The Richest City in California: Hillsborough

Hillsborough, an exclusive residential town in San Mateo County on the San Francisco Peninsula, consistently ranks as California's wealthiest incorporated city.

• Median Household Income (2020 Census): ~$275,000 (among the highest nationally).
• Housing: Vast majority of homes are multi-million dollar estates on large lots (minimum 0.5 acre zoning). No commercial zoning—purely residential.
• Demographics: Highly educated population; many tech, finance, and executive professionals.
• Quality of Life: Top-rated public schools, extremely low crime, extensive park/trail system, proximity to Silicon Valley and SF.

Other ultra-wealthy CA communities (Atherton, Woodside, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Newport Coast) often rival or exceed Hillsborough in *average* home price, but Hillsborough leads on *median household income* for a municipality of its size (pop. ~11,000).