Saving & Spending Home & Auto

The 15 Most Exclusive Neighborhoods in the U.S. (#4 Was a Surprise)

Peek behind the curtains of America's most sought-after residential enclaves.

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Updated Sept. 26, 2024
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Buying a home is all about location, location, location. And, if you’ve got money to burn, there are neighborhoods where you won’t have any trouble blowing through your budget.

There are posh, private enclaves in areas where celebrities flock to extravagant homes, chic city neighborhoods full of financiers, and Bay Area suburbs where tech billionaires decide to settle down.

If you want to boost your net worth to enjoy the high life, here are the 15 most exclusive neighborhoods in the U.S. you'll want to check out.

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Tuxedo Park, Georgia

Noah Densmore/Adobe centennial park downtown atlanta georgia

Buckhead is possibly the most exclusive neighborhood in Atlanta, if not the entire state of Georgia, and within Buckhead, Tuxedo Park is the crème de la crème. 

The historic homes are stately Georgians and sprawling Tudors, and if you get one for the median price, they'll cost you $2.56 million.

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SoHo, New York

travnikovstudio/Adobe west village at new york manhattan

The median apartment price is $2.76 million in the trendy neighborhood of SoHo, a favorite of locals, tourists, and celebrities alike, thanks to its incredible shopping, buzzy restaurants, and historic streets.

SoHo’s cobblestone streets make it one of New York’s most picturesque neighborhoods, and it’s one of those places that people dream of living in when they think of New York.

Rumson, New Jersey

Jin/Adobe aerial shot of rumson new jersey

The home of Bruce Springsteen, Rumson, NJ, is one of the most charming and beautiful New Jersey towns. 

Sprawling old homes and tree-lined streets make this small and historic area one of the most desirable New York City suburbs, which is why its median listing price is $1.6 million.

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Cherry Hills Village, Colorado

ssmalomuzh/Adobe autumn cherry hills village denver colorado

Not all of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the United States are on the coasts. Those who have extreme wealth and love the mountains can find their dream home in Cherry Hills Village, CO. 

This Denver suburb counts John Elway and Peyton Manning among its high-profile residents, and the median home price is $4.75 million.

Kalorama, Washington, D.C.

f11photo/Adobe downtown washington city skyline during night

Want to run into former President Barack Obama while out on your morning walk? Love strolling past stunning embassies? Then Kalorama in Washington, D.C., should be the exclusive neighborhood on your radar.

With stunning architecture, formal landscaping, and 100-year-old homes, this neighborhood boasts a median home price of $3 million, a number that saw a significant uptick in the past few years.

NoHo, New York

Kathy images/Adobe vacant streets of broadway in noho

If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. And, if you can make it in NoHo, you’ve really made it. 

This wealthy neighborhood within the city boasts lofts apartments with an average price of $4.2 million. Yes, that’s over $4 million for a loft apartment. It’s also a popular, hip spot that counts celebrities among its high-profile residents.

Beverly Hills, California

Roza_Sean/Adobe road sign rodeo drive beverly hills

What would an exclusive neighborhoods list be without Beverly Hills? This iconic Southern California neighborhood is home to Hollywood glamor, A-list celebs, and Rodeo Drive. 

It’s shiny and sparkly, and the median home price is $2.57 million. This is where you go if you have money to burn and want to surround yourself with the glitziest people in the world.

Old Palo Alto, California

Sundry Photography/Adobe main quad at stanford university

The Gambles of Procter & Gamble were the first residents of Old Palo Alto, and that set the tone for a neighborhood that’s continued to be one of the country’s most exclusive.

This private enclave is a tight-knit community with generational wealth fueling its median home sales price of $5.6 million. The tree-lined streets are home to sprawling houses that are also near the city of Palo Alto.

TriBeCa, New York

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If you have $3.25 million to spend, you can buy the average loft apartment in TriBeCa. This neighborhood along the Hudson River is a favorite of everyone, from glamorous celebrities to hedge fund managers. 

This vibrant neighborhood is full of restaurants, dining, and art galleries, proving that exclusive doesn’t need to mean stuffy.

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Loyola, California

mtilghma/Adobe pacific ocean covered in fog

You know you’ve found a wealthy neighborhood when it has its own country club. Loyola is a Northern California neighborhood in the top 0.3% of wealthiest areas in the country. 

You’ll pay around $3.12 million for the median midcentury home in this established neighborhood.

Brewer Subdivision, California

Faina Gurevich/Adobe belmont san mateo county california

$8.3 million will buy you the median home in the Brewer Subdivision, a luxury neighborhood near downtown San Mateo. 

This ultra-exclusive neighborhood has a population of only 570. Because of the small, secluded area, it’s a combination of both price and supply that makes it so hard to gain entry as a new resident.

Point Dume, California

trekandphoto/Adobe dume beaches in malibu from above

Stunning Pacific Ocean views and homes hidden behind towering walls define the exclusive Malibu neighborhood of Point Dume. 

This area is crawling with A-list celebrities, who are some of the only ones who can afford the massive median home price of $4.85 million.

Atherton, California

digidreamgrafix/Adobe devil's slide cliffs san mateo county

The median home price in Atherton, CA, a town in San Mateo County, in August 2024 was $16.3 million, making it one of the most expensive place to live in the country. 

You’ll rub elbows with tech billionaires, including Sheryl Sandberg, while enjoying proximity to San Jose and San Francisco.

Billionaire’s Row, New York

Francois Roux/Adobe new york city from central park

It should come as no surprise that a neighborhood called Billionaire’s Row would be near the top of the list of most exclusive neighborhoods. 

With a median sales price of over $22 million, real estate doesn’t sell quickly here but sells to the upper echelon of business and society. 

This neighborhood is filled with ultra-luxury skyscrapers where the views of the city are unparalleled.

Port Royal, Florida

SailingAway/Adobe port royal beach shoreline at sunrise

Naples is known as one of the most exclusive and expensive cities in Florida, and Port Royal is the most exclusive of the exclusive. The median home price here is $18.1 million, putting it near the top of the list.

The area was built on two square miles, purchased in 1938, for the sole purpose of creating a luxury enclave. With extreme wealth comes extreme security. Cameras are watching the entire neighborhood.

Bottom line

Kristian/Adobe happy family walking outside new home

While these havens for the ultra-wealthy may seem out of reach, the journey to building wealth starts with a single step. 

Explore these insightful strategies and unlock the potential to create your own definition of an exclusive lifestyle. 

Remember, wealth isn't just about mansions; it's about freedom, security, and the ability to live life on your terms.

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