|
| |
Rich
This graph compares the income distribution among Bay Area households to the
national level.The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the wealthiest regions in
the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, of the 280
defined metropolitan areas, the San Francisco Bay Area has the highest median
household income in the nation with $62,024 in the year 2000. The Census Bureau
also released data in August 2006 citing San Jose as having the second highest
median household income among large cities. Among medium-sized cities,
Pleasanton has the highest household income in the country, and Livermore the
third highest.
While only 26% of households nationwide boast incomes of over $75,000 a year,
48% of households in the San Francisco Bay Area feature such incomes. The
percentage of households with incomes exceeding the $100,000 mark in the Bay
Area was double the nationwide percentage. Roughly one third (31%) of households
in the San Francisco Bay Area had a six figure income, versus less than 16% at
the nationwide level. In June 2003, a study by Stanford University reviewing US
Census Bureau statistics determined the median household income in the San
Francisco Bay Area to be roughly 60% above national average. Overall the largest
income bracket in the Bay Area were households making between $100,000 and
$150,000 annually, who constituted roughly 18% of households. On a national
level the largest income bracket were households with incomes between $30,000
and $40,000 who constituted 13% of all households nationwide.
Six of the top ten California places with the highest per capita income are in
the San Francisco Bay Area (Belvedere, Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley,
Diablo). Of the 100 highest income counties by per capita income in the United
States, six are in the San Francisco Bay Area (Marin, San Mateo, San Francisco,
Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Alameda). According to Forbes Magazine, published in
2005, 12 of the top 50 most expensive Zip Codes are in the Bay Area
(Hillsborough, Atherton, Ross, Diablo, Tiburon, Los Altos, Nicasio, Portola
Valley, Los Gatos, San Francisco).
Forty-two San Francisco Bay Area residents made the Forbes magazine's 400
richest Americans list, published in 2006. Thirteen live within San Francisco
proper, tying Moscow and London with the most billionaires in the world. Among
the forty-two were several well-known names such as Steve Jobs, George Lucas,
and Charles Schwab. The highest-ranking resident is Larry Ellison of Oracle at
No. 4. He is worth $19.5 billion.
A study by Claritas indicates that in 2004, 5% of all households within the San
Francisco and San Jose metropolitan areas held $1 million in investable assets ,
and Wells Fargo estimates that there are 180,000 millionaire households in the
Bay Area, 10% of which have $5 million or more in assets .
| |
|
