Wealthiest Suburbs in DC Metro Area for Relocating

After three years of the pandemic, wealthy Americans are still leaving big cities like New York City, Los Angeles and Miami for quiet, secluded suburbs like Scarsdale, Calabasas and Palm Beach.  These suburbs reflect a mix of proximity to major cities, high household incomes, and valuable real estate, making them some of the most desirable places to live for people with big budgets and deep pockets.

Which suburbs are home to some of the wealthiest Americans and which ones are around here? GOBankingRates looked at all cities with 5,000 or more households and isolated the 50 cities with the highest average household income. The 2024 typical home value and metro area location were then sourced to determine the wealthiest suburbs.

What is the wealthiest U.S. suburb? Scarsdale, New York is the wealthiest U.S. suburb with an average household income of $568,942. The typical home value in Scarsdale is $1.4M+.  Clearly more is going on in Scarsdale than just the Scarsdale diet!

Out of the top 50 suburbs, California leads the list with16 suburbs out of the top 50. The top five most expensive California suburbs are Los Altos ($400k), Orinda ($370), Palos Verdes Estates ($342k), Saratoga ($329k) and Menlo Park ($316k).

Which coast has the wealthiest suburbs? The East Coast claims the honors with 23 wealthy suburbs, including five in New York and five in New Jersey, making the top 50 ranking. In second place is the West Coast with 19 suburbs.  That leaves a few communities in the middle of the country around Chicago, Houston, Dallas and Phoenix!   Here’s the full list. 

GoBankingRates.com also analyzed what it takes to be wealthy in the top 50 cities in the US.  Teaser alert – it takes more to be wealthy in Washington, DC than in New York City according to this site.

Great Falls is the wealthiest of the DC suburbs with an average household income of  $373,735 and a typical home value of  $1,564,775.  Great Falls is about 15 miles from downtown DC and dates back to the late 1700s when colonial farm settlements began to form in the area.  A bit of trivia – the village was known as Forestville (unofficially, since there was already a Forestville with a Post Office), but was renamed Great Falls in 1955.  If you are relocating to DC and want to live in this beautiful suburb with large lots and tall trees, just click here to see all the homes for sale.

Perhaps you want to move out of DC to Virginia but you don’t want to go as far as Great Falls.  You should consider McLean which is closer to DC and has more shops and restaurants to choose from. In McLean, the average household income is listed as $364,093 and the typical home value is $1,541,929.  Check out these homes for sale in McLean right now.

McLean is home to many wealthy residents including diplomats, military, members of Congress, and high-ranking government officials.  Hickory Hill, the former home of Ethel and Bobby Kennedy is found in McLean as well as Salona, the former home of Light-Horse Harry Lee, the Revolutionary War hero. McLean is often distinguished by its luxury homes and its proximity to Tysons Corner and Tysons Galleria. The two McLean ZIP Codes – 22101 and 22102 – are among the most expensive ZIP Codes in Virginia and the US.  In 2022, data from the Census.gov revealed that McLean was the third wealthiest city in the United States, based on its poverty rate of 2.5% and its median household income of $250,001.

I have always thought that Northern Virginia has more wealthy residents than Montgomery County.  Potomac is on the list of wealthiest suburbs in the DC area at 29.  The average household income is $287,918 and the typical home value is $1,328,491.

If you want to move out of downtown DC to Montgomery County, you might consider Potomac MD.  It is arguable closer to downtown DC than McLean and Great Falls and does not require crossing a bridge to get into DC.   Here are some homes for sale or rent in Potomac.

The land that is now Potomac was first settled by Edward Offutt in 1714 after he was granted a 600-acre  land grant of a region known as Clewerwell by Lord Baltimore.   Throughout the 18th century, what became known as “Offutts Crossroads” was a small, rural community which served planters and travelers. In the 19th century, a few small dwellings had been built along with a tavern established in 1820. By the Civil War, the community contained two general stores, a blacksmith shop, and a post office which served a community of 100.

Offutts Crossroads was renamed “Potomac” in 1881 by John McDonald, a Civil War veteran.

Bethesda, located just northwest of DC, is perhaps the closest on the list to downtown DC.  My hometown has an average household income of  $281,586 and a typical home value of $1,286,315.  It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House (1820, rebuilt 1849), which in turn took its name from Jersualem’s Pool of Bethesda. NIH’s main campus and  Walter Reed are in Bethesda, in addition to several corporations and foundations such as Marriott, Lockheed Martin and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.   To see homes for sale in Bethesda, just click here. 

Vienna rounds out the list of the wealthiest suburbs in the DC area at 44.   The average household income is $265,744 and the typical home value is $1,112,463.  Vienna dates its history back to 1754, when a prominent soldier and landowner, Colonel Charles Broadwater, settled within what is now the town’s boundaries. Broadwater’s son-in-law, John Hunter, built the first recorded house there in 1767, naming it Ayr Hill to recall his birthplace, Ayr in Scotland. The town’s name was changed in the 1850s, when a doctor, William Hendrick, settled there and the town renamed itself after his hometown, which was then known as Vienna, NY.   If Vienna sounds like the area that you want to call home, just click here to see some sample listings.

Using the Lise Howe Group as your relocation specialistcan be highly beneficial for several reasons:

1. Expertise in Relocation Needs: The Lise Howe Group understands the unique challenges and needs associated with moving to a new area. We provide tailored services to help you transition smoothly.  If you are not yet in this area or if you are not even in this country yet, we can help you find a home using video through Facetime and What’sapp.  We have successfully helped clients located abroad in such diverse locations as Niger, Ukraine and Ireland.

2. Extensive Network: We have a broad network of contacts, including other real estate professionals, movers, and local service providers, which can be invaluable when relocating.

3. Local Knowledge: We have in-depth knowledge of the local area, including neighborhoods, schools, amenities, and market trends. This can help you make more informed decisions about where to live.

4. Comprehensive Support: We offer a range of services beyond just buying or selling a home, such as area tours, temporary housing arrangements, and assistance with settling into the new community.

5. Time and Stress Management: Relocating can be a stressful and time-consuming process.  We can handle many of the logistical details, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your move.

6. Customized Services:  We can provide personalized assistance based on your specific needs, whether it’s finding a home within a certain school district, close to your new job, or with specific amenities.

7. Experience with Corporate Relocations: We have experience working with corporate relocation programs such as Cartus, USAA and Navy Federal.  We understand the complexities involved, including coordinating with your employer and handling relocation packages.

8. Smooth Transaction Process: We help you navigate the legal and financial aspects of buying or selling a home in a new location, ensuring a smoother transaction process.

Overall, using us as your relocation specialist can make your move more efficient, less stressful, and more successful by providing specialized knowledge and services tailored to your relocation needs.