dallas skyline – Art Wager/Getty Images
The old saying “everything is bigger in Texas” has no shortage of applications. The Lone Star State boasts the second-largest land area and population in the United States, dwarfing its neighbors. Furthermore, Texas is a financial juggernaut, with an economy generating $2.7 million annually according to Business in Texas. When ranked against foreign countries, this impressive gross domestic product places Texas as the eighth-largest economy on the planet. These bigger-than-life accolades also trickle down to the local level, where immense wealth can be concentrated in affluent suburban areas throughout the state.
According to the Statesman, five of America’s most prosperous suburbs were located in the Lone Star State, further highlighting how much of the country’s fiscal stability originates in Texas. Part of this wealth accumulation is a result of massive population growth. As per SmartAsset, some of the largest hikes in population occurred in cities throughout the state. Over three years, the state’s residents grew by nearly 5% as people across the country sought better economic opportunities and more financial stability. When comparing the entire state to national norms, Texas actually looks quite affordable. The average house runs about $300,000 according to Zillow, which is far less than the national average of more than $500,000. The average household income is just over $100,000 — roughly 3% less than the national standard. However, these numbers escalate dramatically when concentrating on the wealthiest neighborhoods in Texas. As is the case with many states, affordability concentrates in rural areas. Many of the well-off suburbs hover near the center of the state’s most populous and financially productive cities, such as Dallas, Houston, and Austin. Whether you’re thinking about moving to the Lone Star State or simply can’t contain your curiosity, here are the richest suburbs of Texas that might make you pause.
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Map image of West University Place, Texas. – SevenMaps/Shutterstock
West University Place is consistently ranked as one of the best places to reside in Texas, according to Niche. With a population of 14,907 and a manageable distance to downtown Houston, the wealthy neighborhood straddles the line between suburban privacy and city convenience. Families living in the area enjoy plenty of restaurants, bars, parks, and cafes, offering a self-sustaining design.
Getting into this top-tier locale is no small feat, as the average home costs an astounding $1,742,382, according to Zillow. Instead of plateauing or declining, the real estate market in the area is exploding, with home prices going up more than 5% in the past year alone. Renting is a little more palatable but still expensive at $1,979 monthly on average. That’s almost doubled since 2018.
Accessing this neighborhood requires residents to earn more than the top 5% of Americans. In West University Place, the average household income is a stunning $409,677. Similar to the housing prices, these annual earnings tend to rise over the years. For perspective, the people living in this high-net-worth nabe bring home more than four times the average income of Houston. West University Place is actually America’s third-wealthiest neighborhood in 2025.
Dallas Hall, a historic building on the campus of Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas, United States – Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock
University Park is a prosperous satellite neighborhood of Dallas, located slightly east of the airport. 25,104 people live in the community, and the majority own their properties, pointing to the area’s affluence. With Southern Methodist University located in its perimeters, the neighborhood has a youthful population, which lends itself to plenty of available amenities. There are also several parks dotting the area, infusing some nature into the suburban feel.
The average home in University Park is valued at $2,292,789 on Zillow, and those prices are rising annually. In fact, the latest data indicates real estate prices soared by 4.4% in the previous year. That’s wonderful news for current owners, but a colossal obstacle for anyone who wants to move to the neighborhood. Let’s just say, you’ll know you’ve made it financially if you own this type of home. The renting situation isn’t any more financially feasible, with the average property being occupied for $4,084 per month. For perspective, the average rent was around $1,300 in 2017, highlighting how quickly real estate values in University Place have skyrocketed.
Wondering what it takes to afford living in this expensive neck of the Texan woods? Well, the average household in University Park takes home $389,868 annually, up 2.3% from the previous year, per Point2Homes. Note that the standard salary in the neighborhood is growing at a slower rate than the home evaluations, suggesting that University Park is becoming increasingly unaffordable for current residents. People who rent in the area, who earn under $100,000 on average, are contributing over 36% of their income to their rent, much higher than is recommended.
Aerial view of affluent neighborhoods in Southlake, Texas. – mirigifford/Shutterstock
Located equidistant from the twin cities Fort Worth and Dallas, the aptly named Southlake neighborhood rests alongside the stunning Grapevine Lake and is comfortably north of the cities’ shared airport. The upscale neighborhood offers a suburban escape from the hustle and bustle of the nearby downtown areas while remaining comfortably and conveniently nearby. Southlake is known for its accessible town square, giving way to a variety of cultural centers, shopping hubs, art museums, and fancy supermarkets.
Up by nearly 2% from the prior year, the average home in Southlake is $1,258,720 per Zillow. For reference, a house could be purchased for half of that back in 2017, meaning the average real estate market has effectively doubled in value over the past eight years alone. These eye-watering figures are reflected by long periods on the market, with the average home taking 42 days to sell, far above the national norm. These daunting home prices leave many people wondering if future generations will ever be able to afford a home.
To afford this expensive area, the average household pulls in $382,520 annually, according to Point2Homes. This income is actually up a healthy 6.2% from the prior year, indicating a rising tide of wealth in Southlake. These numbers halve to $111,799 when looking at what retirees in the area take home, but it’s still far above the national average. With the normal retiree spending only $22,000 per year, those 65 and older in Southlake are living comfortably.
