Census data: Paradise Valley the most affluent town in Arizona
Sep 28, 2014, 3:06 PM | Updated: 4:47 pm
This may come as little surprise, but Paradise Valley is the most affluent town in Arizona, according to the 2008-2012 American Community Survey of the U.S. Census.
Business Insider reports the mid-Valley town has a median income of $139,524. This figure only includes active wage earnings and excludes other sources of wealth such as investments or inheritance.
When it comes to other states’ most affluent towns, Paradise Valley comes in 23rd on that list.
This map shows the most affluent town in every state. http://t.co/S7GTeqMvze pic.twitter.com/7ksiID1sgd
— Business Insider (@businessinsider) September 9, 2014
There was a two-way tie for first on the list: Hidden Hills (California) and Chevy Chase (Maryland), both of which have median incomes of more than $250,000.
The wealthiest places in America tend to be suburbs of major cities with small populations. Business Insider’s population minimum to be considered for the list was 1,000 residents, and most of these wealthy towns were close to that minimum, with populations between 1,000 and 18,000 people.
According to 2012 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Paradise Valley has around 13,000 residents.
The town was recently in the spotlight when Randy Johnson, a former Arizona Diamondbacks pitching star, listed his five-acre estate in Paradise Valley for $25 million.
In a separate section of the American Community survey, the town was also listed as the most educated in Arizona, with 71.6 percent of adults older than 25 having at least a bachelor’s degree.
Paradise Valley’s wealth isn’t something new, as according to census data, the majority of its residents were making over $200,000 in 1999.
The wealthy town is not to be confused with the community that lies farther north surrounding Paradise Valley Community College.
The town stretches as far west as 32nd Street, as far south as Chaparral Road, as far north as Shea Boulevard and — other than a small southeast stretch — as far east as Scottsdale Road.
Among the other wealthiest cities in Arizona is Rio Verde, with a median income of $86,248, Tanque Verde near Tucson with $80,530 and Carefree with $78,487.
