The Second Richest Suburb In The US Might Make You Pause

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a large rush of people moving out to the suburbs, with commutes ballooning to nearly 60 miles. This trend, while steadily growing, is not new; the nation's 1% have gravitated out of the city for generations. Each year, GoBankingRates puts out a list of the wealthiest suburbs in America, which is compiled using information from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Zillow. The list has changed quite a bit since the previous year's, with GoBankingRates highlighting that wealthy Texas towns now take up a larger portion of the Top 50. However, two New York towns have stayed near the top: Scarsdale, New York, has maintained the No.1 slot, and Rye, New York, is now the second most expensive suburb in America.

Rye has long been an escape for the New York elite, situated closer to the city than other ultra-wealthy towns like Tuxedo Park. Rye has priced itself out of the conversation of the best towns to retire in New York for quite some time, largely thanks to the rising housing costs in the town. This year, GoBankingRates reported the average home value as over $1.8 million. That's actually over $600,000 higher than the average home price in Scarsdale, and probably would have pushed Rye to the top of the list if the average income in Scarsdale wasn't considerably higher than Rye's.

While some may wonder if they are members of the upper class, residents of Rye most definitely do not. The Westchester County town is a small, beachfront community with a quaint atmosphere that almost makes you forget it's just a short train away from Manhattan. That said, don't let that old-world aesthetic fool you: BestPlaces estimates it costs nearly $27,000 per month to support a family in Rye. Considering Zillow reports the average rent in Rye as over $4,800 as of late October 2025, along with the fact that expenses like utilities and groceries are considerably higher than the national average, it's no surprise that GoBankingRates reports the average household income in Rye is $421,259, or that the area is home to multiple financiers and corporate executives.

This cost of living does afford the town's residents an elite and exclusive lifestyle, making homeownership in Rye a clear status symbol. The town is designed to mesh modern luxury and extravagant waterfront mansions with scenic, quiet living. Rye is home to several parks, including Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, home to multiple species of migratory birds. One of the oldest luxury institutions in the town is the Westchester Country Club, with its origins dating back to 1919. While the exact cost of membership is not publicly disclosed, the club offers a beachfront lounge and a golf course, several bars and restaurants, and an ice cream shop to its members.