San Ramon, Pleasanton & Palo Alto Named Among Nation's Wealthiest Cities
SAN RAMON (CBS) - Many people aspire to earn a six-figure income, but only about one-fifth of the nation's households succeed. And, according to recent research, those six-figure families tend to congregate in a handful of cities, several of which are in the Bay Area.
According to a new analysis of Census data by NerdWallet, there are 16 U.S. cities where more than 50 percent of the households earn six-figure incomes. San Ramon had the highest percentage, with Pleasanton ranking 3rd and Palo Alto also cracking the top 10 at number 6.
San Ramon, home to companies ranging from Chevron Corp. to 24-Hour Fitness, is one of several U.S. cities that have been indirect beneficiaries of the technology boom that has fueled the economic growth of the Bay area. Now, with 63.5 percent of the city's households boasting annual income exceeding $100,000 -- and one-quarter earning $200,000 or more, it's America's top-earning city.
Pleasanton, home to Safeway and Ross Stores, maintains a small-town feel with big-town wages. Some 59.8 percent of its residents earn over $100,000 and 22.3 percent earn more than $200,000.
Palo Alto, home to Facebook, Hewlett-Packard and Stanford University, is where technophiles come to live, learn and launch new businesses. Thanks to rising wages for engineers and stock-millionaires, the city brags that 57.8 percent of its households take home more than $100,000 and 28.2 percent earn more than $200,000.
See the rest of the top 10 from CBS MoneyWatch.
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