The Most Expensive Neighborhood in Every State

Every city has good neighborhoods and bad neighborhoods, but some ZIP codes are so exclusive that “good” is no longer an accurate description. In a lot of places, you’d get laughed out of the realtor’s office if you walked in with $1 million and asked about buying something in the most exclusive neighborhood in town. Using data from Realtor.com, Cheapism drafted a list of the most expensive neighborhoods in every state and the typical home values there according to the Zillow Home Value Index. From the ritziest enclaves in already posh districts to private islands with six-figure membership dues, here are the ZIP codes that attract big-money buyers.

Related: The Most Expensive Home for Sale in Every State

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 35223
Typical Home Value: $671,171

The Birmingham suburb of Mountain Brook is not only consistently one of the wealthiest towns in Alabama, but in the entire South. The average income there is more than $152,355 compared with $50,536 for the state overall. Mountain Brook is known for mansion estates that bear a closer resemblance to what you’d find in Beverly Hills than in Birmingham.

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Most Expensive ZIP Code: 99516
Typical Home Value: $513,259

Although half of Alaska’s population lives in Anchorage, which is about the size of Delaware, it’s still essentially a big small town. Well-heeled newcomers have flocked to posh neighborhoods such as Hillside East since Anchorage’s founding in 1915. Among the draws are its natural beauty, clean air and water, unlimited outdoor activities, and bustling, but tight-knit community. 

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Most Expensive ZIP Code: 85253
Typical Home Value: $2,013,750

Tucked between Scottsdale and Phoenix, Paradise Valley averages 294 days of sunshine a year. It’s home to 10 restaurants and a whopping nine resorts and spas, or 10 if you count the palatial Ritz-Carlton that’s coming soon. There are also three golf clubs, three medical centers, 10 schools, and more than a dozen houses of worship — all in a 16.5-square-mile desert town that’s home to fewer than 13,000 people. 

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 72703
Typical Home Value: $278,043

The ritzy Asbell neighborhood is in Fayetteville, the third-largest city in the state. It’s known for its vibrant offerings of shopping, nightlife, art, live music, community theater, sports, a world-class public library, and a massive menu of outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and water recreation. 

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 90210
Typical Home Value: $5,508,908

There’s much hype about the unaffordable Bay Area tech hubs of San Jose and San Francisco, but the most famous ZIP code in America is still the priciest in the Golden State. Beverly Hills is known worldwide for Rodeo Drive and other high-end shopping strips, for Bugattis and Porsches rolling down its streets, and its scroll of resident A-listers. But it’s also a strong community bursting with to-dos such as workshops, art festivals, and theater groups.

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Most Expensive ZIP Code: 81654
Typical Home Value: $1,209,063

The enclave of Snowmass is not cheap, but if you have the means to move there, you could live your whole life and never take in the whole town. As its name implies, it’s a skier’s paradise, but the outdoor offerings don’t end on the slopes. Its immediate surroundings are a picture-postcard Western landscape dominated by soaring mountains, boundless forests, and crisp blue skies. There’s also plenty to do — the big-bucks tourist magnet is teeming with shopping, dining, festivals, and events.

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Most Expensive ZIP Code: 06831
Typical Home Value: $1,408,741

Ranked consistently as one of the wealthiest locales in America, Greenwich is known mostly for its massive, sprawling mansions. Some of the town’s wealth can be traced to generational New England old money, but a high concentration of hedge fund managers and other Wall Street aristocrats either summer there or claim permanent residence in one of the historic double-digit room estates. 

