In this article, we will explore some of the U.S. zip codes and neighborhoods that have a high percentage of immigrants with the highest income, based on national census data. We will also examine some of the demographic and economic trends that shape these communities and how they compare to other urban, suburban, and rural areas.
Where Immigrant with Highest Income are Located?
According to the Pew Research Center, immigrants have contributed to the population growth and diversity of all types of U.S. counties, but they are more concentrated in cities and suburbs than in rural areas. Immigrants were responsible for a larger share of overall growth in rural (37%) and urban (38%) counties than in suburban (26%) ones from 2000 to 2016. However, suburban counties still had the largest number and share of foreign-born residents in 2016, with 36 million immigrants making up 15% of their population.
Main concepts
First, let us define what we mean by high income and high immigrant population. For this article, we will use the following thresholds:
High income: A household income of more than $100,000 per year. According to the Household Income Percentile Calculator by DQYDJ, this corresponds to the top 35.7% of households in the US in 2022.
High immigrant population: A percentage of the foreign-born population of more than 20%. According to the 2020 Census, the national average foreign-born population was 13.7%.
Areas with Highest Percentage of Born Residents
Among the 78 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S., the ones with the highest percentage of foreign-born residents in 2019 were:
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL (40.5%),
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (39%),
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (34.8%),
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (29.8%),
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA (29.7%), according to Statista.
These metro areas also had some of the highest median household incomes in 2019, ranging from $72,797 in Los Angeles to $124,696 in San Jose, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Zip Codes of Immigrants with Highest Income
Within these metro areas, there are some zip codes and neighborhoods that stand out for their high concentration of immigrants and high income.
For example, in Miami-Dade County, FL, zip code 33149 (Key Biscayne) had a foreign-born share of 54.4% and a median household income of $146,250 in 2019.
In Santa Clara County, CA, zip code 95014 (Cupertino) had a foreign-born share of 63% and a median household income of $184,776 in 2019.
In Los Angeles County, CA, zip code 90274 (Palos Verdes Peninsula) had a foreign-born share of 30.5% and a median household income of $200,833 in 2019.
In New York County, NY, zip code 10013 (Tribeca) had a foreign-born share of 32.4% and a median household income of $186,667 in 2019.
In San Mateo County, CA, zip code 94010 (Burlingame) had a foreign-born share of 31% and a median household income of $157,500 in 2019.
ZCTA
In addition, we could also utilize the data from the 2020 Census to find out which zip codes meet these criteria. We will use the table DECENNIALPL2020.P1 from the Census website, which provides information on total population, race and ethnicity, and place of birth for each zip code tabulation area (ZCTA).
A ZCTA is a statistical equivalent of a zip code that is defined by geographic boundaries rather than postal routes.
Top 20 Zip Codes of Immigrant with Highest Income
To find the zip codes with high-income and high-immigrant populations, we will filter the table by the following conditions:
Total population: More than 1,000. This is to exclude sparsely populated areas that might have extreme values due to the small sample size.
Median household income (in 2019 inflation-adjusted dollars): More than $100,000. This is based on the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates for 2015-2019.
Percent foreign-born: More than 20%. This is calculated by dividing the number of foreign-born population by the total population.
After applying these filters, we get a list of 1,062 zip codes that meet these criteria. Here are the top 20 of these zip codes:
From the examples provided, it is clear that a majority of the zip codes with high immigrant populations are situated in the urban or suburban areas surrounding major cities. These zip codes typically have a significant concentration of immigrants from Europe and Asia, which is indicative of the historical patterns of immigration to the United States.
The quest to find zip codes with a high-income bracket and a large immigrant population can be attributed to several factors. For instance, individuals may be in search of locations that offer economic opportunities as well as cultural diversity. Alternatively, some may be interested in studying how immigration affects the social and economic outcomes of different areas.
Why Immigrant with Highest Income are Relevant
These zip codes and neighborhoods serve as prime examples of how immigrants have enriched the social and economic fabric of the United States, particularly in the urban and suburban areas. They also showcase some of the challenges and opportunities that these communities encounter concerning housing affordability, quality education, cultural integration, and civic participation.
As the nation’s population continues to expand and diversify, it is imperative to grasp the diversity and dynamics of these areas that are rich in immigrants and comprehend their contribution to the nation’s prosperity.
