Cities Adding the Most High-Income Households – 2026 Study

The number of high income households in a community can have a large impact on local economics. High income households – defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as those earning $200,000 or more per year – generally contribute more dollars to the local and state tax bases, and to surrounding businesses. At the same time, this relative economic strength may sway entities to cater more to the preferences of these households to earn their patronage. Quick growth in high income households may accelerate tax collection and business prosperity, just as their departure may cause some concern for local politicians, business owners, and neighbors.

With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 357 cities based on the change in high income households between 2023 and 2024 according to the latest U.S. Census data.

Key Findings

• High income households skyrocketed in this Connecticut city. Waterbury, CT had the highest relative growth in high income households this year, going from 643 in 2023 to 2,295 households in 2024 – a 271% increase. The relative portion of high income households grew from 1.4% of all households to 5.2%. Meanwhile, the median household income in Waterbury in 2024 remained fairly low at $47,881.
• In six other cities, the number of high income households grew by over 70%. After Waterbury, the cities with the most growth in high income households include Inglewood, CA (88.9%); Montgomery, AL (82.6%); Menifee, CA (82.0%); Albany, NY (72.1%), Beaumont, TX (71.8%); and Lakeland, FL (71.4%). 
• More than 40% of households are high income in these cities. Santa Clara, CA has the highest portion of high income households in the community, with 46.9% earning $200,000 per year or more in 2024. Other cities with large high-income populations include Sunnyvale, CA (46.3%); Fremont, CA (43.3%); San Mateo, CA (42.6%); and Bellevue, WA (41.8%).
• Lansing, MI saw the biggest decline in high income households. The number of high income households in Lansing dropped from 1,374 in 2023 to 703 in 2024, a 46.2% decline. Meanwhile, the median household income remained steady both years at around $55,250. Other cities that saw large declines in high income households include Akron, OH (-36.8%); Allentown, PA (-35.0%); Norman, OK (-32.0%); and Killeen, TX (-27.3%).

Top 50 Cities With the Most Growth in High Income Households

Cities are ranked based on the percentage increase in the gross number of households earning $200,000 or more year over year.

1. Waterbury, Connecticut

• Percentage growth in high income households: 271.4%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 2295
• Number of high income households, 2023: 643
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 5.2%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 1.4%
• Median household income, 2024: $47,881
• Median household income, 2023: $43,420

2. Inglewood, California

• Percentage growth in high income households: 88.9%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 4241
• Number of high income households, 2023: 2048
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 10.2%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 5.4%
• Median household income, 2024: $69,362
• Median household income, 2023: $72,900

3. Montgomery, Alabama

• Percentage growth in high income households: 82.6%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 6974
• Number of high income households, 2023: 3816
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 8.4%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 4.6%
• Median household income, 2024: $59,292
• Median household income, 2023: $57,300

4. Menifee, California

• Percentage growth in high income households: 82.0%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 6428
• Number of high income households, 2023: 3503
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 16.2%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 8.9%
• Median household income, 2024: $103,609
• Median household income, 2023: $82,402

5. Albany, New York

• Percentage growth in high income households: 72.1%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 3617
• Number of high income households, 2023: 1930
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 7.4%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 4.3%
• Median household income, 2024: $65,231
• Median household income, 2023: $61,390

6. Beaumont, Texas

• Percentage growth in high income households: 71.8%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 2955
• Number of high income households, 2023: 1723
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 6.7%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 3.9%
• Median household income, 2024: $54,065
• Median household income, 2023: $60,010

7. Lakeland, Florida

• Percentage growth in high income households: 71.4%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 4087
• Number of high income households, 2023: 2531
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 8.4%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 4.9%
• Median household income, 2024: $63,859
• Median household income, 2023: $57,131

8. Columbia, Missouri

• Percentage growth in high income households: 68.8%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 5755
• Number of high income households, 2023: 3449
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 10.8%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 6.4%
• Median household income, 2024: $80,543
• Median household income, 2023: $62,972

9. Brandon, Florida

• Percentage growth in high income households: 68.8%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 6423
• Number of high income households, 2023: 3566
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 13.5%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 8.0%
• Median household income, 2024: $80,980
• Median household income, 2023: $82,027

10. Odessa, Texas

• Percentage growth in high income households: 68.8%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 5647
• Number of high income households, 2023: 3466
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 10.8%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 6.4%
• Median household income, 2024: $79,531
• Median household income, 2023: $74,562

11. Independence, Missouri

• Percentage growth in high income households: 68.2%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 1921
• Number of high income households, 2023: 1129
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 3.7%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 2.2%
• Median household income, 2024: $58,535
• Median household income, 2023: $61,432

