1 hour ago
2
From the coastal bluffs of Newport Coast, CA, to the private shores of Fisher Island, FL, America’s priciest ZIP codes have much in common: sprawling estates defined by privacy, panoramic vistas, and a rarified buyer pool with budgets vast enough to afford the eight-figure price tags.
Economists at Realtor.com® recently identified the 10 most expensive communities across the U.S. To do that, they focused on areas that had at least 30 active listings in January. Among those qualifying ZIP codes, they ranked markets by median listing price. When median listing price was the same in two markets, median square footage was the determining factor.
“The latest data analysis shows that entry into this exclusive top 10 now starts at $5.5 million, placing these communities in a category entirely distinct from even the broader luxury market,” says Realtor.com senior economist Anthony Smith.
For context, the entry fee for this elite tier is reserved for those with truly deep pockets: Moving to one of the priciest ZIP codes costs roughly five times more than the current luxury threshold of $1.2 million.
And while the markets at the top of the ranking continue to command eight-figure sums, the entry point in January fell below the $5.9 million peak recorded in July 2025.
As Smith points out, the contrast is stark: While only 12% of listings nationwide are priced above $1 million, that share is close to 100% in the priciest ZIP codes, where a million dollars is rarely enough to even get a foot in the door.
Who’s in, who’s out?
California continued to dominate the ranking, claiming six of the top 10 spots, with Newport Coast at the pinnacle. Malibu, CA, dropped off since July, sliding down to the 11th spot.
Smith explains that the aftermath of last year’s deadly wildfires has taken a toll on the oceanside enclave, with buyer interest falling 46% over the summer.
“That decline reflects wildfire-driven shifts in inventory, with more listings representing land value or rebuild opportunities rather than turnkey luxury estates,” says the economist.
However, the January ranking saw two new ZIP codes breaking into the top echelon: Newport Beach, CA, and Paradise Valley, AZ.
1. Newport Coast, CA
ZIP code: 92657
Median list price: $12.5 million
Median square feet: 5,552
In a major shift from summer 2025, Newport Coast, CA, dethroned Miami Beach’s Fisher Island as America’s most expensive ZIP code in January 2026.
Located between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach, and dubbed the “Pacific Riviera,” Newport Coast is the very picture of ultra-luxury living. The master-planned Orange County enclave is dotted with private hillside estates offering panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Additionally, the top-tier community features the renowned Pelican Hill Golf Club and many exclusive shops and restaurants.
2. Fisher Island, FL
ZIP code: 33109
Median list price: $11.98 million
Median square feet: 3,790
Crowned last year as the nation’s most expensive neighborhood, Fisher Island in January fell to a close second with a median price of just under $12 million. While Fisher Island, a 216-acre community off the southern tip of Miami Beach, is renowned for its unmatched exclusivity, Smith notes that its properties offer a comparatively smaller median layout.
Ana Bozovic, a Miami-based real estate agent and founder of Analytics Miami, tells Realtor.com that Fisher Island’s demotion comes as no surprise to her, considering that it is an inherently small, low-turnover market.
Start your day with all you need to know
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
Thanks for signing up!
“When annual transaction volume is limited, one or two trophy sales can materially influence median pricing,” she says. “It functions less like a typical condo market and more like a private wealth preservation environment.”
Bozovic says buyer profiles on Fisher Island are a mix of domestic and international 1 percenters flocking to the Miami metro as it matures into a global capital hub.
“We are seeing entrepreneurs, finance executives, family offices, and globally mobile investors,” she adds. “The unifying factor is privacy combined with proximity. Buyers want insulation without sacrificing access to Miami’s expanding financial and entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
3. Beverly Hills, CA
ZIP code: 90210
Median list price: $10.495 million
Median square feet: 5,500
Arguably the most famous ZIP code in the U.S., Beverly Hills 90210 remains synonymous with celebrity culture and is home to numerous Hollywood A-listers. The neighborhood’s palm-tree-lined streets are crowded with ultra-luxury mansions of the rich and famous located just a short drive from the designer shops of Rodeo Drive.