Aerial view of Lake Travis located near Steiner Ranch, Texas. – Regan Bender/Shutterstock
Located on the outskirts of Austin, Steiner Ranch is a planned community with 4,600 acres of sizable lots, nature preserves, and water and river access. Surrounded by protected nature reserves and recreational lakes, the breathtaking scenery adds to the neighborhood’s appeal and cost. The builders behind the community made an effort to maintain over 1,500 acres of nature to showcase the area’s natural beauty and give residents easy access to the outdoors when needed.
Unsurprisingly, Steiner Ranch’s premier location and grand amenities elevate the area’s cost of living. Realtor.com places the median home price at a stunning $890,000, although it’s not uncommon to see houses going for several million in more favorable locations of the neighborhood. The real estate market in Steiner Ranch is largely stabilized, with a slight dip of 1.1% over the past year. As is common with wealthy neighborhoods, homes tend to stay on the market for over 80 days.
The average household in Steiner Ranch earns $235,877 per year, according to Point2Homes. That figure is up an impressive 6.8% year-over-year, highlighting the increasing concentration of wealth in the neighborhood. For comparison, the average household in Northwest Austin, located near Steiner Ranch, earns around $170,000. Although most people in the area own their property, renters are paying around $2,824 monthly.
Sunset above modern development homes in Texas. – Roschetzkyistockphoto/Getty Images
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more fitting name for a wealthy neighborhood in Texas. Prosper is a rich community located north of Dallas. It’s situated between Lewisville Lake, Lavon Lake, and Ray Roberts Lake State Park — popular recreational areas in the city — offering residents plenty of nature access. A population of 34,567 is spread out sparsely throughout Prosper, offering a private, quiet, and calm suburban atmosphere. Similar to other wealthy neighborhoods, the schools in the area are rated well.
The average home in Prosper, Texas, is a substantial $799,247 on Zillow, and that’s already down nearly 4% from the prior year. Similar to other of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Texas, Proper’s average home price has virtually doubled, falling under $500,000 in 2020. The average rent in the area is far above the state average, hovering around $2,276. This figure has also fallen about 1.2% yet still a considerable cost for renters.
Those thinking of moving to Prosper would need to compete with an average household income of $229,754 according to Income by Zipcode, drastically higher than surrounding neighborhoods. Around 44% of residents in the community are labeled high-income earners, meaning they bring home over $200,000 annually. Even the retirees are raking in a respectable $131,575. That’s much higher than the average retirement income in Texas, which ranks 22nd in the country overall.
An elevated aerial view of Downtown Houston skyline at dusk with sunset reflections. – Dee Liu/Getty Images
Fulshear is a rural neighborhood located about 20 minutes by car west of Houston. Founded in 1977, the community spans 10 square miles of a hybrid between quintessential suburbia and farmland. Residents can enjoy the nearby Brazos River, hardwood forests, and characteristic prairies. The heart of Fulshear is the country, but convenience in the form of shops, entertainment, and restaurants is only seven minutes away.
The average home in Fulshear hovers around $534,562 on Zillow, comparatively reasonable considering the real estate values in other wealthy Texas neighborhoods. Despite its rural positioning, Fulshear has seen the same real estate boom as other communities, with home prices surging from an average of $350,000 in 2018. Renting is much more reasonable in Fulshear, averaging $2,075 monthly, which isn’t too far off the state norm.
Among the 26,986 residents, the average income in Fulsher per Point2Homes is $210,123 per household, up 7.1% from the previous year. That means residents of this prosperous neighborhood earn more than double the average household income in Houston. Those renting in Fulshear only dedicate around 19% of their income to rent, which is much more reasonable than other communities on this list.
Large two-story suburban houses with swimming pool in upscale residential neighborhood North of Dallas, Texas, lush greenery area of Coppell. – Trong Nguyen/Shutterstock
42,029 people call the wealthy suburb of Coppell, Texas, home. Conveniently located north of the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, a short drive from downtown, and near nature preserves, Coppell offers residents an ideal blend of privacy and accessibility. Beyond impressive wealth, the neighborhood prides itself on offering a high quality of life. The local government routinely puts out a happiness survey to get an accurate gauge of how inhabitants are feeling. According to the latest results, 88% of residents are thankful to live in the suburb, 80% believe the area is welcoming, and 88% think it promotes a healthy lifestyle.
These sought-after living standards come at a high price, as the average home in Coppell sells for $609,450 on Zillow, and that’s already down 1.4% from the prior year. In the past five years alone, the average real estate value has gone up by a quarter of a million dollars. Similar to other more rural neighborhoods, Coppell’s rental range is reasonable, with the average renter paying around $2,072.
What does it take to live in Coppell? The average household realizes an annual income of $194,208 according to Point2Homes, about $90,000 higher than that of Houston. Residents in the early phase of their professional lives, around 25 to 44 years, earn around $130,000, while retirees bring home slightly over $100,000. If you have enough money to retire rich, Coppell might just be the place to spend your golden years.
