by Kristen Carney
Updated: December 17, 2024
The richest county in New York is New York County with an average household income of $192,391 as of 2023 and 1,597,451 people as of 2023 according to the most current Census data available (citation).
Rank | County | Population | Average Income | Median Income |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New York County | 1,597,451 | $192,391 | $104,553 |
2 | Nassau County | 1,381,715 | $187,735 | $143,408 |
3 | Westchester County | 990,817 | $187,481 | $118,411 |
4 | Suffolk County | 1,523,170 | $163,151 | $128,329 |
5 | Putnam County | 98,060 | $150,924 | $127,405 |
6 | Rockland County | 340,807 | $147,764 | $110,631 |
7 | Dutchess County | 297,150 | $130,755 | $97,273 |
8 | Saratoga County | 238,711 | $128,469 | $99,653 |
9 | Richmond County | 490,687 | $125,764 | $98,290 |
10 | Columbia County | 60,470 | $122,423 | $83,619 |
11 | Orange County | 407,470 | $121,539 | $96,497 |
12 | Kings County | 2,561,225 | $120,169 | $78,548 |
13 | Queens County | 2,252,196 | $113,673 | $84,961 |
14 | Ulster County | 182,333 | $112,552 | $81,804 |
15 | Albany County | 316,659 | $107,762 | $83,149 |
16 | Rensselaer County | 159,305 | $106,010 | $86,663 |
17 | Ontario County | 112,494 | $104,658 | $79,814 |
18 | Tompkins County | 103,558 | $102,676 | $73,012 |
19 | Sullivan County | 79,920 | $101,841 | $69,826 |
20 | Warren County | 65,380 | $101,211 | $78,239 |
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, 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 12 December 2024. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. B19013 Median Household Income, 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 12 December 2024. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. “DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.” 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 12 December 2024. http://www.census.gov/.
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