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 19807
Typical Home Value: $812,933

There were 68 millionaires living in Delaware by 1929, and many of them flocked to a 600-acre tract of land that William du Pont transferred to the Delaware Land Development Co. The enclave was known as Westover Hills, and it’s still the most prestigious neighborhood in the state. It's famous for its mansions, which were designed and built with Georgian, Colonial Revival, and Tudor Revival architecture.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 20007
Typical Home Value: $1,210,104

The median household income in the posh, 10,447-population Georgetown neighborhood is more than $122,000 a year. It’s known for the elite university that bears its name, its catalog of D.C. power broker residents, its exclusive restaurants, and high-end shopping. If you have only $400,000, don’t worry, you might be able to score an 800-square-foot, one-bedroom condo on the fringes of the neighborhood.  

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 33109
Typical Home Value: $2,739,919 

Fisher Island isn’t so much a town as it is a private, members-only island reserved for the 1%. It’s not unusual to find homes for $10 million to $50 million, even though fewer than 1 in 5 residents live there full time. The island is a magnet for so-called “tax refugees,” a name given to the San Francisco and New York elite who flock to the Miami-area enclave to shelter their mountains of cash. The average income is $2.2 million and, if you want to be one of the 800 families who live in the humanmade island’s 30 ultra-luxe condominium buildings, you’ll have to pay a $250,000 initial fee and $22,256 in annual fees. 

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Most Expensive ZIP Code: 31561
Typical Home Value: $2,688,815 

The 30th G8 Summit was held at Sea Island, but the privately owned getaway isn’t just a resort. The premier strip of the Golden Isles of Georgia, Sea Island has long been the playground of elite power brokers. The island’s anchor is the elite Sea Island Beach Club and neighboring Cloister Hotel, which are frequented by resident club members who live in the sprawling seaside mansions that pepper the island.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 96754
Typical Home Value: $1,135,535 

Kilauea is a small and exclusive community on the northern coast on the island of Kauai. How exclusive? Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg spent nearly $150 million between 2014-2017 to buy large swaths of pristine land on Kauai’s North Shore in a controversial land grab on one of the most picture-perfect places on Earth. In March, he doubled down by buying 600 additional acres for $53 million.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 83340
Typical Home Value: $902,877 

All the way back in 2002, The Washington Post reported on what was already a 25-year trend of the ultra-rich pricing long-term residents out of the Sun Valley ski resort town of Ketchum. Even the upper middle class couldn’t keep up with the influx of celebrities — Clint Eastwood, Demi Moore, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Willis were familiar faces by the turn of the 21st century — and titans of industry who lived there part-time. Fast-forward nearly two decades, and it’s the richest ZIP code in Idaho.

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Most Expensive ZIP Code: 60043
Typical Home Value: $1,428,519 

The small and wealthy North Shore suburb of Kenilworth has been the richest ZIP code in Illinois for several years running — the median home sale price breached seven figures in 2016. The whole North Shore, actually, is complete with communities that are among the richest in the state.

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Most Expensive ZIP Code: 46077
Typical Home Value: $454,050

Although Hamilton County is generally more upscale, neighboring Boone County is home to Zionsville, the richest town in Indiana and the most expensive ZIP code in the state. Although its sub-six-figure median household income doesn’t compete with ultra-exclusive enclaves such as Beverly Hills or Greenwich, it is home to a young, highly educated population with an unemployment rate several times lower than the state’s average.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 52411
Typical Home Value: $349,306 

The northwest section of Cedar Rapids is home to several tony neighborhoods. The ZIP code’s hottest sections include Edgewood Road and Southwood Drive; Covington; and the most exclusive of them all, Linn Junction and New Buffalo.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 66211
Typical Home Value: $571,303 

In the wealthy suburb of Leawood, the median household income is $157,515. By comparison, the statewide median in Kansas as a whole is less than $60,000 — to be exact, $59,597.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 40026
Typical Home Value: $356,738

Many of America’s richest ZIP codes lie in highly coveted urban centers. Goshen, on the other hand, is a town of fewer than 1,000 people. The seventh city in Oldham County, Goshen is renowned for its equestrian culture and is home to several prominent horse farms and ranches. Well-heeled horse owners buy large homes with sprawling spreads there to accommodate their prized animals.

