Texas's Richest Communities: Exploring the State's Most Affluent Suburbs

When exploring what is the richest city in Texas, the answer isn’t as simple as naming a single location. Instead, Texas boasts numerous wealthy suburbs scattered across its major metropolitan areas, each offering high average household incomes and exceptional real estate values. Based on research analyzing all Texas cities with 5,000 or more households, the state’s richest suburbs reveal annual household earnings ranging from approximately $165,000 to just under $410,000, with corresponding home values reflecting their upscale status.

Dallas-Fort Worth Area: Leading the Way With Texas’s Wealthiest Suburbs

The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area dominates the list of richest suburbs in Texas, claiming ten of the top twenty positions. University Park stands as the second wealthiest community statewide, with residents earning a median household income of $389,868 annually and living in homes valued around $2,445,874. This suburb, which functions as an affluent enclave near SMU, sets a high bar for residential wealth in the region.

Nearby Southlake ranks third with average household incomes of $382,520 and typical home values of $1,284,219. Other notable DFW-area wealthy communities include:

• Colleyville: $265,831 average household income, $924,700 typical home value
• Prosper: $229,754 household income, $842,332 home value
• Keller: $217,210 annual household earnings, $658,426 typical property value
• Coppell: $194,208 average household income, $643,052 home value
• Flower Mound: $191,231 household income, $630,589 home value
• Frisco: $186,265 average household income, $697,813 home value
• Celina: $184,308 household income, $616,746 home value
• Highland Village: $182,741 average household income, $609,887 home value
• Murphy: $176,156 household income, $608,510 home value

The concentration of wealth in the DFW area reflects the region’s strong job market, corporate headquarters presence, and established upscale residential communities.

Houston’s Most Affluent Neighborhoods

The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro area hosts the state’s single wealthiest suburb: West University Place, which claims the top position nationally with an astounding average household income of $409,677 and home values averaging $1,758,363. This exclusive community represents the pinnacle of Texas residential wealth.

Other Houston-area richest suburbs include:

• Bellaire: $311,033 average household income, $1,123,984 typical home value
• Fulshear: $210,123 household income, $545,379 home value
• Cinco Ranch: $178,516 average household income, $557,775 home value
• Sugar Land: $174,026 household income, $462,592 home value
• Friendswood: $165,294 average household income, $464,519 home value

Houston’s wealthy suburbs benefit from the region’s energy sector prominence, diverse economy, and established neighborhoods catering to high-income professionals.

Austin Region’s High-Income Suburbs

The Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown area contributes three communities to the richest suburbs ranking:

• Steiner Ranch: $232,530 average household income, $528,502 typical home value
• Lakeway: $222,045 household income, $824,558 home value
• Leander: $167,516 average household income, $455,706 home value

These Austin-area communities attract wealth through the region’s booming technology sector, quality of life amenities, and proximity to downtown employment centers.

Understanding Income Ranges in Texas’s Wealthiest Communities

The data reveals a significant spectrum within Texas’s richest suburbs. Communities at the top tier, including West University Place and University Park, exceed $380,000 in average annual household income. The mid-tier wealthy suburbs, such as those in the $200,000-$300,000 range, represent upper-middle-class prosperity. Even the 20th-ranked suburb exceeds $165,000 in household income, a figure substantially above national median family earnings.

What Makes These Suburbs among the Richest in Texas

Several factors contribute to the concentration of affluence in these Texas communities. Proximity to major employment centers, particularly corporate headquarters in Dallas and Houston, draws high-earning professionals. Established school districts, country clubs, and premium amenities further enhance their appeal to wealthy families. Additionally, many of these richest suburbs in Texas feature restrictive zoning that maintains property values and community character, naturally limiting development to higher-end residential properties.

The Data Behind Texas’s Wealthiest Neighborhoods

This analysis examined all Texas cities with populations representing 5,000 or more households. By isolating communities with the highest average household incomes, researchers identified these 20 richest suburbs using data from the 2023 American Community Survey. Home value figures reflect 2025 assessments from Zillow, providing current market perspectives on real estate in these affluent areas. The data collection was completed in mid-2025, offering the most recent comprehensive view of Texas’s economic geography.

The identification of what is the richest city in Texas ultimately depends on your specific criteria—but these twenty communities consistently rank among the state’s most economically prosperous neighborhoods, offering both income indicators and lifestyle quality that define Texas’s wealthiest residential areas.