by Kristen Carney
Updated: June 20, 2024
The richest city in Pennsylvania is Sewickley Heights in Allegheny County with an average household income of $379,803 as of 2022. While exceptionally affluent, Sewickley Heights only has a population of 829 as of 2023. The richest city in Pennsylvania with at least 5,000 people is Fox Chapel in Allegheny County with an average household income of $373,338 as of 2022 and 5,180 people as of 2023 according to the most current Census data available (citation).
Rank | City | County | Population | Average Income | Median Income |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sewickley Heights | Allegheny | 829 | $379,803 | $195,750 |
2 | Fox Chapel | Allegheny | 5,180 | $373,338 | $250,001 |
3 | Edgeworth | Allegheny | 1,627 | $324,718 | $208,333 |
4 | Upper Makefield | Bucks | 8,826 | $321,812 | $223,990 |
5 | Rose Valley | Delaware | 1,012 | $320,162 | $250,001 |
6 | Birmingham township | Chester | 4,086 | $286,232 | $228,073 |
7 | West Pikeland | Chester | 4,034 | $284,739 | $241,429 |
8 | Lower Merion | Montgomery | 64,157 | $263,780 | $160,572 |
9 | Charlestown | Chester | 6,326 | $258,594 | $191,629 |
10 | Thornburg | Allegheny | 452 | $258,021 | $214,375 |
11 | Easttown | Chester | 11,051 | $256,928 | $187,356 |
12 | Fairhope | Somerset | 100 | $256,546 | $33,750 |
13 | West Vincent | Chester | 6,852 | $247,179 | $193,854 |
14 | Buckingham township | Bucks | 20,765 | $245,864 | $181,855 |
15 | Chadds Ford | Delaware | 3,941 | $236,730 | $156,307 |
16 | Schuylkill township | Chester | 8,870 | $234,452 | $171,792 |
17 | Ben Avon Heights | Allegheny | 385 | $232,720 | $223,750 |
18 | Bell Acres | Allegheny | 1,465 | $232,105 | $156,382 |
19 | Pocopson | Chester | 4,455 | $231,659 | $178,977 |
20 | Thornbury township | Chester | 3,162 | $229,105 | $179,674 |
We usually suggest using median income data – either instead of or in addition to – average income data as a true indicator of wealth. If you haven’t thought about median versus average since your last standardized test, you aren’t alone. Here’s what they are:
Now let’s say you had the following simplified set of income data.
Household 1: $30,000
Household 2: $50,000
Household 3: $1,000,000
The average income for this set is $360,000. The outlier data point ($1,000,000) skews the average WAY up. Conversely, the average income would be skewed WAY down if someone had an income of $500. The median income for the same data set is $50,000. Outlier data doesn’t skew the median.
So most business owners should use the median income as a true indicator of wealth, because it provides a more accurate representation of a typical income, especially in areas with significant income disparity.
If your target market is high-income households, the average income may be more relevant. This is because the average income can highlight the presence of a higher concentration of wealthy individuals, which is beneficial for luxury goods and services marketing. We’re using average income on this page because using the Census’s highest reported median value of $250,001 could result in multiple ties for the richest geography.
The Census' American Community Survey uses $250,000+ as a jam value for median income estimates to protect privacy, ensure data consistency, and simplify reporting. A "jam value" in survey data refers to a placeholder or default value used when actual data points are unavailable, incomplete, or exceed certain thresholds. We represent this jam value as $250,001 to make it easy for you to sort.
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United States Census Bureau. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Web. May 2024. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. B01001 SEX BY AGE, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 7 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. B19013 Median Household Income, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 7 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. “DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.” 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 07 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
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