Most expensive zip codes in the country revealed — NYC takes a tumble

Real Estate

By Andrew Court

New York City residents love to complain about the soaring cost of real estate — but Big Apple nabes were nowhere to be found near the top of a new list of the most expensive zip codes in America, which overall shows the Empire State losing steam from previous years.

According to a report compiled by RealtyHop using median house sales in 2023, Los Angeles is taking over as the big city boasting more than its share of America’s most eyewatering enclaves.

Nine of the nation’s 100 priciest can be found in the City of Angels, compared to five in much larger NYC, with some of our few representatives ringing in embarrassingly close to the bottom.

To determine the highest-value areas across the United States, RealtyHop reportedly pulled every residential real estate listing in the US advertised between January and October of last year. The results weren’t great for Gotham.

The priciest zip code in NYC, way down at No. 20 on the list, is 10013. This covers parts of TriBeCa, Chinatown and NoLita. According to the data, the median asking price in the exclusive zone is $3.60M — a 9.7% decrease when compared to the 2022 list.

NYC zip code 10007, encompassing Battery Park City and the southern part of TriBeCa, came in much later, at No. 31, while 10011, which includes SoHo and NoHo, could be found all the way down at No. 54.

The Upper West Side’s 10069 — taking in some of the area’s exclusive Riverside Drive properties — rang in at No. 85, while Brooklyn’s only entry in the top 100 was 11231, covering Carroll Gardens and Red Hook. The outer borough hotspot managed to squeak past the UWS to No. 82, thanks to a median asking price is $2.17M. That’s largely due to an uptick in new construction of ritzy condos and opulent townhouse renovations.

New York state as a whole has just 18 zip codes in the top 100 — that’s four less than the 22 that made the cut last year.

Meanwhile, California now features a whopping 61 zips on the list, with several clustered around Silicon Valley in the state’s north and Orange County in the state’s south, in addition to the Los Angeles neighborhoods.

The most expensive neighborhood in the nation is Atherton, Calif., a quiet town of just 7,100 near the futuristic headquarters of Apple and other tech companies. Here, the median house price was a staggering $7.95M last year.

Below, a look at the entire list of the 10 most expensive zip codes in America for 2023.

94027 — Atherton, California

Atherton was named the most expensive neighborhood for the fourth-year running, thanks in large part to restrictive zoning laws that make new developments next to impossible.

Wirth a population of just over 7,188, regulations permit just one single-family home per acre.

The enclave is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, close to tech hubs in Palo Alto and the elite Stanford University.

90210 — Beverly Hills, California

The 90210 zip code made famous by Aaron Spelling’s frothy 1990s teen drama is the second-most expensive in the nation.

There, the median listing price stands at a staggering $6.28M.

If you’re looking to purchase in the neighborhood, there’s a good chance you’ll be living next door to an A-lister, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Adele, Ellen Degeneres and Jack Nicholson all owning homes there.

11962 — Sagaponack, New York

The most expensive zip in New York is this tony East End enclave, far-removed from the grit of the city — here, the median asking price now runs at $5.90M.

The town attracts a celebrity crowd, with Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon purportedly purchasing homes there.

However, Sagaponack is mostly still popular with the summer set. The coastal hotspot quiets down considerably during the cold month, with a permanent population of just 322, according to the US Census Bureau.

33109— Fisher Island, Florida

Just minutes from the bustle of Miami Beach, Fisher Island is only accessible via boat or private plane. Celebrities like Oprah and Julia Roberts have been linked to the island in the past.

The median listing for a property within the exclusive retreat currently stands at a sizable $5.7M.

According to the 2020 US Census, residents residing in Fisher Island’s 33109 zip code have an average annual income of $2.2M — making it the zip with the highest per capita income in the entire United States.

11976— Water Mill, New York

Another coveted Hamptons enclave, the median asking price on a Water Mill home is now $4.95M.

The zip code is also popular among celebrities, with Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, and disgraced ex “Today” anchor Matt Lauer all recently residing there.

93108 — Montecito, California

The Santa Barbara-adjacent town’s most famous residents are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The couple purportedly paid $14 million for their mansion in the scenic area, which is home to luxury hotels and giant, gated estates.

But the royal couple aren’t only celebs to have homes in the area. Oprah Winfrey, Gwyneth Paltrow and Adam Levine have all splashed cash on property in the 93108 zip code.

98039 — Medina, Washington

This waterfront idyll, located across Lake Washington from Seattle, is the Northwest’s only entry in the top 10.

Bill Gates owns a home in the tiny municipality, where the median listing price now stands at $4.75.

94022 — Los Altos Hills, California

This Silicon Valley town is located a stone’s throw from Atherton, although homes here aren’t quite as expensive.

The median price of a property in the Los Altos Hills zip of 94022 is a more digestible $4.38M.

92661 — Newport Beach, California

With its pristine coastline and year-round sunshine, Newport Beach has long been one of the most desirable areas to live in America — and homes here have the prices to prove it.

The median listing price on a home in the area is $4.35M.

92067 — Rancho Santa Fe, California

This exclusive San Diego zip code rounds out the top 10.

Set among rolling hills, many of the properties in this pricey enclave are gated and set on acres of land. Those seeking a move to the neighborhood should be prepared to part with a considerable sum of cash.

The median home listing in Rancho Santa Fe stands at $4.25M.