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, Connecticut, 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, California (88.9%); Montgomery, Alabama (82.6%); Menifee, California (82.0%); Albany, New York (72.1%), Beaumont, Texas (71.8%); and Lakeland, Florida (71.4%).
More than 40% of households are high-income in these cities. Santa Clara, California, has the highest proportion 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, California (46.3%); Fremont, California (43.3%); San Mateo, California (42.6%); and Bellevue, Washington (41.8%).
Lansing, Michigan, 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, Ohio (-36.8%); Allentown, Pennsylvania (-35.0%); Norman, Oklahoma (-32.0%); and Killeen, Texas (-27.3%).
SmartAsset
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Davie, 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
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.
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