Special Report

America’s Richest Beach Towns

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Each year, tens of millions of Americans journey to our nation’s coasts to enjoy the many beautiful beaches. Beaches offer natural beauty, enjoyable climates, and opportunities for countless physical activities involving both sand and water. For many, a summer isn’t complete without a trip to the beach.

Life by the beach is so desirable, in fact, that many people choose to live in close proximity to the ocean permanently. Due to the natural limitations of coastal real estate – as well as the country’s ever-increasing population – many beach towns have become coveted locations available to a limited number of residents. As a result, these towns have become havens for wealthy residents who can afford the high-priced housing.

To determine America’s richest beach towns, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed household income data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey in America’s coastal towns with beaches. Boroughs, census designated places, cities, towns, and villages were all considered.

While they may not be home to the country’s most popular beaches, many of the richest beach towns are located in the Northeast, especially around economic powerhouse New York City. Many coastal towns in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Long Island have median household incomes of well over $100,000, compared to the national median of just over $57,000. These places are also home to many of America’s richest towns overall.

Life by the ocean isn’t without its own unique stresses. Many homes are vulnerable to catastrophic weather events as well as flooding due to rising sea levels. While not all coastal communities face these threats at the same level, the beach towns that are predicted to soon be under water face potential ruin.

More than one-fifth of residents in wealthy beach towns such as Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina; Key Biscane, Florida; and Strathmere, New Jersey, currently live in homes at risk of chronic flooding by 2060, according to science advocacy organization the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Click here to see America’s richest beach towns.

24/7 Wall St. has identified America’s richest beach towns based on 5-year estimated median household income data from the Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey. Population and poverty rates for each town or city are also from the ACS. The percentage of total population living in at-risk homes refers to the share of homes that will be at risk of flooding by the year 2060, according to data in the Union of Concerned Scientists report “Underwater: Rising Seas, Chronic Floods, and the Implications for US Coastal Real Estate.” To qualify as a “beach town,” the area in question must have a beach that is both open to and actively used by residents. Only towns within the contiguous United States were considered.

Iracaz / Wikimedia Commons

34. Mount Sinai, New York
> Median household income: $114,310
> Population: 12,362
> Poverty rate: 7.4%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.2%

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Devin Stein / Flickr

33. Wading River, New York
> Median household income: $116,709
> Population: 7,742
> Poverty rate: 4.8%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.3%

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32. Blue Point, New York
> Median household income: $117,313
> Population: 4,581
> Poverty rate: 3.4%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 8.8%

KenWiedemann / Getty Images

31. Scituate, Massachusetts
> Median household income: $117,973
> Population: 5,471
> Poverty rate: 4.0%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 3.1%

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30. Stinson Beach, California
> Median household income: $119,309
> Population: 603
> Poverty rate: 8.7%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 5.6%

TraceRouda / Getty Images

29. Newport Beach, California
> Median household income: $119,379
> Population: 86,813
> Poverty rate: 6.2%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 6.6%

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Iracaz / Wikimedia Commons

28. Miller Place, New York
> Median household income: $119,963
> Population: 11,985
> Poverty rate: 3.9%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.0%

Alex Potemkin / Getty Images

27. Port Washington, New York
> Median household income: $120,233
> Population: 15,925
> Poverty rate: 2.3%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.0%

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26. Centerport, New York
> Median household income: $120,391
> Population: 5,251
> Poverty rate: 2.8%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 1.2%

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dougtone / Flickr

25. East Islip, New York
> Median household income: $120,528
> Population: 13,853
> Poverty rate: 7.4%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.5%

Peter Bond / Wikimedia Commons

24. Shelter Island Heights, New York
> Median household income: $120,787
> Population: 1,386
> Poverty rate: 0.0%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.8%

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23. Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina
> Median household income: $120,850
> Population: 2,049
> Poverty rate: 6.7%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 20.5%

Joseph Trentacosti / Getty Images

22. Babylon, New York
> Median household income: $123,110
> Population: 12,130
> Poverty rate: 4.5%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 19.2%

DanTD / Wikimedia Commons

21. Massapequa, New York
> Median household income: $123,384
> Population: 21,820
> Poverty rate: 2.4%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 7.9%

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20. Key Biscayne, Florida
> Median household income: $128,563
> Population: 12,935
> Poverty rate: 6.5%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 34.7%

KenWiedemann / Getty Images

19. Hingham, Massachusetts
> Median household income: $130,375
> Population: 5,777
> Poverty rate: 4.3%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.4%

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CWii / Wikimedia Commons

18. Stony Brook, New York
> Median household income: $131,308
> Population: 13,437
> Poverty rate: 7.4%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.0%

DanTD / Wikimedia Commons

17. Fort Salonga, New York
> Median household income: $131,818
> Population: 9,835
> Poverty rate: 6.4%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.7%

Agiorgio / Wikimedia Commons

16. Atlantic Beach, New York
> Median household income: $131,964
> Population: 1,574
> Poverty rate: 2.4%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.4%

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15. Malibu, California
> Median household income: $134,282
> Population: 12,853
> Poverty rate: 10.2%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 1.8%

littleny / Getty Images

14. Wantagh, New York
> Median household income: $136,214
> Population: 18,490
> Poverty rate: 1.9%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 2.4%

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13. Bodega Bay, California
> Median household income: $137,946
> Population: 608
> Poverty rate: 5.5%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 1.0%

Traitor / Wikimedia Commons

12. Setauket-East Setauket, New York
> Median household income: $141,863
> Population: 14,174
> Poverty rate: 1.8%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.1%

davidwoodberry / Getty Images

11. Montecito, California
> Median household income: $146,250
> Population: 9,193
> Poverty rate: 8.0%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.0%

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trishhamme / Flickr

10. Point Lookout, New York
> Median household income: $146,389
> Population: 1,128
> Poverty rate: 0.0%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 1.7%

Billvinny / Wikimedia Commons

9. Fishers Island, New York
> Median household income: $150,703
> Population: 303
> Poverty rate: 0.9%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.2%

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8. Tiburon, California
> Median household income: $151,429
> Population: 9,170
> Poverty rate: 2.5%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 7.1%

SorinVidis / Getty Images

7. Rye, New York
> Median household income: $172,422
> Population: 15,949
> Poverty rate: 3.2%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.5%

Victoria Walsh / Getty Images

6. Westport, Connecticut
> Median household income: $181,360
> Population: 27,511
> Poverty rate: 4.3%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 4.3%

Alex Potemkin / Getty Images

5. Larchmont, New York
> Median household income: $198,661
> Population: 6,031
> Poverty rate: 1.9%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.3%

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WalkingGeek / Flickr

4. Southport, Connecticut
> Median household income: $200,139
> Population: 1,694
> Poverty rate: 4.5%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 0.2%

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3. Darien, Connecticut
> Median household income: $208,848
> Population: 21,519
> Poverty rate: 3.7%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 2.1%

Michael Ver Sprill / Getty Images

2. Strathmere, New Jersey
> Median household income: $222,031
> Population: 181
> Poverty rate: 3.1%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 63.4%

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dougtone / Flickr

1. Old Greenwich, Connecticut
> Median household income: $236,250
> Population: 7,000
> Poverty rate: 4.9%
> Pct. of pop. at risk of flooding by 2060: 7.6%

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