Living in big cities and making low or average incomes can feel financially impossible when considering overall cost of living, taxes and more. In the U.S., there’s no single city that can tick off all the boxes when it comes to offering the best value in terms of work opportunity and cost of living. There’s always a tradeoff where you have to choose what’s most valuable to you.
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It’s also common to think that the cities with the large populations have higher average incomes and cities with lower populations don’t. But this is not always the case, according to the numbers.
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Since data helps you to make decisions, GOBankingRates has compiled extensive data covering household populations, their median incomes and the dollar difference from the U.S average across cities with both the highest and lowest incomes. It can be surprising that these high- and low-income cities can be found around New York, California and Texas.
See the full list and which cities are in your state.
Cities With the Highest Income
The following cities have the highest average incomes in the country, according to GOBankingRates data.
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Highland Park, TX
-
Total Population: 8,840
-
Total Household: 3,191
-
Median Household Income: $249, 923
-
Mean Household Income: $469,267
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 234.3%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 344.6%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $175,168
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $363,712
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Bronxsville, NY
-
Total Population: 6,570
-
Total Household: 2,157
-
Median Household Income: $206,850
-
Mean Household Income: $416,514
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 176.7%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 294.6%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $132,095
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $310,959
Rye, NY
-
Total Population:16,447
-
Total Household: 5,880
-
Median Household Income: $227,565
-
Mean Household Income: $405,074
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 204.4%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 283.8%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $152,810
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $299,519
The Village of Indian Hill, OH
-
Total Population: 6,051
-
Total Household: 2,421
-
Median Household Income: $218,073
-
Mean Household Income: $399,251
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 191.7%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 278.2%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $143,318
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $293,696
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Paradise Valley, AZ
-
Total Population:12,672
-
Total Household: 5,046
-
Median Household Income: $221,333
-
Mean Household Income: $385,643
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 196.1%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 265.3%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $146,578
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $280,088
Glencoe, IL
-
Total Population: 8,787
-
Total Household: 3,072
-
Median Household Income: $228,750
-
Mean Household Income: $383,105
-
% Difference from Median Household Income:206.0%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 262.9%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $153,995
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $277,550
Palm Beach, FL
-
Total Population: 9,205
-
Total Household: 5,370
-
Median Household Income: $190,824
-
Mean Household Income: $365,991
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 155.3%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 246.7%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $116,069
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $260,436
Old Greenwich, CT
-
Total Population: 7,060
-
Total Household: 2,321
-
Median Household Income: $240,417
-
Mean Household Income: $360,476
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 221.6%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 241.5%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $165,662
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $254,921
New Albany, OH
-
Total Population:10,516
-
Total Household: 3,297
-
Median Household Income: $224,824
-
Mean Household Income: $351,688
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 200.7%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 233.2%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $150,069
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $246,133
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Blackhawk, CA
-
Total Population: 10,622
-
Total Household: 3,918
-
Median Household Income: $234,773
-
Mean Household Income: $345,843
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 214.1%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 227.6%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $160,018
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $240,288
Parlos Verdes Estates, CA
-
Total Population: 13,219
-
Total Household: 5,123
-
Median Household Income: $224,766
-
Mean Household Income: $342,463
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 200.7%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 224.4%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $150,011
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $236,908
Larchmont, NY
-
Total Population: 6,549
-
Total Household: 2,208
-
Median Household Income: $220,714
-
Mean Household Income: $340,698
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 195.2%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 222.8%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $145,959
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $235,143
Kentfield, CA
-
Total Population: 7,410
-
Total Household: 2,831
-
Median Household Income: $208,977
-
Mean Household Income: $338,463
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 179.5%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 220.7%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $134,222
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $232,908
Travilah, MD
-
Total Population: 10,846
-
Total Household: 3,703
-
Median Household Income: $248,703
-
Mean Household Income: $334,773
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 232.7%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 217.2%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $173,948
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $229,218
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Fair Haven, NJ
-
Total Population: 6,221
-
Total Household: 2,106
-
Median Household Income: $229,643
-
Mean Household Income: $330,233
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 207.2%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 212.9%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $154,888
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $224,678
Saratoga, CA
-
Total Population: 30,771
-
Total Household: 10,798
-
Median Household Income: $237,730
-
Mean Household Income: $329,142
