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Wealth is concentrated in places that barely look flashy
A significant amount of America’s wealth no longer resides downtown. It clusters in suburbs that feel calm, leafy, and almost deliberately low-drama.
These communities often feature elite schools, low crime rates, meticulously maintained public spaces, and housing markets that behave like private clubs.
What fascinates me is how “quiet” becomes a luxury feature. The wealth shows up in outcomes, not billboards, and the gap can feel invisible until you compare resources.
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How the most affluent suburbs get measured can change the story
Rankings can tell two different truths depending on what they measure. Some lists use average household income, which can jump dramatically if a small slice of ultra-high earners live there…