Where Florida's Richest Communities Are Concentrated: A Deep Dive Into the State's Most Affluent Towns

When you think of expensive parts of Florida, three metropolitan areas dominate the wealth landscape. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach corridor alone accounts for half of the state’s most prosperous suburbs, featuring 12 of the 24 top-earning communities identified in recent research.

The Economic Geography of Florida’s Wealthiest Suburbs

Research analyzing all Florida cities with 5,000+ households revealed striking patterns in wealth distribution. By examining mean household earnings and current real estate valuations, a clear picture emerged: coastal and established metropolitan regions concentrate the state’s highest income levels.

The study methodology focused on 2023 American Community Survey data combined with 2025 property valuations, providing the most current snapshot of where money concentrates in the Sunshine State.

The Elite Tier: Where Average Incomes Exceed $200K

Palm Beach sits at the apex with mean household earnings of $356,467 and typical property values reaching $10,211,635—a staggering difference that reflects ultra-luxury coastal real estate. Just behind it, Pinecrest records $312,591 in average household income with median home prices around $2,406,476.

The Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area enters the conversation with Lake Butler, averaging $289,593 in household earnings and $748,699 in typical home values.

Parkland, Coral Gables, Palmetto Bay, and Weston round out the six-figure-plus income suburbs, each showing mean earnings between $187,000 and $230,000. Interestingly, home values don’t always scale with income—Weston residents earn $187,346 on average yet pay under $840,000 for typical properties, while Coral Gables commands nearly $2 million despite slightly higher earnings.

Mid-Tier Affluence: $155K-$180K Range

Palm Beach Gardens, Winter Park, Lighthouse Point, and Boca Raton represent the next tier of Florida’s prosperous suburbs. Winter Park, part of the Orlando metro, leads this segment with $180,854 mean household income and more modest property values at $510,834.

Jupiter and Lakewood Ranch maintain similar income levels ($168,000-$166,000) while serving different regional markets—the former anchored by Miami-area wealth, the latter by the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton corridor.

Geographic Distribution: Beyond the Miami Dominance

While the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach region claims 12 spots in Florida’s top 24 wealthiest suburbs, other metros punch through. Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Fleming Island prove that northern Florida harbors serious wealth, each exceeding $150,000 in mean household earnings.

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater region secures spots with Westchase ($157,024), Lutz ($155,123), and Apollo Beach ($146,136), demonstrating that prosperity extends across the state’s major population centers.

The Port St. Lucie and Orlando Wild Cards

Palm City represents Port St. Lucie’s wealth concentration at $158,231, while the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro contributes Doctor Phillips ($156,440) and Lake Mary ($143,734), showing that inland Florida can compete with coastal prestige.

Complete Ranking: Florida’s 24 Most Affluent Suburbs

The full hierarchy reveals nuanced patterns. Wellington and Cooper City, both in the Miami metro, complete the top 22 with incomes around $150,000-$155,000. Even at the lower end of this elite list, residents earn nearly triple the national median.

Property valuations tell another story—some expensive parts of Florida command astronomical prices (Palm Beach homes exceed $10 million), while others maintain affluent status with properties under $700,000. This mismatch between earnings and property costs suggests either generational wealth concentration, investment property holdings, or regional market variations.

What This Data Reveals About Florida Wealth

The concentration of wealthiest suburbs reveals Florida’s economic structure: three metros—Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, and Jacksonville—account for nearly all top-earning communities. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford adds a fourth player with multiple entries.

For those seeking Florida’s most prosperous neighborhoods, the data is clear: coastal locations and established suburban communities maintain the highest average household incomes. Whether you’re analyzing the expensive part of Florida for investment purposes or understanding regional wealth patterns, these 24 communities represent where the state’s income concentrates most densely.

Methodology: Analysis based on all Florida cities with 5,000+ households, identifying those with highest average household income from 2023 American Community Survey data. Metro area classifications and 2025 typical home values sourced from current market data as of July 2025.