The Most Successful City In Each State

What defines success in today’s world?

When envisioning success, many may picture conventional symbols: a beautiful home, a luxury vehicle, a rewarding career, or even the moment of receiving a college diploma. In our modern society, an individual’s perceived success is often intertwined with their profession and financial standing. However, it’s crucial to recognize that these elements are significantly influenced by geographic location.

This led us to explore: What are the most successful cities across each state in 2026? For the third consecutive year, we analyzed data to identify the cities that excel in terms of success metrics.

Below, we delve into our methodology for measuring success and provide a comprehensive overview of all 50 states.

Let’s first highlight the 10 most successful cities in the United States.

These cities represent the pinnacle of success in their respective states. If your state isn’t featured in the top 10, don’t worry—scroll down to discover the most successful city in your state.

Wondering why your city made (or missed) the list? Continue reading to see how we evaluated success.

HOW WE MEASURED SUCCESS

We utilized the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to analyze cities across all 50 states.

Each city was assessed based on three key metrics:

Median income
Unemployment rate
Education rate (percentage of residents aged 25 and older holding a bachelor’s degree)

All cities received rankings from 1 to the total number of cities in their state. We then averaged the rankings across the three areas to create a success index, with lower scores indicating better performance. The top 10 cities were selected from this pool of 50 states, ensuring that the highest-ranking city in each state made the list. For instance, since Glencoe, IL ranked first in its state, no other Illinois city could break into the top 10.

Here’s a detailed look at the top 10 successful cities.

1. FLORIS, VA

Median income: $198,068
Unemployment rate: 0.8%
Education rate: 83.1%

Floris stands out as the #1 most successful city in the nation. This Virginia suburb, located within an hour’s drive of Washington, D.C., offers both urban and suburban living options.

After ranking #2 last year, Floris has ascended to the top spot in 2026.

With a median income nearing $200,000 and an impressively low unemployment rate, it’s clear why Floris leads the list.

2. GLENCOE, IL

Median income: $203,235
Unemployment rate: 1.2%
Education rate: 86.8%

Another affluent suburb, Glencoe takes the #2 position.

Although it slipped from last year’s top ranking, with a median income exceeding $200,000, residents likely have little to complain about.

Glencoe remains an ideal location for those who desire proximity to Chicago while enjoying the perks of a wealthy suburban lifestyle.

3. LADUE, MO

Median income: $203,250
Unemployment rate: 1.2%
Education rate: 83.1%

Ladue, another prosperous suburb, is conveniently located just 30 minutes from St. Louis, a significant industrial hub in the Midwest.

With a high median income and a substantial percentage of educated residents, Ladue is an excellent choice for commuters.

4. WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, TX

west-university-texas

Source:Wikipedia User WhisperToMe

Median income: $243,226
Unemployment rate: 2.2%
Education rate: 86.5%

Just a stone’s throw from Houston, West University Place ranks #4.

With the highest median income among the top 10, it’s a prime location for those seeking success.

5. COCHITUATE, MA

cochituate-ma

Source:Wikipedia User John Phelan

Median income: $143,712
Unemployment rate: 1.4%
Education rate: 79.2%

The quaint town of Cochituate is a thriving suburb of Boston.

With a median income of $143,712, low unemployment at 1.4%, and a well-educated populace, Cochituate offers an enviable lifestyle.

6. SOUTH KENSINGTON, MD

south-kensington-maryland

Source: Wikipedia User Famartin

Median income: $160,303
Unemployment rate: 1.8%
Education rate: 77.9%

Located just 10 miles from Washington, DC, South Kensington is the second D.C. suburb to make our list.

Offering a lower median income, it can be an appealing option for those seeking proximity to the capital without the Floris price tag.

7. THE VILLAGE OF INDIAN HILL, OH

Median income: $215,679
Unemployment rate: 2.6%
Education rate: 86.7%

Indian Hill is a thriving suburb of Cincinnati.

The term “village” perfectly encapsulates Indian Hill’s charm, offering a cozy atmosphere that residents love.

