The 10 Most Expensive ZIP Codes in New York State

Atherton, Calif., is the priciest ZIP code in the country, according to 2015 America’s Most Expensive ZIP Codes rankings from business magazine Forbes and housing-market-data provider Altos Research. To find the costliest areas, Altos analyzed listing prices for single-family homes and condos in 29,500 ZIP codes across the U.S. (covering 95% of the population) to calculate a median, rolling average for a 90-day period that ended Oct. 9, 2015. The 500 most expensive ZIP codes made the list.

Sagaponack Scores Second (and First)

Sagaponack, N.Y.—a village in the town of Southampton (yes, the Hamptons)—scored the second spot in the U.S. (and first in New York State). But it’s by no means the only Empire State ZIP code where the median home price is in the several million: New York City is home to three of the top five—and eight of the top 30—most expensive ZIP codes in the U.S. Sagaponack just happens to be the priciest.

The median home price in Sagaponack is about $7.5 million. At that price buyers can expect to find homes in the 5,000 square-feet, five-bedroom/bath range, often with a fireplace, pool and a nice yard on about an acre of land. There is some inventory below $7 million, but most homes are well above $10 million. The most expensive home on the market today—listed at $54 million—is 10,000 square feet, with nine bedrooms, 10½ baths, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass walls, rooftop deck, tennis court and pool, all set on three acres with 300 feet of ocean frontage.

With a median home price of $7.5 million—and plenty of homes priced well above that—expect plenty of wealthy neighbors, including investor Ira Rennert (net worth: $3.6 billion); Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd former (net worth: $1.1 billion); Coach Chair and CEO Lew Frankfort (net worth: $170 million); former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her husband, Bill, the former president (combined net worth: $111 million); and “The Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon (net worth: $25 million).

New York State’s Top 10 Zip Codes

Here are New York State's top 10, in descending order, along with the towns—or New York City neighborhoods–in which you will find them, the median home price and the average number of days on the market (according to the Forbes list). The median household income is from Esri (the Environmental Systems Research Institute), a company that provides maps, data, and apps through geographic information systems).

11962 – Sagaponack

• Median Price: $7,416,538
• Average Days on Market: 111
• Median Household Income: $108K

10012 – New York City [Greenwich Village & SoHo]

• Median Price: $7,302,117
• Average Days on Market: 130
• Median Household Income: $89K

10013 – New York City [Lower West Village, Tribeca]

• Median Price: $6,076,018
• Average Days on Market: 219
• Median Household Income: $84K

10065 – New York City [Upper East Side/60-69th St.]

• Median Price: $4,406,262
• Average Days on Market: 106
• Median Household Income: $117K

11976 – Water Mill

• Median Price: $4,221,615
• Average Days on Market: 148
• Median Household Income: $110K

11975 – Wainscott

• Median Price: $4,148,077
• Average Days on Market: 141
• Median Household Income: $120K

11932 – Bridgehampton

• Median Price: $3,992,269
• Average Days on Market: 102
• Median Household Income: $104K

10011 – New York City [Chelsea]

• Median Price: $3,866,629
• Average Days on Market: 91
• Median Household Income: $98K

10014 – New York City [West Village]

• Median Price: $3,727,269
• Average Days on Market: 85
• Median Household Income: $104K

10006 – New York City [Financial District/West]

• Median Price: $3,644,231
• Average Days on Market: 99
• Median Household Income: $114K

The Bottom Line

New York state has a number of other affluent places to live, but these are the very priciest. Because New York City real estate is expensive, many people who work there are commuters, living a short distance (mileage-wise) from the city. You might be able to get a whole lot more house for your money by buying on the other side of the Hudson River in New Jersey or north of the city in Westchester or Connecticut.

Still, if you want to stay in the city and avoid the commute, you can find a wide range of prices — and different types of houses and apartments—depending on which ZIP code you’re after. The Hamptons are a bit distant for a daily city commute but work for weekenders and those with less constricting work schedules.

Manhattan residents may be surprised to note that the posh ZIP code 10021 didn't even make the top 10—nor did the fanciest neighborhood in gentrified Brooklyn. And when the dazzling skyscrapers on Billionaires Row (West 57th Street) are completed and filled, a new ZIP code will very likely push one of the places listed above off the list. New York City never stops changing.