Only eight cities have been identified by GOBankingRates’ research as the safest and richest for wealthy Americans in the South.
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The original study first identified the nation’s cities with the highest average household incomes. Each city’s average home value, annual cost of living and property and violent crime rates were also sourced to determine rankings.
Keep reading to find out where in the South the safest and richest cities are.
1. University Park, Maryland
- Average household income: $239,838
- Average home value: $695,938
- Total cost of living annually: $75,913
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 16.532
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.424
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2. Purcellville, Virginia
- Average household income: $189,791
- Average home value: $898,023
- Total cost of living annually: $91,010
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.784
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.334
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3. University Park, Texas
- Average household income: $389,868
- Average home value: $2,432,712
- Total cost of living annually: $195,836
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 11.483
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.319
4. Keller, Texas
- Average household income: $217,210
- Average home value: $650,165
- Total cost of living annually: $71,569
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 7.996
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.689
5. Vienna, Virginia
- Average household income: $273,768
- Average home value: $1,197,684
- Total cost of living annually: $111,327
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 8.400
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.173
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6. Falls Church, Virginia
- Average household income: $205,626
- Average home value: $937,436
- Total cost of living annually: $93,238
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 17.934
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.237
7. Decatur, Georgia
- Average household income: $193,625
- Average home value: $301,206
- Total cost of living annually: $47,316
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 23.184
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.873
8. Bellaire, Texas
- Average household income: $311,033
- Average home value: $1,135,940
- Total cost of living annually: $105,004
- Property crime rate (per 1,000): 22.671
- Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.829
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Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.
Methodology: Using the U.S. Census American Community Survey, the 1,000 cities with the highest household mean income were identified. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for May 2025. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and, using the national average expenditure costs for all households via the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure costs were calculated for each location. Using data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Data Explorer, the property crime rate per 1,000 residents and the violent crime rate per 1,000 residents were both calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes and any location with a livability index below 80 was removed for this study as it represents a location with a lower quality of life. Using the average mortgage (calculated from Federal Reserve data) and expenditure costs, the cost of living was calculated for each location. The total average cost of living was scored and weighted at 1.00, the property crime rate per 1,000 was scored and weighted at 1.00, the violent crime rate per 1,000 residents was scored and weighted at 1.00, the average household income was scored and weighted at 1.00, and the livability index was scored and weighted at 1.00. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the safest and richest cities. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Aug. 4, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 8 Safest and Richest Southern Cities To Live in 2025