4. Bridgehampton, NY
ZIP code: 11932
Median list price: $8.8 million
Median square feet: 4,874
A well-heeled hamlet nestled in the Hamptons, Bridgehampton is best known as the region’s horse country and is famous in international equestrian circles for hosting the annual Hampton Classic Horse Show. The community offers a mix of sophisticated rural charm, modern architecture, and elite shopping and dining.
5. Bel-Air—Los Angeles, CA
ZIP code: 90077
Median list price: $7.947 million
Median square feet: 5,094
Bel-Air, the rarified setting of the ’90s sitcom “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” starring Will Smith, is one of the premier destinations of actors and business tycoons seeking privacy and security. Together with Beverly Hills and Holmby Hills, Bel-Air makes up Los Angeles’ “Platinum Triangle”—an area of top-tier affluence.
6. Water Mill, NY
ZIP code: 11976
Median list price: $6.995 million
Median square feet: 5,821
Another quaint Hamptons hamlet, Water Mill derives its name from Long Island’s first water-power grist mill that launched in 1644. Today, the charming oceanfront community is dotted with large estates and boasts a vibrant arts scene anchored by the Parrish Art Museum.
7. Montecito—Santa Barbara, CA
ZIP code: 93108
Median list price: $6.495 million
Median square feet: 3,611
Dina Landi, managing partner at Riskin Partners Estate Group, a Montecito-based real estate agency, tells Realtor.com that Montecito operates as its own micro-market, even within Santa Barbara County.
“At the upper end, it behaves more like a global luxury enclave than a traditional coastal California market,” says Landi.
Home to such household names as Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Oprah Winfrey, Montecito is an intensely exclusive housing market with very limited inventory, particularly in the highly sought after turnkey, newly built, and fully renovated categories.
“There are only so many properties on meaningful acreage with privacy, views, and architectural pedigree,” explains Landi. “Because of that scarcity, pricing at the top tends to be influenced more by wealth cycles and confidence than by interest rates alone.”
What distinguishes Montecito is the combination of proximity to Los Angeles and San Francisco, along with comparable culture and cuisine, without the density of urban hurly-burly. According to Landi, local buyers value above all quality of life, privacy, discretion, and aesthetic integrity.
“Montecito’s topography, the proximity of mountains to ocean, is what makes it extraordinary, and it’s also what limits supply,” notes Landi. “Between natural constraints and regulatory realities, meaningful new inventory is difficult to create.”
8. Rancho Santa Fe, CA
ZIP code: 92067
Median list price: $5.995 million
Median square feet: 6,000
Located roughly 30 minutes north of downtown San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe is celebrated for its luxury equestrian estates and Spanish revival or Mediterranean-style mansions offering a secluded lifestyle. At the heart of the community is a 10-square-mile area called “The Covenant,” which features minimum 2-acre lot sizes and eucalyptus trees.
9. Newport Beach, CA
ZIP code: 92663
Median list price: $5.995 million
Median square feet: 3,058
More bustling than neighboring Newport Coast, the community of Newport Beach is a top destination for surfers, boaters, and fishing enthusiasts flocking to its eight miles of sandy beaches and one of the world’s largest recreational boat harbors. For those not interested in water sports, Newport Beach offers high-end dining, with fresh seafood widely available, and shopping at Fashion Island.
10. Paradise Valley, AZ
ZIP code: 85253
Median list price: $5.5 million
Median square feet: 5,784
A new addition to America’s most expensive ZIP codes ranking, Paradise Valley, AZ, is the most affordable of all the listed neighborhoods with a median asking price of $5.5 million. Located between Phoenix and Scottsdale, the desert enclave is drawing wealthy homebuyers seeking a quiet lifestyle with maximum privacy and breathtaking mountain views.
Despite its off-the-beaten-path location, Paradise Valley offers its residents access to world-class spas, golf courses, and fine-dining options.
English (US)