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 218.0%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 211.8%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $162,975
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $223,587
Upper Saddle River, NJ
-
Total Population: 8,313
-
Total Household: 2,602
-
Median Household Income: $234,476
-
Mean Household Income: $328,250
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 213.7%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 211.0%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $159,721
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $222,695
Montecito, CA
-
Total Population: 8,529
-
Total Household: 3,251
-
Median Household Income: $212,154
-
Mean Household Income: $327,332
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 183.8%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 210.1%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $137,399
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $221,777
Orono, MN
-
Total Population: 8,223
-
Total Household: 3,048
-
Median Household Income: $173,209
-
Mean Household Income: $325,789
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 131.7%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 208.6%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $98,254
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $220,234
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Staples, CT
-
Total Population: 7,200
-
Total Household: 2,580
-
Median Household Income: $213,158
-
Mean Household Income: $322,482
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 185.1%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 205.5%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $138,403
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $216,927
Town and County, MO
-
Total Population: 11,575
-
Total Household: 4,147
-
Median Household Income: $231,382
-
Mean Household Income: $321,572
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 209.5%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 204.6%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $156,627
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $216,017
Glen Ridge, NJ
-
Total Population: 7,797
-
Total Household: 2,462
-
Median Household Income: $246,429
-
Mean Household Income: $317,792
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 229.6%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 201.1%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $171,674
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $212,237
Medina, MN
-
Total Population: 6,746
-
Total Household: 2,311
-
Median Household Income: $202,153
-
Mean Household Income: $316,620
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 170.4%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 200.0%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $127,398
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $211,065
Menlo Park, CA
-
Total Population: 33,324
-
Total Household: 11,661
-
Median Household Income: $198,273
-
Mean Household Income: $316,584
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 165.2%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 199.9%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $123,518
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $211,029
Bernardsville, NJ
-
Total Population: 7,888
-
Total Household: 2,680
-
Median Household Income: $220,060
-
Mean Household Income: $312,818
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: 194.4%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: 196.4%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $145,305
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $207,263
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Cities With the Lowest Income
Per the GOBankingRates data, here are the U.S. cities with the lowest average incomes.
Rochester Institute of Technology, NY
-
Total Population: 5,091
-
Total Household: 366
-
Median Household Income: $18,516
-
Mean Household Income: $31,635
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -75.2%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -70.0%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $56,239
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $73,920
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Ville Platte, LA
-
Total Population: 6,364
-
Total Household: 2,652
-
Median Household Income: $24,341
-
Mean Household Income: $32,166
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -67.4%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -69.5
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $50,414
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $73,389
Prairie View, TX
-
Total Population: 8,039
-
Total Household: 1,556
-
Median Household Income: $19,238
-
Mean Household Income: $32,204
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -74.3%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -69.5%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $55,517
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $73,351
Cullowhee, NC
-
Total Population: 6,715
-
Total Household: 1,662
-
Median Household Income: $32,054
-
Mean Household Income: $33,317
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -57.1%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -68.4%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $42,701
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $72,238
University of California-Davis, CA
-
Total Population: 8,229
-
Total Household: 1,402
-
Median Household Income: $19,541
-
Mean Household Income: $34,675
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -73.9
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -67.1
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $55,214
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $70,880
Isla Vista, CA
-
Total Population: 14,722
-
Total Household: 4,762
-
Median Household Income: $23,121
-
Mean Household Income: $35,217
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -69.1%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -66.6%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $51,634
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $70,338
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Anthony, NM
-
Total Population: 8,708
-
Total Household: 3,035
-
Median Household Income: $27,406
-
Mean Household Income: $38,092
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -63.3%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -63.9%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $47,349
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $67,463
East Bakersfield, CA
-
Total Population: 10,754
-
Total Household: 3,065
-
Median Household Income: $31,323
-
Mean Household Income: $39,149
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -58.1%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -62.9%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $43,432
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $66,406
East Cleveland, OH
-
Total Population: 13,926
-
Total Household: 6,576
-
Median Household Income: $23,004
-
Mean Household Income: $39,755
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -69.2%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -62.3%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $51,751
