California dominates top 10 wealthiest US suburb rankings as celeb hotspot snubbed

California is flexing its serious financial muscles.

Multiple Golden State enclaves have hit the richest suburbs in America list, according to a new study — as one celebrity hotspot loses its top 10 ranking.

Three California communities cracked the top 10 wealthiest suburbs in the country, while a wave of ultra-affluent cities across the state also ranked among the top 50 nationwide, according to a new analysis from GOBankingRatings.

The high concentration of wealth fueled by the Silicon Valley tech economy was proudly on display, as three Bay Area cities placed in the top 10. Fourth place Los Altos boasts an average household income of $417,182 and an eye-watering average home value of more than $4.5 million. Alamo ranked seventh, while Orinda rounded placed 10th.

The GOBankingRates study compared the 50 suburbs with the highest average household incomes in 2024 to those from 2014, focusing on cities located within metropolitan statistical areas with at least 5,000 households.

California’s dominance extended well beyond the top 10. Menlo Park (No. 14), Saratoga (No. 15), San Carlos (No. 16), Los Gatos (No. 19) ad La Cañada Flintridge (No. 20) all ranked among the nation’s wealthiest suburbs, alongside Palo Alto (No. 25), Cupertino (No. 34) and Mill Valley (No. 40).

Other Golden State communities landing on the list included Coto de Caza (No. 26), Manhattan Beach (No. 37), Danville (No. 38) and Moraga (No. 44).

But Malibu — long synonymous with oceanfront mega-mansions and A-list neighbors — failed to crack the latest top 50 ranking despite its reputation as one of the most glamorous ZIP codes in the country.

The coastal community continues to attract some of the world’s biggest stars and power players seeking privacy, exclusivity and sweeping Pacific views. Former Vice President Kamala Harris recently purchased an $8 million home in Malibu’s Point Dume neighborhood, an area known for gated beach access and a long roster of celebrity residents, as previously reported by the California Post.

Point Dume has historically drawn both Hollywood talent and Silicon Valley heavyweights thanks to its large lots and secluded feel, reinforcing Malibu’s reputation as a celebrity haven even as other suburbs surge ahead in household income rankings.

Hollywood A-listers and music royalty also keep pouring staggering sums into Malibu real estate. Beyoncé and Jay-Z famously shelled out $200 million in cash for a sprawling oceanfront compound — one of the most expensive home purchases in California history‚ underscoring the area’s continued appeal among the ultra-rich

Actress Gal Galdot has also made headlines locally with her Malibu property drawing intense buyer interest amid tight housing supply.

Despite the star power, the GOBankingRatings analysis suggests tech wealth in Northern California suburbs is increasing outpacing even Hollywood’s most coveted beachfront communities.

Nationally, Scarsdale, New York placed at No. 1, with an average household income topping $612,000. Paradise Valley, Arizona saw one of the largest jumps in the rankings, climbing from 14th place a decade ago to No. 5 today.

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