8. OLD GREENWICH, CT

greenwich-ct

Source:Wikipedia User Jerry Dougherty

Median income: $236,250
Unemployment rate: 2.7%
Education rate: 79.1%

This New York City suburb provides its residents with a dense suburban feel and offers a more affordable cost of living compared to NYC.

With an impressive median income of $236,250, Old Greenwich is a desirable location for working professionals.

9. FOREST HILLS, TN

forest-hills-tn

Source:Wikipedia User Skye Marthaler

Median income: $193,281
Unemployment rate: 2.7%
Education rate: 79.3%

For fans of country music and a high standard of living, Forest Hills is an excellent choice.

Residents enjoy a high quality of life and easy access to Nashville.

10. MILL VALLEY, CA

mill-valley-ca

Source: Wikipedia User Frank Schulenburg

Median income: $141,698
Unemployment rate: 2.3%
Education rate: 75.7%

Mill Valley is an ideal home for those commuting to San Francisco, situated just 14 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge.

Regardless of their workplace, residents here thrive with a highly educated demographic and solid financial standing.

Summary of Our Findings

In summary, these 10 cities exemplify success in the U.S., with a common thread of being near major metropolitan areas. If you’re looking to “catch” success, residing within a reasonable distance from a large city might provide a significant advantage. While success is multifaceted and cannot solely be defined by career achievements, the residents of these cities enjoy considerable incomes, high educational attainment, and low unemployment rates, creating a favorable environment for financial prosperity.

Explore the full list below to find the most successful city in your state:

State	City	Median Income	Education Rate (%)
Alabama	Mountain Brook	$132,825	85
Alaska	Chena Ridge	$97,464	56
Arizona	Paradise Valley	$175,673	73
Arkansas	Bentonville	$79,259	50
California	Mill Valley	$141,698	76
Colorado	Cherry Hills Village	$238,750	81
Connecticut	Old Greenwich	$236,250	79
Delaware	North Star	$141,618	68
Florida	Pelican Bay	$127,361	69
Georgia	Druid Hills	$94,141	84
Hawaii	East Honolulu	$120,233	57
Idaho	Eagle	$81,909	45
Illinois	Glencoe	$203,235	87
Indiana	Zionsville	$127,152	70
Iowa	Waukee	$91,875	54
Kansas	Leawood	$151,446	76
Kentucky	Edgewood	$93,958	53
Louisiana	Oak Hills Place	$85,457	64
Maine	North Windham	$71,223	33
Maryland	South Kensington	$160,303	78
Massachusetts	Cochituate	$143,712	79
Michigan	Huntington Woods	$125,873	80
Minnesota	Medina	$138,125	63
Mississippi	Madison	$103,121	65
Missouri	Ladue	$203,250	83
Montana	Helena Valley West Central	$73,239	31
Nebraska	Gretna	$76,548	43
Nevada	Incline Village	$81,717	55
New Hampshire	Hanover	$97,422	82
New Jersey	Woodcliff Lake	$161,250	73
New Mexico	Los Alamos	$101,399	66
New York	Lawrence	$129,609	75
North Carolina	Weddington	$133,262	62
North Dakota	West Fargo	$76,925	40
Ohio	The Village of Indian Hill	$215,679	87
Oklahoma	Piedmont	$85,577	46
Oregon	Bull Mountain	$108,324	52
Pennsylvania	Upper St. Clair	$116,701	69
Rhode Island	Cumberland Hill	$83,168	38
South Carolina	Five Forks	$109,781	62
South Dakota	Harrisburg	$80,648	46
Tennessee	Forest Hills	$193,281	79
Texas	West University Place	$243,226	87
Utah	Park City	$104,182	65
Vermont	South Burlington	$66,197	54
Virginia	Floris	$198,068	83
Washington	Bothell East	$122,039	59
West Virginia	Cheat Lake	$87,125	53
Wisconsin	Fox Point	$118,281	76
Wyoming	Jackson	$75,406	50

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Kathy Morris

Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.

Create Resume