Heartland Hotspots Challenge Coastal Elites for Affluence Crown

As of August 2025, the distribution of affluence across the United States is more diverse than commonly assumed. While beachfront neighborhoods in the Hamptons and exclusive islands off the coast of Miami have long been associated with the country's wealthiest residents, a closer look reveals that prosperity is thriving in some unexpected locations.

Business Insider's analysis of income and housing data shows that ultra-wealthy enclaves can be found in places like Kelly, Wyoming and Glenview, Kentucky, alongside the more predictable high-earning zip codes in New York City and its surrounding suburbs. Additionally, the report highlights that prosperity has been shifting westward and southward in recent years, with cities like Denver and Salt Lake City experiencing significant job growth and attracting mobile, high-earning workers.

One key factor driving up prices in the most affluent areas is proximity to water, as well as limited new home construction due to restrictive land-use regulations. This exclusivity and scarcity of housing supply are major contributors to the skyrocketing real estate values in these coveted neighborhoods.

While the South still contains the most economically distressed counties, pockets of prosperity are emerging in major metro areas like Dallas, Austin, Atlanta, and Nashville. Across the country, the report finds that prosperous communities are more evenly distributed than distressed ones, with every state containing at least some top-tier economic hubs.