% statewide and 30.3% nationwide.
Londonderry, New Hampshire
Median household income: $85,893 (state: $68,485)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 8.8% (state: 6.6%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 39.8% (state: 35.5%)
Median home value: $276,200 (state: $239,700)
Population: 11,049
The southern New Hampshire census designated place of Londonderry has the highest median household income of any small community in the state. The typical household in the town earns $85,893 a year, compared to the median income of $68,485 across New Hampshire. Many in Londonderry likely commute to high-paying jobs in nearby cities. The town is only about 45 miles north of downtown Boston, the largest city in the New England, and multiple bus lines run between the locations every day. Additionally, Concord, New Hampshire’s capital city, is less than 30 miles up Interstate 93 from Londonderry.
Upper Montclair, New Jersey
Median household income: $190,515 (state: $73,702)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 47.9% (state: 10.8%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 86.4% (state: 37.5%)
Median home value: $702,300 (state: $316,400)
Population: 11,731
After Maryland and Alaska, New Jersey is the third wealthiest state in the country, with a median annual household income of $73,702. Not surprisingly, Upper Montclair, the wealthiest community in New Jersey, ranks among the wealthiest in the United States. The typical Upper Montclair household earns $190,515 a year, more than double the state median and well more than triple the U.S. median of $55,322.
High-income areas are often well educated, and Upper Montclair is no exception. Some 86.4% of area adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, the largest share in New Jersey and the third largest nationwide.
Median household income: $109,412 (state: $45,674)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 11.5% (state: 3.1%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 61.6% (state: 26.7%)
Median home value: $272,700 (state: $161,600)
Population: 6,083
With a poverty rate of 20.9% and a median household income of $45,674, New Mexico is one of the poorest states in the country. However, not all New Mexico residents have lower than typical incomes. In White Rock, the typical household earns $109,412 a year, more than double the state median and nearly double the U.S. median of $55,322.
Many in White Rock work at the nearby Los Alamos National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy facility that develops nuclear weapons technology. The facility has a $2.6 billion annual budget and employs nearly 12,000 people -- over half of whom are have a college degree.
Sands Point, New York
Median household income: $231,667 (state: $60,741)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 55.9% (state: 8.0%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 79.3% (state: 34.7%)
Median home value: $2,000,000+ (state: $286,300)
Population: 2,859
Sands Point, a coastal town on Long Island Sound, is the wealthiest town in New York and the second wealthiest in the United States. The typical area home earns $231,667 a year, nearly four times the median income across the state. The area’s high median income is tied to its high property values. Sands Points’ housing is prohibitively expensive for lower income New Yorkers looking to buy a home. Sands Point is one of only five communities in the country where the typical home is worth over $2 million.
Davidson, North Carolina
Median household income: $109,907 (state: $48,256)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 25.5% (state: 3.9%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 69.1% (state: 29.0%)
Median home value: $393,300 (state: $157,100)
Population: 12,076
One of only two North Carolina towns where most households earn six-figure incomes, the Charlotte suburb of Davidson is the wealthiest town in the state. As is often the case among towns on this list, in addition to being the state's wealthiest town, Davidson is also the best educated. Some 69.1% of adults in Davidson have a bachelor’s degree or higher, more than double both the 29.0% share of adults across the state and the 30.3% of adults nationwide.
Davidson may be prohibitively expensive for lower-income families and individuals. The typical area home is worth $393,300, which is more than double the median home value across North Carolina of $157,100.
Williston, North Dakota
Median household income: $90,875 (state: $59,114)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 10.9% (state: 4.9%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 23.9% (state: 28.2%)
Median home value: $223,800 (state: $164,000)
Population: 23,902
Williston is one of many towns in the western region of North Dakota to benefit from the energy boom following the discovery of oil in the Bakken shale formation. Williston is the wealthiest town in the state, with a median annual household income $90,875. Not only does the town have a high median income, but also a relatively high concentration of extremely wealthy households. Some 10.9% of area homes earn at least $200,000 a year, more than double the comparable 4.9% share of households statewide.
Indian Hill, Ohio
Median household income: $205,221 (state: $50,674)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 54.3% (state: 3.7%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 88.1% (state: 26.7%)
Median home value: $922,500 (state: $131,900)
Population: 5,803
The typical Ohio household earns $50,674 a year, nearly $5,000 less than the typical American household. Despite the lower median income in Ohio, some towns in the Midwestern state rank among the wealthiest in the country. The Cincinnati suburb of The Village of Indian Hill for example is one of only a dozen towns in the United States where the typical household earns over $200,000 a year.
Wealthy areas are often well educated, and The Village of Indian Hill is no exception. Some 88.1% of area residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher, the largest share of any town in both the state and the country.
