Seven California cities reached the top 30 list of the nation’s safest and wealthiest communities.
GOBankingRates compiled the ranking based on average household income, population, cost of living indexes, and crime rates.
According to the website, none of the cities’ median household incomes are less than $250,000. California and Massachusetts account for seven of the 30 cities listed.
Northern California has seven cities: two in Marin County (Ross and Mill Valley), two in Contra Costa County (Lafayette and Kensington), and three in Santa Clara County (Cupertino, Los Altos, and Los Gatos).
They are:
- 10. Ross
- 20. Mill Valley
- 23. Lafayette
- 25. Cupertino
- 27. Los Altos
- 28. Kensington
- 30. Los Gatos
Ross, California’s smallest city with a population of 2,537, has an average household median income of approximately $430,000, according to the website. The overall annual cost of living is approximately $300,000.
Mill Valley, with a population of 14,199, has a median household income of more than $300,000. The overall annual cost of living is approximately $180,000.
Lafayette has 25,310 residents and a median household income of more than $310,000. The entire annual cost of living is approximately $170,000.
Cupertino, possibly the most well-known California city on our list because it houses Apple Inc.’s headquarters, with a population of 59,763. The average household median income is more than $283,000, while the overall annual cost of living exceeds $250,000.
Los Altos has 31,133 residents, with an average household median income of more than $400,000. The overall annual cost of living exceeds $340,000.
Kensington, with a population of 5,309, has a median household income of more than $250,000. The entire annual cost of living is approximately $140,000.
Los Gatos, at 33,093 residents, has the highest population of any California city on this list. The city’s average household median income is $305,000. Its overall annual cost of living exceeds $220,000.
What are the top five cities?
- 1. Western Springs, Illinois
- 2. Kenilworth, Illinois
- 3. Lexington, Massachusetts
- 4. Winchester, Massachusetts
- 5. Winnetka, Illinois
The top-ranked city, Western Springs, Illinois, has a population of 13,557. It has an average household median income of more than $275,000 and an annual cost of living of nearly $80,000.