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $65,800
Salida Del Sol Estates, TX
-
Total Population: 6,172
-
Total Household: 1,282
-
Median Household Income: $20,613
-
Mean Household Income: $40,076
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -72.4%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -62.0%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $54,142
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $64,479
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Roma, TX
-
Total Population: 11,531
-
Total Household: 3,284
-
Median Household Income: $26,951
-
Mean Household Income: $40,176
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -63.9%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -61.9%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $47,804
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $65,379
Tallulah, LA
-
Total Population: 6,290
-
Total Household: 2,131
-
Median Household Income: $30,070
-
Mean Household Income: $40,299
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -58.4%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -61.8%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $43,685
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $65,256
Atmore, AL
-
Total Population: 8,465
-
Total Household: 2,725
-
Median Household Income: $30,472
-
Mean Household Income: $40,409
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -59.2%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -61.7%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $44,284
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $65,146
LaFayette, GA
-
Total Population: 6,929
-
Total Household: 6,851
-
Median Household Income: $30,284
-
Mean Household Income: $40,875
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -59.5%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -61.3%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $44,471
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $64,780
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Benton Harbor, MI
-
Total Population: 9,109
-
Total Household: 3,867
-
Median Household Income: $26,592
-
Mean Household Income: $41,132
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -64.4%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -61.0%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $48,163
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $64,423
Arcadia, FL
-
Total Population: 7,480
-
Total Household: 3,015
-
Median Household Income: $34,598
-
Mean Household Income: $41,134
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -53.7%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -61.0%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $40,157
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $64,421
Grambling, LA
-
Total Population: 5315
-
Total Household: 1,637
-
Median Household Income: $25,050
-
Mean Household Income: $41,301
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -66.5%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -60.9%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $49,705
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $64,254
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Sparks, TX
-
Total Population: 5,212
-
Total Household: 1,345
-
Median Household Income: $30,848
-
Mean Household Income: $41,341
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -58,7%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -60.8%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $43,907
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $64,214
Fort Pierce North, FL
-
Total Population: 6,519
-
Total Household: 2,489
-
Median Household Income: $31,458
-
Mean Household Income: $42,129
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -57.9%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -60.1%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $43.297
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $63,426
Marlin, TX
-
Total Population: 5,478
-
Total Household: 1,658
-
Median Household Income: $31,240
-
Mean Household Income: $42,326
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -58.2%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -59.9%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $43,515
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $63,299
Smithville, TN
-
Total Population: 5,059
-
Total Household: 2,047
-
Median Household Income: $30,526
-
Mean Household Income: $42,341
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -59.2%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -59.9%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $44,229
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $63,214
Columbia, MS
-
Total Population: 5,831
-
Total Household: 1,989
-
Median Household Income: $29,470
-
Mean Household Income: $42,358
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -60.6%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -59.9%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $45,285
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $63,197
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Marianna, FL
-
Total Population: 6,681
-
Total Household: 2,656
-
Median Household Income: $27,296
-
Mean Household Income: $42,654
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -63.5%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -59.6%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $47,459
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $62,901
Johnstown, PA
-
Total Population: 18,429
-
Total Household: 9,061
-
Median Household Income: $33,466
-
Mean Household Income: $42,726
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -55.2%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -59.5%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $41,289
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $62,829
Bastrop, LA
-
Total Population: 9,623
-
Total Household: 3,548
-
Median Household Income: $29,286
-
Mean Household Income: $42,900
-
% Difference from Median Household Income: -60.8%
-
% Difference from Mean household Income: -59.4%
-
$ Difference from Median Household Income: $45,469
-
$ Difference from Mean Household Income: $62,655
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the average household income for cities across the United States in order to find the cities with the highest and lowest average incomes. First GOBankingRates found the average household income of cities across the country as sourced from the US Census 2022 American Community Survey. The 25 cities with the highest average income and the 25 cities with the lowest average income were kept for this study. For each of the 50 cities a number of factors were found including; total population, total households, median household income, and the mean household income all sourced from the US Census 2022 American Community Survey. The % difference from median household income, % difference from mean household income, $ difference from median household income, and $ difference from mean household income were calculated using that data. The cities were sorted by the largest and smallest average household incomes. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 2, 2024.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What Cities Have the Highest and Lowest Average Incomes in 2024?