Jenks, Oklahoma
Median household income: $88,521 (state: $48,038)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 7.2% (state: 3.3%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 45.0% (state: 24.5%)
Median home value: $195,200 (state: $121,300)
Population: 19,852
The small Tulsa suburb of Jenks has the highest median income of any town in Oklahoma. The typical household in Jenks earns $88,521 a year, about $40,500 more than the typical household in Oklahoma. Jenks also has relatively few residents struggling financially. Just 4.1% of the population lives below the poverty line, the smallest poverty rate of any Oklahoma town.
Home values are generally lower in Oklahoma than they are nationwide, and even in Jenks, property values are not especially high. The typical home in Jenks is worth $195,200, or only about $10,500 more than the national median home value.
Median household income: $117,056 (state: $53,270)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 19.3% (state: 4.3%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 66.9% (state: 31.4%)
Median home value: $440,300 (state: $247,200)
Population: 22,819
Bethany is a small suburb of Salem, the capital of Oregon, and the wealthiest community in the state. The typical Bethany household earns $117,056 a year, about $11,000 more than the median income in Happy Valley, the second wealthiest town in the state. Like most places on this list, Bethany is home to a relatively large college-educated population. More than two in every three adults in Bethany have a bachelor’s degree compared to fewer than one in every three adults across the state as a whole.
Edgeworth, Pennsylvania
Median household income: $154,545 (state: $54,895)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 38.7% (state: 4.9%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 84.7% (state: 29.3%)
Median home value: $506,200 (state: $167,700)
Population: 1,639
The median annual household income in the Pittsburgh suburb of Edgeworth of $154,545 is by far the highest in Pennsylvania and about $100,000 more than the median income of $54,895 across the Keystone State. The typical household in Blue Bell, the state’s second wealthiest town, earns $130,164 a year, or $24,400 less than the typical household does in Edgeworth.
Greater educational attainment can open opportunities to better paying jobs, and Edgeworth is home to one of the best-educated populations in the country. About 85% of area adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, the largest share of any town in Pennsylvania and the fifth largest share nationwide.
Greenville, Rhode Island
Median household income: $77,375 (state: $58,387)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 5.3% (state: 5.5%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 34.5% (state: 32.5%)
Median home value: $266,200 (state: $238,200)
Population: 8,425
The typical household in Greenville earns $77,375 a year, the highest median income of any Rhode Island community and about $19,000 more than the median income across the state. High income areas are typically in commuting distance of major urban centers, and Greenville, a small suburb of Providence, Rhode Island’s capital and largest city, is no exception.
Though Greenville has the highest median income in the state, extreme wealth is not especially concentrated in the area. Just 5.3% of Greenville households earn $200,000 or more a year, compared to 5.5% of Rhode Island households and 5.7% of American households.
Sullivan's Island, South Carolina
Median household income: $118,214 (state: $46,898)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 30.9% (state: 3.2%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 80.1% (state: 26.5%)
Median home value: $1,218,400 (state: $143,600)
Population: 2,049
The typical household in South Carolina earns $46,898 a year, a lower median income than in the majority of states and about $8,400 less than the median annual income of $55,322 nationwide. Still, in some parts of the state, incomes are far higher than typical. In Sullivan’s Island, a barrier island between the city of Charleston and the Atlantic Ocean, the typical household earns $118,214 a year -- more than double both the state and national median incomes. The area's concentration of extreme wealth contributes to its higher median income. Some 30.9% of Sullivan’s Island households earn at least $200,000 per year, many times the comparable share nationwide of 5.7% and the share across South Carolina of 3.2%.
Like many wealthy towns, Sullivan’s Island’s population is well educated. Four in every five area adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to about one in every four adults across South Carolina as a whole.
Harrisburg, South Dakota
Median household income: $77,151 (state: $52,078)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 0.0% (state: 3.5%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 47.8% (state: 27.5%)
Median home value: $172,300 (state: $146,700)
Population: 5,129
The median household income in Harrisburg of $77,151 a year is the highest of any town in South Dakota and about $25,000 more than the median income statewide. A college degree can open opportunities to higher paying jobs, and cities and towns home to large college-educated populations are often relatively affluent. In Harrisburg, 47.8% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 27.5% of adults across the state and 30.3% of American adults.
Nationwide, high income towns are often situated in close proximity to major cities. Located less than 10 miles outside of Sioux Falls, the most populous city in South Dakota, Harrisburg is no different.
