2 MD Towns Among Nation’s Wealthiest Suburbs, New List Says

Two Maryland suburbs are among the wealthiest communities in America, according to a new ranking comparing high-income suburbs today with those from 10 years ago.

The personal finance website GOBankingRates ranked the 50 wealthiest U.S. suburbs by average household income, comparing the latest figures with those from a decade earlier. To qualify, communities had to have at least 5,000 households, be part of a metropolitan statistical area, and not be a principal city in that metro area, according to GOBankingRates.

Potomac in Montgomery County ranked No. 22 on the 2026 list, falling from No. 11 in 2016. The suburb had an average 2024 household income of $321,477 and an average home value of $1,355,600 as of January 2026, according to the analysis.

Bethesda, also in Montgomery County, ranked No. 39 on the 2026 list, falling from No. 25 a decade ago. The suburb had an average 2024 household income of $295,886 and an average home value of $1,272,977.

Notable Shifts Over A Decade

The study used U.S. Census American Community Survey data from 2024 and 2014, along with Zillow Home Value Index data from January 2026 and January 2016. Researchers said all data was collected and current as of Feb. 24, 2026.

Nationally, Scarsdale, New York, ranked No. 1 in both 2026 and 2016. The Westchester County suburb had an average 2024 household income of $612,591 and an average home value of $1.46 million in January 2026.

Five suburbs in New York, Texas and Virginia are among the 10 wealthiest suburbs for 2026 and 2016. Scarsdale ranked first both years. West University Place, Texas, is second in 2026 after being fourth in 2016. Rye, New York, is up to third from fifth. University Park, Texas, moved from eighth to sixth. McLean, Virginia, fell to ninth from sixth.

The analysis noted several notable shifts over the past decade. For example:

• Three California suburbs — Los Altos, Alamo and Orinda — moved into the top 10.
• Connecticut suburbs Darien and Westport, both in the top 10 in 2016, did not make the 2026 top 50.
• Paradise Valley, Arizona, the state’s only suburb in the top 50 in both decades, catapulted into fifth place in 2026. Previously, it occupied 14th place.