Where America's Young Professionals With Six-Figure Incomes Are Actually Choosing to Live

If you’re curious about where rich people live in America, the answer might surprise you. While traditional powerhouses like New York City and Los Angeles still attract wealth, an emerging trend shows affluent young Americans are increasingly settling in unexpected metros. A comprehensive analysis of U.S. Census data, crime statistics, and livability metrics reveals where this demographic is truly building their futures.

The Geographic Shift: Safe, Growing Cities Top the List

Young professionals earning $150,000+ annually are gravitating toward cities that offer both safety and growth potential. The data shows that desirable locations now span beyond the coasts, with emerging hubs in Texas, the Pacific Northwest, and the Mountain West competing with traditional East Coast strongholds.

Cambridge, Massachusetts captures the No. 1 position as the premier destination for this demographic. Over 40% of its population falls into the 25-44 age bracket, and a remarkable 63% of households in this age range earn $150,000 or more. The city boasts a livability score of 86, complemented by manageable property crime (23.9 per 1,000 residents) and violent crime rates (4.8 per 1,000).

The Top-Tier Destinations

Beyond Cambridge, the elite tier includes Jersey City, New Jersey (#2), Santa Clara, California (#3), Hillsboro, Oregon (#4), and Boston (#5). These cities share common characteristics: strong concentrations of young professionals, high median household incomes, and quality-of-life amenities.

Jersey City stands out with a 40.3% population share of young professionals and a relatively low violent crime rate of just 2.8 per 1,000 residents. Santa Clara attracts tech-industry wealth, with 61.7% of its 25-44 households exceeding the $150,000 threshold. Boston maintains its prestige with 55.7% of young households in the high-income bracket and a strong livability score of 77.

Texas Dominates the Mid-Tier Rankings

Texas emerged as the state with the most representation, claiming seven spots in the overall top 50 rankings. Austin (#8) leads the Texas contingent with 40.4% of its population in the young professional demographic. Other significant Texas cities include Richardson (#18), Denton (#19), Dallas (#28), Irving (#34), Odessa (#41), and Lewisville (#46).

The prevalence of Texas cities reflects strong job markets, relatively affordable housing compared to coastal alternatives, and growing populations of talented professionals. Austin, in particular, combines urban amenities with entrepreneurial energy—40.3% of its 25-44 households maintain six-figure incomes.

West Coast and Mountain West Ascendancy

The Pacific Northwest continues attracting high-income young professionals. Seattle (#9) hosts 41.7% of its population in the target age range, though it carries higher crime rates (7.8 violent crimes per 1,000). Sunnyvale, California (#10) benefits from Silicon Valley proximity, with a livability index of 82.

Mountain West cities are gaining traction too. Rochester, Minnesota (#7) boasts an exceptional livability score of 92—the highest in the entire ranking—despite a smaller percentage of its population in the 25-44 bracket. Bellevue, Washington (#16) offers upscale living with 87 livability points and minimal violent crime (1.5 per 1,000).

The Hidden Gems: Underrated Quality-of-Life Cities

Several mid-ranking cities offer compelling combinations of safety, livability, and young professional concentrations. Sandy Springs, Georgia (#6) combines a 47.5% high-income household rate with one of the lowest violent crime rates (1.5 per 1,000). Raleigh, North Carolina (#27) and Durham, North Carolina (#37) represent the Research Triangle region’s appeal, while Denver (#38) attracts mountainous-living enthusiasts despite higher crime metrics.

What These Numbers Actually Mean

The defining threshold for “wealthy” in this analysis is households earning $150,000 annually—the lower boundary of the upper-income classification. Cities making the list demonstrate that this income level is achievable and common among residents aged 25-44, signaling strong regional economies and professional opportunity.

Livability scores range from 66 to 92, with Rochester, Minnesota leading at 92, followed by Hillsboro, Oregon at 88, and Bellevue, Washington at 87. These rankings incorporate housing quality, schools, recreational amenities, and overall community standards.

Crime Considerations: Safety vs. Urban Vitality

Property and violent crime rates vary significantly. Quincy, Massachusetts (#13) shows the lowest property crime at 11.1 per 1,000, while Minneapolis (#35) reports 11.3 violent crimes per 1,000—the highest in the top 50. Cities like Jacksonville, Florida notably absent from the list entirely, indicating that not all major metro areas qualify under these weighted criteria.

Geographic Absence and Market Implications

Notably, no Florida cities ranked in the top 50, despite the state’s population growth and tax advantages. This absence suggests that factors like livability scores, income concentration among young professionals, and crime metrics outweigh tax considerations in determining optimal residential destinations for the affluent young demographic.

The Complete Top 50: Full Rankings and Metrics

Positions 11-25 include: Richmond, Virginia; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Quincy, Massachusetts; Clarksville, Tennessee; Alexandria, Virginia; Bellevue, Washington; Tempe, Arizona; Richardson, Texas; Denton, Texas; Providence, Rhode Island; Fargo, North Dakota; Madison, Wisconsin; Stamford, Connecticut; Chicago; and Spokane Valley, Washington.

Positions 26-50 span: Columbus, Ohio; Raleigh, North Carolina; Dallas; Fort Collins, Colorado; Atlanta; San Diego; New Haven, Connecticut; Charleston, South Carolina; Irving, Texas; Minneapolis; Westminster, Colorado; Durham, North Carolina; Denver; Cincinnati; Vancouver, Washington; Odessa, Texas; Norfolk, Virginia; Rochester, New York; Reno, Nevada; Salt Lake City, Utah; Lewisville, Texas; Renton, Washington; Sacramento, California; Des Moines, Iowa; and San Mateo, California.

Each city’s profile includes specific metrics: the percentage of population aged 25-44, the percentage of all 25-44 households earning $150,000+, the percentage of 25-44 households specifically earning $150,000+, livability index scores, property crime rates per 1,000 residents, and violent crime rates per 1,000 residents.

Why This Data Matters for Young Professionals

The concentration of affluent young professionals in specific metros reflects regional economic strength and quality-of-living standards. Young professionals don’t simply move to cities for prestige—they migrate toward markets offering strong earning potential, safety, amenities, and community vitality.

Cities in the top 10 typically combine multiple advantages: populations where 30-40% of residents fall into the 25-44 bracket (indicating youth-friendly environments), where 40-63% of young households exceed $150,000 in income (demonstrating strong earning capacity), livability scores of 75+, and manageable crime statistics.

The Takeaway

The landscape of where rich people live in America is shifting. Traditional coastal concentrations persist, but Texas cities, Pacific Northwest metros, and select Mountain West locations now compete equally for affluent young talent. Cambridge maintains its position as the premier destination, but cities like Austin, Seattle, and Denver offer compelling alternatives—combining professional opportunity, safety, lifestyle quality, and community dynamism for the next generation of high-income professionals building their wealth.