12. West Covina, California

• Percentage growth in high income households: 67.9%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 6515
• Number of high income households, 2023: 3511
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 18.8%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 11.2%
• Median household income, 2024: $101,296
• Median household income, 2023: $96,525

13. Surprise, Arizona

• Percentage growth in high income households: 65.5%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 9295
• Number of high income households, 2023: 5137
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 14.4%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 8.7%
• Median household income, 2024: $100,824
• Median household income, 2023: $89,560

14. Laredo, Texas

• Percentage growth in high income households: 63.9%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 4777
• Number of high income households, 2023: 2847
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 5.9%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 3.6%
• Median household income, 2024: $61,519
• Median household income, 2023: $60,720

15. Santa Maria, California

• Percentage growth in high income households: 63.6%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 3839
• Number of high income households, 2023: 2188
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 12.6%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 7.7%
• Median household income, 2024: $74,986
• Median household income, 2023: $77,564

16. South Fulton, Georgia

• Percentage growth in high income households: 62.7%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 5464
• Number of high income households, 2023: 3345
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 13.5%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 8.3%
• Median household income, 2024: $84,745
• Median household income, 2023: $79,871

17. East Los Angeles, California

• Percentage growth in high income households: 60.9%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 2367
• Number of high income households, 2023: 1344
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 7.4%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 4.6%
• Median household income, 2024: $67,303
• Median household income, 2023: $69,891

18. College Station, Texas

• Percentage growth in high income households: 60.8%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 6032
• Number of high income households, 2023: 3480
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 11.9%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 7.4%
• Median household income, 2024: $50,523
• Median household income, 2023: $47,632

19. Paterson, New Jersey

• Percentage growth in high income households: 60.0%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 3502
• Number of high income households, 2023: 2339
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 7.2%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 4.5%
• Median household income, 2024: $60,703
• Median household income, 2023: $56,907

20. Conroe, Texas

• Percentage growth in high income households: 59.7%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 5220
• Number of high income households, 2023: 3034
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 11.5%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 7.2%
• Median household income, 2024: $80,411
• Median household income, 2023: $77,027

21. Fort Wayne, Indiana

• Percentage growth in high income households: 59.5%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 6619
• Number of high income households, 2023: 4262
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 5.9%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 3.7%
• Median household income, 2024: $61,436
• Median household income, 2023: $57,138

22. Hollywood, Florida

• Percentage growth in high income households: 59.5%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 7156
• Number of high income households, 2023: 4529
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 11.8%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 7.4%
• Median household income, 2024: $71,067
• Median household income, 2023: $60,630

23. Palm Coast, Florida

• Percentage growth in high income households: 56.9%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 4444
• Number of high income households, 2023: 2795
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 10.2%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 6.5%
• Median household income, 2024: $82,083
• Median household income, 2023: $70,037

24. Yuma, Arizona

• Percentage growth in high income households: 55.6%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 2794
• Number of high income households, 2023: 1878
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 7.0%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 4.5%
• Median household income, 2024: $71,828
• Median household income, 2023: $61,977

25. St. George, Utah

• Percentage growth in high income households: 54.9%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 4242
• Number of high income households, 2023: 2761
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 11.0%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 7.1%
• Median household income, 2024: $83,984
• Median household income, 2023: $77,431

26. Kent, Washington

• Percentage growth in high income households: 53.7%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 7737
• Number of high income households, 2023: 5452
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 16.6%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 10.8%
• Median household income, 2024: $92,497
• Median household income, 2023: $85,982

27. Joliet, Illinois

• Percentage growth in high income households: 53.5%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 5367
• Number of high income households, 2023: 3728
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 10.9%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 7.1%
• Median household income, 2024: $103,163
• Median household income, 2023: $86,054

28. Waco, Texas

• Percentage growth in high income households: 53.3%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 3896
• Number of high income households, 2023: 2379
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 6.9%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 4.5%
• Median household income, 2024: $56,548
• Median household income, 2023: $52,770

29. Greeley, Colorado

• Percentage growth in high income households: 52.6%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 3679
• Number of high income households, 2023: 2440
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 8.7%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 5.7%
• Median household income, 2024: $76,462
• Median household income, 2023: $63,526

30. Garden Grove, California

• Percentage growth in high income households: 52.4%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 8046
• Number of high income households, 2023: 5286
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 16.0%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 10.5%
• Median household income, 2024: $92,509
• Median household income, 2023: $87,407

31. Mesquite, Texas

• Percentage growth in high income households: 52.3%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 3717
• Number of high income households, 2023: 2186
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 6.7%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 4.4%
• Median household income, 2024: $66,083
• Median household income, 2023: $67,333

32. Rialto, California

• Percentage growth in high income households: 51.2%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 3501
• Number of high income households, 2023: 2285
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 13.0%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 8.6%
• Median household income, 2024: $90,295
• Median household income, 2023: $80,321

