A California suburb that long held the title for most expensive ZIP code has been dethroned.
The 100 most expensive US ZIP codes were revealed this month by PropertyShark.
The results — which were based on median sale prices of homes — found that Atherton, CA, was no longer the priciest neighborhood after a strong eight-year reign.
Atherton was knocked down to second place by Fisher Island — a luxurious, affluent island community in Miami Beach, FL.
Fisher Island is so exclusive that access is to the island enclave is restricted to residents and those on a visitors’ list.
‘Fisher Island’s housing market is riding the wave of Miami’s ultra-luxury boom because it combines seclusion with inherent scarcity,’ Ana Bozovic, a Miami-based real estate agent and founder of Analytics Miami, told Realtor.com.
‘They’re minutes from all the action in Miami while enjoying a level of exclusivity that is unparalleled,’ said Bozovic.
The median price of homes sold on Fisher Island so far this year was $9.5 million — which is over $1 million more expensive than Atherton ($8.33 million).
Fisher Island – a luxurious, affluent island community in Miami Beach, FL – has taken first place in the rankings of most expensive zip codes
Fisher Island is so exclusive that access is to the island enclave is restricted to residents and those on a visitor’s list
The median price of homes sold on Fisher Island so far this year was $9.5 million
Homes on the island may come at a hefty price tag, but residency certainly comes with perks — a private beach club, multiple restaurants, spas, and recreational areas, to name a few.
Properties consist of oceanfront condos and private estates — most which feature picturesque pools and beautifully modern interiors.
The island was originally purchased by Carl Fisher, who later sold it to the Vanderbilt family before it was developed into the private community it is today.
Over the years, it has become one of Miami’s most prominent celebrity-loved communities, with current and former residents including Oprah Winfrey, Julia Roberts and tennis star Boris Becker.
Residents of Fisher Island can enjoy a championship golf course, multiple tennis courts, and marinas for their boats.
The Florida enclave, which has a ZIP code of 33109, saw a staggering 65 percent price jump from last year — when the median sale price was $5.75 million.
This year, the cheapest home on the island sold for $1.41 million, and the most expensive was snapped up for $23.7 million by high-profile Miami lawyers William and Juliean Charouhis.
Meanwhile, Atherton — a billionaire’s enclave in the Bay Area — saw a modest 5 percent jump in median price. The cheapest home sale was $3.2 million this year, and the most expensive was $51.5 million, for a 10,000-square-foot home bought by tech CEO Stephen Luczo.
Atherton’s wild affluence is driven by its position in Silicon Valley, attracting tech leaders and other high-net-worth individuals who seek both exclusivity and proximity to the tech hub
Basketball star Steph Curry and his wife Ayesha own a home in Atherton
Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks met while attending Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton and later formed Fleetwood Mac
Atherton (pictured), a billionaire’s enclave in the Bay Area, was dethroned by Fisher Island as the most expensive zip code in the US
The area’s wild affluence is driven by its position in Silicon Valley, attracting tech leaders and other high-net-worth individuals who seek both exclusivity and proximity to the tech hub.
Atherton is also popular with celebrities: Stephen Curry, Meg Whitman, Marc Andreessen, and Jan Koum all live within the pricey ZIP code.
Lindsey Buckingham met Stevie Knicks while attending Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton and later formed Fleetwood Mac.
Atherton is close to multiple Michelin star restaurants, suitable to host the A-listers and tech millionaires that live in the neighborhood. Selby’s, The Village Pub, Protege, Wakuriya, and Plumed Horse all offer fine dining for residents.
After Atherton in the rankings came Sagaponack, NY, which had a median sale price of $5.9 million.
Sagaponack is an extremely wealthy and exclusive village in the Hamptons, known for its tranquil rural atmosphere, historic charm, and sprawling oceanfront estates.
Next came Newport Beach, CA, with a median sale price of $5.7 million.
Newport Beach is notably one of the more conservative areas along the very liberal coast of California.
Sagaponack, NY, which had a median sale price of $5.9 million, was the third most expensive ZIP code
Sagaponack is home to many celebrities – including Drew Barrymore who once owned this home in the Hamptons neighborhood
The quirky neighborhood of Balboa Island is known for its stunning beach houses and quaint, small-town atmosphere, featuring charming boutiques and restaurants.
Another neighborhood in the Hamptons came in fifth place. Water Mill, which has a median sale price of $5.5 million, is known for its luxury real estate and its iconic namesake historic watermill.
The remaining five ZIP codes in the top 10 are located in California: Santa Barbara, Stinson Beach — a different area in Newport Beach — Los Altos and yet another area of Newport Beach tied for ninth, and in tenth was Rancho Santa Fe.
Despite California’s strong presence in the top 10, Florida’s quick mobilization up the rankings proves that the red state is becoming more popular with America’s wealthiest citizens.
New York and California have long been home to the country’s elite, but when the pandemic hit, residents fled the blue state in search of more space and better quality of lifestyle.
Between 2021 and 2022, roughly 818,000 California residents moved out of state, according to the LA Times.
This landed many of them in Florida — an income tax-free haven where the sun always shines.
Areas such as Palm Beach, Coral Gables, Jupiter Island, and, of course, Fisher Island, became the new hotspot for members of America’s upper echelon.
Three different ZIP codes in Newport Beach (pictured) made it into the top 10 most expensive rankings
Newport Beach is notably one of the more conservative areas in along the very liberal coast of California (pictured: a home in Newport Beach)
This migration caused home prices in high-demand Florida neighborhoods to surge, while inventory significantly dropped.
‘It’s a minuscule inventory,’ Dina Goldentayer, of Douglas Elliman, told the New York Post regarding Fisher Island.
‘But the island is the island. There is no more land. This project will be attractive to a buyer who wants more than a pied-à-terre.’
Properties in all of the most expensive ZIP codes found buyers much faster than typical homes, selling between 30 and 42 days quicker than the national median.
‘This combination of high traffic and rapid sales underscores the urgency and competitiveness that define these markets,’ said Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale.
‘Buyers in these areas are ready to act quickly and decisively, deviating from the more mellow national market.’