24/7 Wall St. Insights
- Several of New York’s counties are quite wealthy.
- Among the counties on this list, median household incomes are anywhere from about $400 to $56,300 above what the typical New York household earns.
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New York ranks 3rd in the nation for GDP, just behind California and Texas. However, it ranks 16th in the nation for personal wealth, with the average resident earning just under $75,000 in 2024. Though some of its counties, like Essex and Niagara, have average or below average wealth, plenty of the Northeast state’s counties are known for their wealth (Westchester County and New York County).
The latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey shows that the typical American household earned nearly $75,000 in 2022, up from about $69,700 in 2021. The 7.2% increase was the largest recorded year-over-year since at least the mid-1990s.
Using five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 13 richest counties in New York. Counties in the state are ranked on median household income. Supplemental data on population, unemployment, and median home values are also five-year estimates from the 2022 ACS.
Among the counties on this list, median household incomes are anywhere from about $400 to $56,300 above what the typical New York household earns. In many of these counties, high incomes are underpinned by a strong job market. According to the ACS, the five-year average jobless rate in all but three of New York’s richest counties is below the 6.2% statewide average.
Home values are often a reflection of what residents can afford, and high incomes in these counties are often evidenced by the local real estate markets. In most counties on this list, the typical home is worth more than the $384,100 median home value across the state.
Why We Are Talking About This
As a culture, America enjoys learning about the wealthy and living vicariously through them. Despite most of the U.S. population earning nowhere close to that of the ultra-wealthy, many Americans are fascinated with the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Since New York is one of America’s wealthiest states, several of the Northeast state’s counties are home to multimillionaires, not just in the metropolitan area.
These are the richest counties in New York:
13. Columbia County
- Median household income: $81,741
- Median home value: $283,700
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.9%
- Population: 61,469
12. Queens County
- Median household income: $82,431
- Median home value: $677,700
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.0%
- Population: 2,360,826
11. Rensselaer County
- Median household income: $83,734
- Median home value: $230,800
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.6%
- Population: 160,943
10. Orange County
- Median household income: $91,806
- Median home value: $337,800
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.3%
- Population: 401,237
9. Dutchess County
- Median household income: $94,578
- Median home value: $348,700
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.0%
- Population: 296,467
8. Richmond County
- Median household income: $96,185
- Median home value: $637,100
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.4%
- Population: 492,925
7. Saratoga County
- Median household income: $97,038
- Median home value: $306,000
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.5%
- Population: 236,328
6. New York County
- Median household income: $99,880
- Median home value: $1,104,000
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.8%
- Population: 1,645,867
5. Rockland County
- Median household income: $106,173
- Median home value: $528,900
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.2%
- Population: 337,326
4. Westchester County
- Median household income: $114,651
- Median home value: $619,000
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.0%
- Population: 997,904
3. Putnam County
- Median household income: $120,970
- Median home value: $421,800
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.4%
- Population: 97,942
2. Suffolk County
- Median household income: $122,498
- Median home value: $490,800
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.8%
- Population: 1,524,486
1. Nassau County
- Median household income: $137,709
- Median home value: $633,800
- 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.6%
- Population: 1,389,160
| Rank | County | Median household income ($) | Median home value ($) | Unemployment rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nassau, New York | 137,709 | 633,800 | 4.6 |
| 2 | Suffolk, New York | 122,498 | 490,800 | 4.8 |
| 3 | Putnam, New York | 120,970 | 421,800 | 4.4 |
| 4 | Westchester, New York | 114,651 | 619,000 | 6.0 |
| 5 | Rockland, New York | 106,173 | 528,900 | 6.2 |
| 6 | New York, New York | 99,880 | 1,104,000 | 6.8 |
| 7 | Saratoga, New York | 97,038 | 306,000 | 3.5 |
| 8 | Richmond, New York | 96,185 | 637,100 | 5.4 |
| 9 | Dutchess, New York | 94,578 | 348,700 | 5.0 |
| 10 | Orange, New York | 91,806 | 337,800 | 5.3 |
| 11 | Rensselaer, New York | 83,734 | 230,800 | 5.6 |
| 12 | Queens, New York | 82,431 | 677,700 | 7.0 |
| 13 | Columbia, New York | 81,741 | 283,700 | 5.9 |
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