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Most Expensive ZIP Code: 70124
Typical Home Value: $479,849

The New Orleans neighborhood of Lakeview takes the cake in Louisiana, but in 2005, it was on the brink of destruction. It gets its name from its immediate proximity to Lake Pontchartrain, and Hurricane Katrina nearly wiped it off the map. It was rebuilt to its original grandeur, however, and the affluent neighborhood now boasts the title of most expensive in all of Louisiana. 

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 04046
Typical Home Value: $529,858 

The tranquil coastal community of Kennebunkport is famous as the leisure home of President George H.W. Bush and his son and former Florida’s governor, Jeb Bush. It’s wealthy and exclusive, even by the standards of old-money New England, but it’s also understated and quaint. Known for lobster, yachts, and coastal charm, property values stay high, in part, because Kennebunkport breaks the shore town mold with four-season appeal.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 20854
Typical Home Value: $1,014,568 

From well-connected political insiders to high-powered lawyers and lobbyists, Maryland has long been the place where much of the D.C. ruling class has chosen for a primary residence. With a 30-minute commute to the capital, Potomac is one of the most coveted ZIP codes for Washington’s top power brokers, and with a median household income approaching $200,000, it’s also one of the richest communities in America. 

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 02108
Typical Home Value: $1,334,495 

Boston traces its roots to the Revolution, and so does the ritzy Beacon Hill neighborhood’s status as its most exclusive district. It’s known for its many $2,000-per-square-foot historic homes such as the one owned by former Secretary of State John Kerry.

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Most Expensive ZIP Code: 48009
Typical Home Value: $561,610 

About 20,000 people live in the affluent suburb of Birmingham, where the median household income is close to $123,000. On the north side of metropolitan Detroit, Birmingham’s highly regarded Cape Cod and craftsman-style houses are known to sell as soon as they hit the market. 

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 55391
Typical Home Value: $734,736 

Minnesota is a wealthy state, and its wealthiest ZIP code is home to Wayzata. It’s a sprawling area spread out around Lower Lake — and it’s also one of the richest ZIP codes in the entire Midwest. A destination for the Midwestern elite since the Civil War, Wayzata has lakefront homes that can fetch prices approaching $10 million.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 39110
Typical Home Value: $295,219

Because of Mississippi’s low cost of living, affluent white-collar workers can move to places such as Madison and buy massive, sprawling mansion estates for prices that would scarcely get them a few bedrooms in the nicest neighborhoods in places such as New York and San Francisco. Madison isn’t just affordable for those with deep pockets in the Deep South, but it’s also beautiful — the town is perched on the scenic Barnett Reservoir. 

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 63124
Typical Home Value: $962,606

Ladue is just west of St. Louis, and it’s the wealthiest town of any size in all of Missouri. Many of St. Louis’ wealthiest and most connected live in Ladue — baseball great Stan Musial was a local celebrity — and the town is also home to the 125-year-old St. Louis Country Club.

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Most Expensive ZIP Code: 59720
Typical Home Value: $586,334

The city of Cameron’s wealth can be traced to the cattle barons who made their fortunes there in the 1800s. Just an hour from Yellowstone National Park, Cameron is swimming in scenic beauty, with Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, the largest national forest in the state, bordering it to the west and east.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 68022
Typical Home Value: $405,780 

Elkhorn is a wealthy neighborhood on the western edge of Omaha, which is home to the so-called “Fab Five” Fortune 500 companies that call the city home: Mutual of Omaha, ConAgra Foods, Peter Kiewit Son’s, Union Pacific, and, most famously, Berkshire Hathaway. Warren Buffett doesn’t live in Elkhorn, but several other corporate bigwigs do.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 89413
Typical Home Value: $2,642,444

A flood of wealthy retirees from California has made the Glenbrook area along Lake Tahoe’s east shore one of the wealthiest regions in the state. That dynamic has muscled out even fairly affluent starter families, although the area has always been well-to-do, thanks to its spread of luxury lakefront properties. 

