The Most Expensive Zip Codes in the Golden State

Close your eyes and imagine yourself living the dream in the Golden State; Can you hear the waves crashing? The cool breeze blowing in your hair? The best of shopping and dining at your fingertips and the world’s most lucrative industries at your doorstep? What about beautifully diverse natural scenery sitting in your backyard? You’re likely reminiscing about some of the most expensive zip codes not in the country, but the world.

California captures the culture of laid-back luxury to a T. Therefore, it is of no surprise that according to PropertyShark’s late 2020 roundup, 87 out of the wealthiest zip codes in the U.S. are occupied by none other than the Golden State. In the top 30 entries alone, California has 20 listings. Do you like the sound of that? Read on to learn about the top 12 of richest zip codes in California.

The Most Expensive Zip Codes in California

The order of the list is in compliance with the PropertyShark roundup, but as you will see, the median home prices have fluctuated since the end of last year. 

Atherton 94027

Median Home Price: $7,327,824

Atheron hasn’t let go of its position at the very top of the list for the past four years. This mega luxurious city is located just 45 minutes south of San Francisco and is considered to be the most expensive zip code in the world. Mega-mansions line the streets of Atherton, several of which are owned by the world’s most influential figures, such as ex-Google CEO and tech billionaire Eric Schmidt and many other Silicon Valley heavyweights.

Santa Monica 90402

Median Home Price: $4,542,757

Santa Monica is also quite unsurprisingly among the most expensive cities in California. With affluent neighborhoods such as San Vicente Boulevard and Palisades Beach Road hiking up the median home prices significantly, this rich zip code put Santa Monica on the map with gorgeous mansions, pristine beaches, and privacy and security like no other.

Beverly Hills 90210

Median Home Price: $5,712,391

On PropertyShark’s list Beverly Hills and Santa Monica were tied for third place with rich area codes that were pretty much equal in median sale prices. However, Beverly Hills seems to have gotten much more traction in highbrow property sales since according to Zillow estimates. But are we surprised? With lavish hotels, high-end boutiques, some of the most expensive houses in Los Angeles, and more attractive qualities, Beverly Hills will always find its way into the top portion of the wealthiest zip codes. Book a luxurious getaway to the rich area code and see for yourself!

Ross 94957

Median Home Price: $3,722,560

Ross is another one of the Bay Area’s wealthiest zip codes, and is located in the charming Marin County. With less than three thousands residents in total occupying the premises of this expensive zip code, Ross offers a small town community feel, along with beautiful tree-covered hills, winding creeks, graciously landscaped streets, and much more.

Portola Valley 94028

Median Home Price: $3,926,743

Surrounded by wooded hills, this picturesque town of Portola Valley is located just west of Stanford University, in San Mateo County. Despite being one of the wealthiest zip codes in the country, with some of the most expensive real estate and highest household incomes, Portola Valley remains a quiet area with a population of a little over 4,000 people. Residents here spend their time outdoors, trekking great trails and hanging out at parks. However, if they want to dine and shop, they usually head out to nearby cities like Palo Alto.

Los Altos 94022, 94024

Median Home Price: $4,294,652

Los Altos sits pretty in northern Silicon Valley, in Santa Clara County. Originally an agricultural town with apricot orchards and summer cottages, Los Altos is now an affluent bedroom community, housing the wealthy techies of Silicon Valley. Los Altos didn’t make the list of most expensive zip codes once, but twice. The 94022 zip code is ranked sixth on the overall list, while the 94024 zip code follows closely after at number 10, with median home prices at about $3,450,469.

Palo Alto 94301

Median Home Price: $3,450,469

Considered to be the birthplace of Silicon Valley by many, Palo Alto hosts one of NorCal’s richest zip codes, as well as its most impressive high-tech companies. Hewlett-Packard, Skype, Tesla, and the Ford Research and Innovation Center are a few examples of pioneering companies calling this wealthy area code their headquarters.

Burlingame 94010

Median Home Price: $3,303,694

Another San Mateo entry makes the list of the state’s wealthiest zip codes with Burlingame—one of NorCal’s best places to live. Located on the San Francisco Peninsula and has a significant shoreline on S.F. Bay, this rich area code is known for beautiful eucalyptus groves, a great downtown area, high quality of life, and an excellent public school system.

Newport Coast 92657

Median Home Price: $3,523,001

Back in SoCal, Newport Coast is a slice of paradise in O.C. housing some serious real estate. Located just south of Newport Beach, this expensive zip code offers current listings that go way up in the million of dollars. And by millions we mean 25 to even 60 million dollar properties. Besides gorgeous mega mansions, Newport Coast also boasts idyllic coasts, great outdoor recreation spots, and a convenient location that is within close driving distance of other major cities in SoCal.

Tiburon 94920

Median Home Price: $3,189,831

Tiburon, a charming small town in Northern California, is seamlessly connected to Belvedere, with which it shares recognition on the PropertyShark list. The town's name, "Tiburon," is derived from the Spanish word for shark, inspired by the abundance of leopard sharks in the nearby waters. Tiburon is also the closest mainland access point to Angel Island, making it a perfect spot for those eager to explore.

Santa Barbara 93108

Median Home Price: $3,800,495

Santa Barbara is famously luxurious with its beautiful red-tiled roofs, top-notch shopping and dining, impressive roster of celebrity residents, and, of course, expensive zip codes. The 93108 area code houses Montecito, which famously welcomed Prince Harry and Megahn Markle over the course of last year. You can easily spend a day in Montecito exploring the shopping and dining spots and relaxing by the beaches; just don’t make a fuss when you see a famous face on Coast Village Road—you’ll immediately be outed as a tourist. 

To learn more about other expensive zip codes in California, check out our articles on the richest neighborhoods and the most desirable places to live.