Aerial view of Frisco, Texas during the summer. – Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock
With a population of 210,238, Frisco is the largest of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Texas. This well-off community is situated directly north of Dallas and just east of the popular Lewisville Lake preserve, offering a hybrid between city accessibility and suburban tranquility. This large community offers more than 400 restaurants, various live music venues, and plenty of shops. It delivers on the everyday convenience and every once in a while splurges.
With such a significant population, you might expect available housing to drive down the real estate costs. While lower than the average, Frisco homes still make the list of wealthy neighborhoods in Texas, being worth $654,714 on average per Zillow. That’s still after falling 4.1% year-over-year. Home prices have actually been on a downward trend from a peak of around $700,000 in 2022. Surprisingly, the average rental price in Frisco is below the state average, around $1,864.
Living in Frisco requires an average household income of $186,265, up 3% from the prior year, according to Point2Homes. Young professionals seem to skirt by with earning less, with an average annual income of around $64,383 for those households that have a primary earner under 25. Similarly, pensioners take home about $83,046 on average in Frisco.
Gazebo in a park in the suburbs of Murphy, Dallas, Texas. – NicholasGeraldinePhotos/Shutterstock
The city of Murphy describes itself as a “small, quality community.” This neighborhood of 22,000 people has been exploding over the past few years, having a population of only 6,500 in the early 2000s. Founded in the early 1900s, Murphy blends small-town living with big-city convenience. It’s only about 20 minutes from the heart of Dallas and 30 minutes from the airport, but it offers the quiet solitude and calm of rural places. The average home in Murphy, per Zillow, sells for around $577,876, down by 3.5% over the past year.
Renting isn’t much cheaper as a standard two-bedroom apartment costs $2,360 monthly, which is 65% higher than the national average. These might seem like unaffordable expenses to outsiders, but residents in Murphy earn an average of $176,156, far above the norm for the state or country, according to World Population Review. The average individual income remains an enviable $79,023. If you’re making that amount, that’s one of the signs you’ve made it to the middle class.
View of Sugar Land Town Square, with fountain, sculptures, building, city traffic and people. – Alizada Studios/Shutterstock
Sugar Land is another heavily populated, wealthy neighborhood in Texas, featuring a population of more than 100,000 people. Located about 20 minutes southwest of Houston, this community is a popular hub for local businesses, offering residents a bountiful selection of shops, restaurants, and bars. However, the area also features plenty of outdoor activities and parks. The local government’s latest Citizen Satisfaction Survey found that 95% of inhabitants are happy to live in Sugar Land, underscoring the area’s quality of life.
This quality of life isn’t without its expenses. The average home on Zillow goes for $443,392 in Sugar Land, owing to the community’s booming real estate market. Only a handful of years ago, home prices hovered closer to $300,000. The rental situation is costlier than the national average, but still more affordable than more opulent neighborhoods on this list, hovering slightly above $2,100.
The average household in Sugar Land earns $174,026, with nearly 30% of residents residing in high-income households, according to Income by Zip Code. Those between 45 and 64 earn the most, with an average income of $159,965. However, younger earners between 25 and 44 still bring home a respectable $138,967 annually.
Beautiful sunsets are enjoyed by the small town community of Leander, Texas. – Laura Gunn/Shutterstock
Leander is an up-and-coming neighborhood located north of Austin. The area has experienced swift population growth over the past few years, along with the entire city. Currently, 67,880 people call Leander home. Geographically speaking, Leander encompasses Northwest Austin, Cedar Park, and a tiny bit of Round Rock and Georgetown. The nearby CapMetro Commuter Rail puts residents in proximity to downtown Austin. The area is home to several high-standard schools and a youthful population overall.
The average home in this wealthy neighborhood is valued at $432,041 on Zillow and that’s even after falling by 5% in the past year. Only three years ago, the average home price was just shy of $600,000. However, the standard home barely hit $300,000 in 2017, so the real estate market is still on an upward trajectory in the long view. Renters pay around the state average, with an average monthly rent of $1,928.
On average, households in Leander make $167,516, according to Point2Homes. This figure has gone up considerably by nearly 10% in the past year. Both young professionals and retirees in the area earn around the same amount, pulling in $62,321 and $67,233, respectively.
Friendswood City Hall, a small town in the Houston metro area. – Patrish Jackson/Shutterstock
Friendswood is a wealthy neighborhood located southeast of Houston, only a short drive from the Galveston Bay area, making it a popular spot for residents looking for water and beach access without moving too far from the city. Currently, 40,827 people have determined that Friendswood meets their standards to set down roots. The area enjoys significantly lower crime rates than the state and national average, both in terms of violent and property-related incidents.
The premier location between the downtown Houston area and the Gulf of Mexico has given rise to a rising real estate market in Friendswood, where the average home is worth $449,791 on Zillow. Renting costs around $2,157 monthly, above the national average but not unaffordable. Despite being one of the cheapest places to live on this list, Friendswood is still costly compared to the rest of the country. This higher cost of living is reflected by an impressive average household income of $165,294 according to Point2Homes. For reference, that’s 65% higher than the norm in Houston. In fact, 97% of residents live above the poverty line.
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