33. Des Moines, Iowa

• Percentage growth in high income households: 51.1%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 5990
• Number of high income households, 2023: 4071
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 6.8%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 4.5%
• Median household income, 2024: $67,297
• Median household income, 2023: $60,882

34. Spring Hill, Florida

• Percentage growth in high income households: 51.1%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 3424
• Number of high income households, 2023: 2248
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 7.1%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 4.7%
• Median household income, 2024: $71,269
• Median household income, 2023: $68,872

35. Nampa, Idaho

• Percentage growth in high income households: 48.8%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 2554
• Number of high income households, 2023: 1683
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 6.1%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 4.1%
• Median household income, 2024: $82,044
• Median household income, 2023: $71,752

36. Hartford, Connecticut

• Percentage growth in high income households: 47.2%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 2614
• Number of high income households, 2023: 1772
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 5.3%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 3.6%
• Median household income, 2024: $50,418
• Median household income, 2023: $42,397

37. Mesa, Arizona

• Percentage growth in high income households: 44.8%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 25196
• Number of high income households, 2023: 17720
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 12.6%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 8.7%
• Median household income, 2024: $85,580
• Median household income, 2023: $79,145

38. West Valley City, Utah

• Percentage growth in high income households: 44.6%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 3840
• Number of high income households, 2023: 2830
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 9.4%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 6.5%
• Median household income, 2024: $92,750
• Median household income, 2023: $80,889

39. San Bernardino, California

• Percentage growth in high income households: 43.8%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 4563
• Number of high income households, 2023: 3090
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 6.9%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 4.8%
• Median household income, 2024: $67,753
• Median household income, 2023: $63,328

40. Lehigh Acres, Florida

• Percentage growth in high income households: 43.8%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 2053
• Number of high income households, 2023: 1299
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 4.6%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 3.2%
• Median household income, 2024: $70,800
• Median household income, 2023: $59,645

41. Murfreesboro, Tennessee

• Percentage growth in high income households: 42.9%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 7066
• Number of high income households, 2023: 4868
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 11.0%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 7.7%
• Median household income, 2024: $84,457
• Median household income, 2023: $78,069

42. Visalia, California

• Percentage growth in high income households: 41.1%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 6259
• Number of high income households, 2023: 4360
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 12.7%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 9.0%
• Median household income, 2024: $84,781
• Median household income, 2023: $79,777

43. Topeka, Kansas

• Percentage growth in high income households: 38.5%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 3121
• Number of high income households, 2023: 2151
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 5.4%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 3.9%
• Median household income, 2024: $61,030
• Median household income, 2023: $52,417

44. Kansas City, Kansas

• Percentage growth in high income households: 38.2%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 2721
• Number of high income households, 2023: 1955
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 4.7%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 3.4%
• Median household income, 2024: $63,917
• Median household income, 2023: $60,739

45. Suffolk, Virginia

• Percentage growth in high income households: 37.6%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 5411
• Number of high income households, 2023: 3960
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 13.9%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 10.1%
• Median household income, 2024: $97,690
• Median household income, 2023: $81,154

46. Clarksville, Tennessee

• Percentage growth in high income households: 37.5%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 3208
• Number of high income households, 2023: 2278
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 4.4%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 3.2%
• Median household income, 2024: $73,465
• Median household income, 2023: $67,246

47. Baltimore, Maryland

• Percentage growth in high income households: 36.8%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 27664
• Number of high income households, 2023: 19713
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 10.4%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 7.6%
• Median household income, 2024: $64,778
• Median household income, 2023: $59,579

48. New Haven, Connecticut

• Percentage growth in high income households: 36.8%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 5883
• Number of high income households, 2023: 4362
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 10.4%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 7.6%
• Median household income, 2024: $59,705
• Median household income, 2023: $51,158

49. Davie town, Florida

• Percentage growth in high income households: 36.2%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 7404
• Number of high income households, 2023: 5378
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 18.8%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 13.8%
• Median household income, 2024: $86,560
• Median household income, 2023: $82,514

50. Huntsville, Alabama

• Percentage growth in high income households: 35.8%
• Number of high income households, 2024: 12487
• Number of high income households, 2023: 9458
• Portion of households that are high income, 2024: 12.9%
• Portion of households that are high income, 2023: 9.5%
• Median household income, 2024: $83,235
• Median household income, 2023: $73,319

Data and Methodology

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year Community Survey for 2024 and 2023. The study includes 357 cities with a population of 100,000 or more for which data was available. Cities were ranked based on the growth in high-income households as a percentage of total households between 2023 and 2024. High-income households are defined as those making an income of $200,000 or more.

Questions about this study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com

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