Here’s how much money it takes to be considered wealthy in 13 major U.S. cities (2024)

To feel wealthy, Americans say you need a net worth of at least $2.2 million on average, according to financial services company Charles Schwab's annual Modern Wealth Survey.

But even if you have that much in the bank, it might not be enough to be considered rich in certain places, the survey found.

In San Francisco, you need a net worth of $4.7 million to be considered wealthy.That's down from $5.2 million since last year's survey, but still well above the U.S. median household net worth of $121,700, according to the Federal Reserve's most recent data.

San Francisco had the highest total in the survey, which examined 12 of the biggest metropolitan areas in the country, covering 13 major cities. Here's the net worth you need to be considered wealthy in various places across the U.S.

  1. San Francisco: $4.7 million
  2. New York City: $3.3 million
  3. Southern California (includes Los Angeles and San Diego): $3.5 million
  4. Seattle: $3.1 million
  5. Washington, D.C.: $3 million
  6. Chicago: $2.3 million
  7. Houston: $2.1 million
  8. Boston: $2.9 million
  9. Dallas: $2.3 million
  10. Atlanta: $2.3 million
  11. Phoenix: $2.4 million
  12. Denver: $2.5 million

Net worth is a measure of the value of the assets a person or corporation owns, minus the liabilities they owe.

Despite these lofty numbers, 48% of Americans say they feel wealthy. However, of those that do, their average net worth is $560,000.

Perhaps relatedly, 7 out of 10 Americans polled say wealth is more about not stressing over money, rather than net worth.

Wealth is also a subjective term. Nearly two thirds of survey respondents say enjoying relationships with loved ones better describes what wealth means to them, rather than having a lot of money. And nearly 66% of respondents say having time is more important than having money.

The online survey was conducted in March, with a sample of 500 to 750 local residents for each metropolitan area, between the ages of 21 and 75.

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Here’s how much money it takes to be considered wealthy in 13 major U.S. cities (1)

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Here’s how much money it takes to be considered wealthy in 13 major U.S. cities (2024)

FAQs

Here’s how much money it takes to be considered wealthy in 13 major U.S. cities? ›

Top 2% wealth: The top 2% of Americans have a net worth of about $2.472 million, aligning closely with the surveyed perception of wealth. Top 5% wealth: The next tier, the top 5%, has a net worth of around $1.03 million. Top 10% wealth: The top 10% of the population has a net worth of approximately $854,900.

What is considered rich in US cities? ›

Key Findings
  • The top 5% are earning an average income of $500,000+ in 22 cities.
  • The top 5% in San Francisco are earning more than $683,000 than the top 5% in Detroit.
  • In five California cities, the top 5% earn over $570,000 per year.
Apr 22, 2024

What is considered very wealthy in us? ›

Top 2% wealth: The top 2% of Americans have a net worth of about $2.472 million, aligning closely with the surveyed perception of wealth. Top 5% wealth: The next tier, the top 5%, has a net worth of around $1.03 million. Top 10% wealth: The top 10% of the population has a net worth of approximately $854,900.

What is considered wealthy in retirement? ›

Super wealthy (99th percentile): $16.7 million. Wealthy (95th percentile): $3.2 million. Well off (90th percentile): $1.9 million. Middle class (50th percentile): $281,000.

What percentage of the US population has $3 million dollars? ›

According to the MacroMonitor, by 2022-23, the number of U.S. households with $3 million or more in financial assets represents 3.2% of all households, totaling 4.6 million.

What is considered being wealthy? ›

To feel wealthy, Americans say you need a net worth of at least $2.2 million on average, according to financial services company Charles Schwab's annual Modern Wealth Survey. But even if you have that much in the bank, it might not be enough to be considered rich in certain places, the survey found.

How much to be rich in each city? ›

How Much You Need to Make to Be Considered Rich in the 50 U.S. Metro Areas With the Most People
RankCityMean Income of Top 20%
1San Jose, CA$500,341
2San Francisco, CA$442,934
3Washington, DC$353,350
4Boston, MA$353,292
46 more rows

Is 100k considered wealthy? ›

Earning more than $100,000 per year would put you well ahead of the median American household, which brings in $74,784 as of 2021. Assuming you're an individual without dependents, that salary would qualify you as upper class, according to three different definitions (Brookings, Urban Institute and Pew Research).

What is considered wealthy vs rich? ›

There is a difference between being rich and being wealthy in terms of money and financial resources. Being rich typically means having a lot of possessions and material wealth, while being wealthy is more about having sustainable and lasting wealth.

Who is in the 1%? ›

Nationally, households that make $652,657 are considered among the top 1%. They earn more than eight times as much as the median household, which sits around $75,000. However, the 1% threshold varies from state to state, ranging from as much as $953,000 to as little as $368,000.

How much should a 70 year old have in savings? ›

How Much Should a 70-Year-Old Have in Savings? Financial experts generally recommend saving anywhere from $1 million to $2 million for retirement. If you consider an average retirement savings of $426,000 for those in the 65 to 74-year-old range, the numbers obviously don't match up.

What is the average 70 year old worth? ›

Average net worth by age
Age by decadeAverage net worthMedian net worth
50s$1,310,775$292,085
60s$1,634,724$454,489
70s$1,588,886$378,018
80s$1,463,756$345,100
4 more rows

Do wealthy get social security? ›

The amount a person receives in Social Security benefits is not directly affected by their current income or wealth. Therefore, even if someone is a millionaire or billionaire, they can still receive Social Security benefits if they have a qualifying work history.

Does net worth include home? ›

Household wealth or net worth is the value of assets owned by every member of the household minus their debt. The terms are used interchangeably in this report. Assets include owned homes, vehicles, financial accounts, retirement accounts, stocks, bonds and mutual funds, and more.

How many people have $3000000 in savings in the USA? ›

How many people have $3,000,000 in savings in the USA? There are estimated to be a little over 8 million households in the US with a net worth of $3 million or more.

Can a couple retire on 3 million dollars? ›

Yes, retiring early with $3 million is possible. If you plan to retire at 55, you will have to account for 11 additional years of expenses and 11 fewer years of income compared to retiring at 66. However, with careful planning, $3 million can provide a comfortable retirement starting at 55. 4.

Is a net worth of 2.5 million good? ›

Being rich currently means having a net worth of about $2.2 million. However, this number fluctuates over time, and you can measure wealth according to your financial priorities. As a result, healthy financial habits, like spending less than you make, are critical to becoming wealthy, no matter your definition.

What is considered rich in Chicago? ›

The 39% of Chicagoans who feel wealthy today have an average net worth of $433,000. However, the amount to be considered “wealthy” in Chicago is an average net worth of $2.3 million.

Is 1.7 million wealthy? ›

Charles Schwab's annual Modern Wealth Survey shares its insights for 2022. In the U.S. overall, the survey says it takes a net worth of $2.2 million to be considered wealthy, up from $1.9 million in 2021.

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