Oak Hill, Tennessee
Median household income: $148,500 (state: $46,574)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 32.6% (state: 3.5%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 77.2% (state: 25.4%)
Median home value: $546,000 (state: $146,000)
Population: 4,686
The typical household in the Nashville suburb of Oak Hill earns $148,500 a year, more than triple what the typical Tennessee household earns in a year. The area’s median income is no doubt driven up by the concentration of extreme wealth. Some 32.6% of Oak Hill households earn $200,000 per year or more, by far the largest share of any town in Tennessee and yearly 10 times the 3.5% share of high-earning households statewide.
Many high-paying jobs are only available to those with at least a bachelor’s degree, and in Oak Hill, 77.2% of the adult population has a four-year college education, well above the 25.4% share of college-educated adults statewide.
Bellaire, Texas
Median household income: $187,805 (state: $54,727)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 46.1% (state: 5.7%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 78.8% (state: 28.1%)
Median home value: $770,500 (state: $142,700)
Population: 18,140
Bellaire is a small suburb located southwest of downtown Houston -- the most populous city in Texas and one of the largest in the United States. The typical household in Bellaire earns $187,895 a year, the most of any town in the state and more than triple the median income of $54,727 across the Lone Star State as a whole.
With the highest incomes in the state, the town also boasts a prohibitively expensive real estate market. The typical home in Bellaire is worth over three-quarters of a million dollars, by far the highest median home value of any town in the state.
Median household income: $122,666 (state: $62,518)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 19.2% (state: 4.6%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 56.3% (state: 31.7%)
Median home value: $461,500 (state: $224,600)
Population: 17,544
Highland’s median household income of $122,666 a year is nearly double the Utah's median of $62,518 a year. High-paying jobs are often only available to those with high educational attainment, and in Highland, 56.3% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above the corresponding 30.3% of U.S. adults and the 31.7% of state adults.
Highland is located in the Provo-Orem metro area and is only about 30 miles south of downtown Salt Lake City.
South Burlington, Vermont
Median household income: $66,728 (state: $56,104)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 7.1% (state: 4.0%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 53.2% (state: 36.2%)
Median home value: $271,900 (state: $218,900)
Population: 18,704
The typical household in South Burlington earns $66,728 a year, over $10,000 more than the typical Vermont household. As is often the case in towns on this list, South Burlington also boasts the state’s lowest poverty rate. Just 6.2% of town residents live below the poverty line, well below the 11.6% state poverty rate and the 15.1% U.S. rate. South Burlington comprises part of the broader Burlington metropolitan area, the only metro area in the state.
Great Falls, Virginia
Median household income: $230,304 (state: $66,149)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 58.9% (state: 8.5%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 81.9% (state: 36.9%)
Median home value: $1,123,300 (state: $248,400)
Population: 15,786
Not only is Great Falls the wealthiest town in Virginia, but also it is one of the wealthiest in the country. The typical household in Great Falls earns $230,304 a year, well more than triple the median income of $66,149 across Virginia.
Along with Travilah, Maryland, Great Falls is one of two D.C. suburbs on this list. In both towns, the high incomes are largely attributable to high-skilled, high-paying jobs with contractors and government agencies in and around the nation’s capital. Such jobs often require high education, and in Great Falls, 81.9% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 36.9% of adults in Virginia and 30.3% of American adults.
Cottage Lake, Washington
Median household income: $134,107 (state: $62,848)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 29.4% (state: 6.3%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 60.8% (state: 33.6%)
Median home value: $624,900 (state: $269,300)
Population: 23,845
The median annual household income in the Seattle suburb of Cottage Lake of $134,107 is the highest of any town in Washington. In most towns on this list, serious financial hardship is relatively scarce, and Cottage Lake is no exception. Just 3.0% of the town’s population lives below the poverty line, less than a fourth of the state poverty rate of 12.7% and a fifth of the U.S. poverty rate of 15.1%.
As is often the case, property is expensive in Washington’s highest earning town. The typical area home is worth $624,900 -- well more than double the median home value of $269,300 across the state as a whole.
Teays Valley, West Virginia
Median household income: $73,846 (state: $42,644)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 7.4% (state: 2.3%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 39.1% (state: 19.6%)
Median home value: $214,800 (state: $107,400)
Population: 13,706
West Virginia is one of the poorest states in the country. The typical household in the state earns $42,644 a year, well below the nationwide median income of $55,322. Still, some parts of the state are relatively well off financially. In Teays Valley, a community situated along Interstate 64 outside the state capital of Charleston, the typical household earns $73,846 a year, or about $10,000 more than the median income in Bethlehem, the second wealthiest town in the state.
Teays Valley also has the most expensive real estate in the state. The typical home in the area is worth $214,800 -- double the value of the typical West Virginia home.
Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
Median household income: $105,156 (state: $54,610)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 18.6% (state: 3.6%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 72.2% (state: 28.4%)
Median home value: $350,700 (state: $167,000)
Population: 14,088
Located along the shores of Lake Michigan, the Milwaukee suburb of Whitefish Bay is the wealthiest town in Wisconsin. Along with Mequon, Whitefish Bay is one of only two towns in the state where over half of all households earn six-figure incomes.
High-paying jobs are often only available to those with a college education. The wealthiest town in the state, Whitefish Bay population is also the best educated. Some 72.2% of area adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, more than double both the comparable 28.4% share of adults across the state and the 30.3% of American adults.
Bar Nunn, Wyoming
Median household income: $73,800 (state: $59,143)
Households earning $200,000 or more: 2.9% (state: 3.5%)
Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 17.7% (state: 26.0%)
Median home value: $211,000 (state: $199,900)
Population: 2,682
Bar Nunn is a town just north of Casper along Interstate 25. The typical household in the town earns $73,800 a year, the most of any town in Wyoming. Most wealthy American towns are well educated, but Bar Nunn is an exception. Just 17.7% of area adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, below both the 26.0% college attainment rate statewide and the 30.3% rate nationwide. Additionally, despite the high median income, there are very few extremely wealthy town residents. Just 2.9% of Bar Nunn households earn $200,000 or more per year, less than the comparable 3.5% state and 5.7% U.S. shares.
The low educational attainment and lack of extremely high incomes are partially explained by the types of jobs available in the area. The region has far higher than typical employment in construction and extraction occupations, fields than can be relatively high paying without high education requirements.
Many high-paying jobs require a four-year college degree. Partially as a result, most of the wealthiest towns in each state are home to relatively large college-educated populations. In 46 of the 50 towns on this list, the share of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree is greater than the corresponding statewide share, as well as the nationwide share of 30.3%.
The town with the highest median income in each state is also often an expensive place. Not only can higher income individuals afford more expensive real estate, but high real estate costs also drive up median incomes as they attract higher income residents and are often often prohibitively expensive for most Americans.
Nationwide, the typical home is worth $184,700, and all but three towns on this list have higher median home values. In all of the towns on this list, the median home value exceeds the median home value across the state as a whole.
Across the United States, wealthy towns are often situated in close proximity to large cities. Major urban areas are more likely to offer a wide range of high-paying jobs as well as a high concentration of cultural amenities like museums, theatres, concert venues, and professional sports teams.
The majority of towns on this list are well within commuting distance of a major urban center, which is often either the state capital, the largest city, or both. The towns on this list include suburbs of such cities as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Milwaukee, New York, Seattle, St. Louis, and Washington D.C.
Though a high median household income does not necessarily suggest a concentration of extreme wealth, many towns on this list are home to clusters of the wealthiest Americans. In all but three towns on this list, the concentration of households earning at least $200,000 a year is higher than it is across the state as a whole. In seven towns on this list -- including two New York City suburbs and two Washington D.C. suburbs -- over half of all households earn $200,000 a year or more.
To determine the wealthiest town in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed median household incomes in every town, city, village, borough, or census designated place, with a population between 1,000 and 25,000 in each state from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Our list includes census designated places, which are unincorporated regions that are treated as towns for statistical purposes. All social and economic figures are based on five-year estimates for the period of 2012-2016. To control for potential data errors that can arise in low population areas, we did not consider towns where the margin of error at 90% confidence was greater than 10% of the point estimate of both median household income and population. We considered the percentage of adults who have at least a bachelor’s degree, the share with a high school diploma, the towns’ poverty rates, and median home value — all from the ACS. Regional price parity -- or cost of living -- by state is for the most recent available year from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
A Princeton PhD, was a U.S. diplomat for over 20 years, mostly in Central/Eastern Europe, and was promoted to the Senior Foreign Service in 1997. After leaving the State Department in 2003 to express strong reservations about the planned U.S. invasion of Iraq, he shared ideas with Georgetown University students on the tension between propaganda and public diplomacy. He has given talks on "E Pluribus Unum? What Keeps the United States United" to participants in the "Open World" program. Among Brown’s many articles is his latest piece, “Janus-Faced Public Diplomacy: Creel and Lippmann During the Great War,” now online. He is the compiler (with S. Grant) of The Russian Empire and the USSR: A Guide to Manuscripts and Archival Materials in the United States (also online). In the past century, he served as an editor/translator of a joint U.S.-Soviet publication of archival materials, The United States and Russia: The Beginning of Relations,1765-1815. His approach to "scholarly" aspirations is poetically summarized by Goethe: "Gray, my friend, is every theory, but green is the tree of life."
