Working your way up to an annual salary of $150,000 is certainly a goal of many, but it can be difficult to attain in an uncertain economy. Even harder? Doing so while still young — within the ages of 25 to 44, for example. Harder still? Knowing the best, safest and nicest places to live in each part of the country when you’re young and rich (or, at least rich compared to most young people).
To find the best cities on the East Coast to live with (and spend) your wealth, GOBankingRates analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau to find locations in which the 25-to-44 age bracket made up a significant amount of the population, and had a household income of at least $150,000. Additionally, GOBankingRates sought information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) 2024 Offenses Known to Law Enforcement database so as to find the cities with the lowest crime rates (violent, property). From that assortment of locations, GOBankingRates was able to locate the 20 best cities on the East Coast for rich young people to live.
Key Findings:
- Massachusetts leads the East Coast: The Bay State dominates the top 20, with a staggering 10 of its cities serving as the best places for the young and wealthy to live on the Eastern Seaboard.
- The Garden State is a close second: New Jersey also takes up a great deal of the top 20 with six cities.
- Haddonfield, New Jersey, has the most wealth: Massachusetts might take up half of the top 20, but Haddonfield, New Jersey, hosts the most wealth — specifically, 26% of homeowners there are between the ages of 25 to 44 with a household income of $150,000.
- Madison, New Jersey, is as safe as it gets: Of the cities in the top 20, Madison, New Jersey, has the lowest violent crime listed.
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1. Lexington, Massachusetts
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 15%
- Livability: 92
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.4
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.5
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2. Winchester, Massachusetts
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 18.6%
- Livability: 91
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.8
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.2
3. Westfield, New Jersey
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 22.8%
- Livability: 87
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.6
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.2
4. Melrose, Massachusetts
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 18.8%
- Livability: 90
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.3
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.0
5. Waldwick, New Jersey
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 23.2%
- Livability: 87
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.5
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.2
6. Belmont, Massachusetts
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 19.6%
- Livability: 89
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 7.0
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.5
7. Ridgewood, New Jersey
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 18.1%
- Livability: 88
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.8
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.5
8. Haddonfield, New Jersey
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 26.0%
- Livability: 86
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 15.3
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.4
9. Reading, Massachusetts
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 19.9%
- Livability: 86
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.3
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.4
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10. Arlington, Massachusetts
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 19.2%
- Livability: 88
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.3
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.6
11. Wellesley, Massachusetts
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 17.0%
- Livability: 85
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.9
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.5
12. Madison, New Jersey
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 19.6%
- Livability: 85
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.1
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.1
13. Wakefield, Massachusetts
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 17.8%
- Livability: 88
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.1
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.8
14. Cary, North Carolina
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 14.5%
- Livability: 90
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 13.2
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.7
15. Stoneham, Massachusetts
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 17.9%
- Livability: 87
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.1
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.5
16. Falls Church, Virginia
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 17.2%
- Livability: 88
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 15.2
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.0
17. Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 15.8%
- Livability: 88
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.4
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.8
18. Fair Lawn, New Jersey
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 17.2%
- Livability: 85
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 9.4
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.4
19. Brookline, Massachusetts
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 19.5%
- Livability: 85
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 9.0
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.0
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20. Dover, New Hampshire
- % of all homeowners who are age 25-44 and making $150K: 12.8%
- Livability: 88
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 7.9
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.5
Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities in America to find the best places to live for the young and wealthy. First GOBankingRates used data from the U.S. Census 2023 five-year American Community Survey to find the total population, population ages 25 to 44, median household income, total households, householders aged 25 to 45 and householders aged 25 to 44 with household income of $150K or more. The percentage of householders aged 25 to 44 when compared to all households was calculated. The percentage of householders aged 25 to 44 with household income of $150K or more when compared to all householders aged 25 to 44 was calculated for each city. Property crime and violent crime data was sourced from the FBI’s 2024 Offenses Known to Law Enforcement and used to calculated the crime rates per 1000 residents. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes for each city. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and using the national average expenditure costs for 25 to 44 year olds, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost can be calculated for each city. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. By assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage can be calculated for each city. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs, the total cost of living can be calculated for each city. To qualify for this study the city has to have all data sources available and have a livability of at least 85, representing the higher quality of life locations. The percentage of householders aged 25 to 44 when compared to all householders was scored and weighted at 2.00, the percentage of householders aged 25 to 44 with household income of $150K when compared to all householders aged 25 to 44 was scored and weighted at 2.00, the livability was scored and weighted at 2.00, the property crime rate per 1000 was scored and weighted at 1.50 and the violent crime rate per 1000 was scored and weighted at 1.50. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the best places for the young and wealthy to live. All data is up to date as of Dec. 8, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 20 Best East Coast Cities for Rich Young People To Live
