Wealthiest Zip Codes In America: How Potomac Ranks

POTOMAC, MD — Potomac's real estate values are on the higher end for the DC area, but comparing it to the rest of America is a whole different ball game.

A new report from real estate research website Property Shark found that the most expensive zip codes to live in aren't always the top-earning zip codes. That means the average income could be higher in a city with lower average home prices. The analysis used median household income data from the Census Bureau's 2016 American Community Survey and all residential sales that closed in 2017, including condos, co-ops, single- and two-family homes.

While California claims most of the most expensive zip codes, the East Coast has the most high-earning zip codes. Virginia and D.C. did not make the top 100 for highest average home values but rather for the top income.

For instance, Potomac's 20854 zip code is 41th in the nation for income ($207,287 on average). But the average home sale price of $908,250 comes out much lower at the 345 spot.

The same pattern goes for the other area zip codes:

• Bethesda, 20817: 36 for income ($210,167) and 321 for home price ($927,500 )
• Arlington, 22205: 83 for income ($194,250) and 554 for home price ($758,800)

These are the top-earning zip codes in the U.S.:

1. New York, NY, 10013: 1 for income ($250,000+), 2 for home price ($4,100,000)
2. New York, NY, 10007: 2 for income ($250,000+), 4 for home price ($3,988,683)
3. Ross, CA, 94957: 3 for income ($250,000+), 11 for home price ($2,987,500)
4. Portola Valley, CA, 94028: 4 for income ($250,000+), 13 for home ($2,895,000)
5. New York, NY, 10282: 5 for income ($250,000+), 17 for home price ($2,775,000)
6. New York, NY, 10006: 6 for income ($250,000+), 24 for home price ($2,571,082)
7. Stanford, CA, 94305: 7 for income ($250,000+), 33 for home price ($2,200,000)
8. Short Hills, NJ, 07078: 8 for income ($250,000+), 93 for home price ($1,422,500)
9. San Diego, CA, 92145: 9 for income ($250,000+), 127 for home price ($1,332,500)
10. Chappaqua, NY, 10514: 10 for income ($250,000+), 468 for home price ($810,000)

See the full rankings list here.

Image via Andy Dean Photography/Shutterstock