Most expensive homes, US cities · 1990
US cities ranked by median home value (1990 ACS owner-occupied units). 6,050 cities qualify in total. Cities with fewer than 5,000 residents are excluded. California carries 23 of the top 25 entries. 36 cities are tied at the $500,000+ ceiling. The median across all 6,050 is $71,600.
Flip the list · Cheapest homes, US cities →The US Census Bureau caps reported median home value at $500,000 for 1990. Places shown as “$500,000+” exceed that ceiling by an amount the Census does not publish, so their exact values (and the order among them) cannot be distinguished.
UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS
Frequently asked
Which city has the highest median home value?
36 cities are tied at $500,000+, the Census Bureau's reporting cap, so no single city can be named #1 (1990 Decennial Census). They include Atherton, California, Newport Beach, California, Saratoga, California, Blackhawk, California, Kentfield, California.
What are the top 5 cities by median home value?
Atherton, California, Newport Beach, California, Saratoga, California, Blackhawk, California, Kentfield, California.
How many cities are in this ranking?
6,050 cities qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability (minimum 5,000 residents). The ranking covers 1990 Decennial Census data.
How is median home value measured?
Median value of owner-occupied homes. Source: US Census Bureau, 1990 Decennial Census.