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 03870
Typical Home Value: $911,509 

Just an hour from Boston, Rye is filled with classic New England seaside cottages and mansions — as well as classic New England old money. It boasts the longest stretch of beach in the state and more than half of the town is made up of uninhabitable marshes and wetlands, which add to its exclusivity and remote beauty.

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Most Expensive ZIP Code: 07620
Typical Home Value: $2,402,227 

One of the richest ZIP codes in America, Alpine has long been known as a magnet for celebrities who crave both privacy and proximity to New York. Taxes are low because there are literally no local services — not even mail delivery. Among the big-name residents who call Alpine home are Kellyanne Conway, the adviser to President Donald Trump; rap mogul Russell Simmons, singer Lil’ Kim, and comic Chris Rock.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 87506
Typical Home Value: $848,067

This ZIP code is just north of Santa Fe, one of the most uniquely American cities in the country — a blend of Southwestern, Mexican, and indigenous cultures into a melting pot that is frequently ranked among the best cities to visit or live in. The historic and artsy city is home to amazing art, culture, music, festivals, and cuisine, all of which could be considered the best in the Southwest. 

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 10013
Typical Home Value: $2,797,236 

The Triangle Below Canal (TriBeCa) is Manhattan’s wealthiest neighborhood, where some of the pricier penthouses sell for $30 million. Once known for manufacturing and industry, it’s become a magnet for New York’s super-wealthy who want to live a more low-key if high-end lifestyle than counterparts in traditionally ritzy areas such as Park Avenue.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 28207
Typical Home Value: $1,124,770 

The Myers Park/Eastover neighborhood has been the wealthiest in the city of Charlotte for several years running. Around the 98-acre Freedom Park, the neighborhood’s property values have been boosted largely by an influx of multigenerational outsiders, both successful millennial professionals and retirees with hefty nest eggs. The demographics have one thing in common — deep pockets.

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Most Expensive ZIP Code: 58503
Typical Home Value: $346,664 

Bismarck is way down in terms of North Dakota’s wealthiest cities, thanks largely to the ebbing of the state’s massive oil boom. The ZIP code in the city’s northwest region, however, boasts the priciest homes anywhere in North Dakota, even though housing prices have stabilized from their peak several years ago. 

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 45243
Typical Home Value: $575,121 

Indian Hill isn’t only the richest area in the Cincinnati region, or even only all of Ohio — it’s the wealthiest place in the Midwest and one of the richest in the entire country. With an average household income of around $320,000, it’s one of America’s 20 wealthiest ZIP codes.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 73007
Typical Home Value: $380,753

Every Route 66 aficionado knows to stop at the Oklahoma town of Arcadia for the legendary Pops diner, which is known for its massive neon soda bottle. What many don’t know is that it’s one of the wealthiest areas in the entire state. Also centrally located on America’s most famous highway just minutes from Oklahoma City, neighboring Edmund is an oasis of affluence as well. 

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 97034
Typical Home Value: $964,089

The Northwest’s elite have been flocking to beautiful and scenic Lake Oswego for years. Just 10 minutes outside Portland, the city of 37,000 is actually designated a suburb. The stunningly beautiful lake after which the town is named features shores dotted with new custom-built homes, modern estates, and hilltop mansions.

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Most Expensive ZIP Code: 19085
Typical Home Value: $1,153,963 

When people hear “Villanova,” it’s likely they think of college basketball. The University that bears the town's name, after all, is a D-1 Big East name brand and one of Philly’s “Big Five” rivalry schools. Stray off-campus, however, and you’ll find massive estates and sprawling mansions, some of which date back to the wealthy industrialists who put the Villanova area on the map. 

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 02807
Typical Home Value: $1,165,577 

Referred to by Forbes as “one of the most charming time warps on the Eastern Seaboard,” Block Island is so tiny that it’s accessible only by ferry or plane. Complete with a hilltop Victorian hotel, a lighthouse, and winding country roads, its surroundings are the quintessential New England scenery. Wealthy New Yorkers and Bostonians have been vacationing there for generations.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 29482
Typical Home Value: $2,235,524

Nearly one in three households in Sullivan’s Island report more than $200,000 in annual income. This choice beachside retreat is where Charleston’s movers and shakers buy their second homes — virtually none on the island cost less than seven figures. In 2015, the enclave’s 980 taxpayers reported $345 million in total income.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 57745
Typical Home Value: $331,435 

The rugged and wild Black Hills region of South Dakota is home to one of the wealthiest areas in the state: Hill City. An outdoor paradise, the region beckons adventurers from around the world, but there’s also fine dining, wineries, breweries, shopping, art galleries, festivals, and more. As an added magnet for millionaires, South Dakota has no estate tax and no income tax.

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Most Expensive ZIP Code: 37069
Typical Home Value: $630,353  

Williamson County ranks consistently  among the richest counties in America, and the town of Franklin is the heart of it all. Half the population is college educated and major corporations such as United Healthcare, Nissan, and Community Health Systems all have offices there. The median household income is $168,688.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 75205
Typical Home Value: $1,324,650 

The Dallas-Fort Worth region is home to plenty of rich people, but the wealthy Texans prefer University Park above all the rest. It’s one of the richest communities not just in Texas, but in all of America — neighboring Highland Park is even wealthier, even if its homes don’t cost quite as much. 

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 84060
Typical Home Value: $1,296,265

Park City has evolved into one of the wealthiest small urban areas in the entire country. The median household income there, which is $111,000, is more than $50,000 higher than in relatively affluent Salt Lake City. 

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 05445
Typical Home Value: $622,740 

Charlotte not only boasts the most expensive median home listings in Vermont, but it’s also home to some of the highest earners. The median household income is more than $96,000. The Champlain Valley town is surrounded by lush, rolling, green landscape and has history dating back to the 18th century.

Related: Historic Houses You Can Buy That Were Built Before America Was a Country

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 22101
Typical Home Value: $1,275,004

Just like Potomac, McLean is a popular place to live for the powerful and well-connected elite of Washington, D.C. Also like Potomac, it’s also one of the 50 wealthiest towns in America. Home to the CIA headquarters, McLean has a median household income of $120,071. 

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 98004
Typical Home Value: $1,917,722 

Bellvue is one of the wealthiest cities in Washington in general, but it contains several ZIP codes. The 98004 is especially well off, boasting at least two billionaire residents, but right next door is 98039 with bragging rights that may be even more impressive: The richest person in the world and one who’s not far behind — Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Microsoft’s Bill Gates — live there.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 24986
Typical Home Value: $113,592

Roaring rivers, fog-topped forest mountains, and winding country roads make Greenbriar Valley one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and White Sulphur Springs is the jewel in the crown. It attracts the richest of the rich in Appalachia for its stunning landscape, privacy, and impressive list of dining, arts, farms, gardens, and nightlife. The real draw, however, is the Greenbriar Luxury Retreat and the huge selection of premier golf courses.

Most Expensive ZIP Code: 53122
Typical Home Value: $462,099 

Out of the 49 Milwaukee metro suburban ZIP codes, the one that belongs to Elm Grove is the wealthiest of them all. The median household income is more than $106,000 a year among folks drawn to the quiet suburb for its good schools, proximity to key business districts, and large lots with big trees.

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Most Expensive ZIP Code: 83014
Typical Home Value: $462,099 

Jackson Hole gets all the attention in Wyoming, but the state’s elite seem to favor nearby Wilson. Home to about 1,300 people, Wilson has long been revered as the getaway of choice for locals. Hiking, biking, skiing, scenic drives, dining, and stunning natural beauty make Wilson a secret worth keeping for Wyoming’s monied class.