In certain parts of the country, residents and snootiness go together like a snob and a superiority complex. Of course, there’s the West Coast snob — a newer creature who perhaps made his or her money in tech or a startup.
There’s the Southern snob, who takes pride in family money and goes to events like cotillions and coming out parties (yes, really.)
And then there’s the snob of the Northeast — a wealthy, high-class individual who, don’t even bother asking, is much smarter, more sophisticated, and way more learned than you.
But where are the snobbiest cities in the entire country located? Using Saturday Night Science, we looked at Census, FBI, and Zillow data. We analyzed the 664 largest cities in the nation.
We’re the snob hounds, and we’re on the case.
$130,748 median income · $1,041,569 median home
There are snooty places, there are snobby places, and then there’s Cambridge. If you haven’t spent much time there, know this: They probably think they’re better than you.
When you look at the data it’s hard to disagree. People in Cambridge live in some of the most expensive homes in the country (albeit they are very much overpriced). And Cambridge folks are really smart: 50%+ of its residents have a college degree.
But they’re not just money snobs in the area. They’re culture snobs, too.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$130,748 median income · $1,041,569 median home
There are snooty places, there are snobby places, and then there’s Cambridge. If you haven’t spent much time there, know this: They probably think they’re better than you.
When you look at the data it’s hard to disagree. People in Cambridge live in some of the most expensive homes in the country (albeit they are very much overpriced). And Cambridge folks are really smart: 50%+ of its residents have a college degree.
But they’re not just money snobs in the area. They’re culture snobs, too.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$103,069 median income · $872,208 median home
Snob Buenaventura’ for nothing (Do they? They should).
When you have the highest number of destination spas per capita, that’s also a sign that you’re slightly above the rest of us when it comes to snobbery.
Ventura ranks highly in the number of museums. It’s home to several prestigious art festivals each year as well.
Plus, Ventura residents make a pretty penny and they’re really smart.
Data | Cost of living | Movers
$119,681 median income · $676,205 median home
Down I95 a days drive is Alexandria, which is also right up there with apparent snobbery.
Whose kids are the most pampered in all the land? Alexandria’s kids, that’s who. There are more private schools in Alexandria than most other cities in the nation.
And they’re culture snobs here, too.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$119,681 median income · $676,205 median home
Down I95 a days drive is Alexandria, which is also right up there with apparent snobbery.
Whose kids are the most pampered in all the land? Alexandria’s kids, that’s who. There are more private schools in Alexandria than most other cities in the nation.
And they’re culture snobs here, too.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$130,748 median income · $1,041,569 median home
There are snooty places, there are snobby places, and then there’s Cambridge. If you haven’t spent much time there, know this: They probably think they’re better than you.
When you look at the data it’s hard to disagree. People in Cambridge live in some of the most expensive homes in the country (albeit they are very much overpriced). And Cambridge folks are really smart: 50%+ of its residents have a college degree.
But they’re not just money snobs in the area. They’re culture snobs, too.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$130,748 median income · $1,041,569 median home
There are snooty places, there are snobby places, and then there’s Cambridge. If you haven’t spent much time there, know this: They probably think they’re better than you.
When you look at the data it’s hard to disagree. People in Cambridge live in some of the most expensive homes in the country (albeit they are very much overpriced). And Cambridge folks are really smart: 50%+ of its residents have a college degree.
But they’re not just money snobs in the area. They’re culture snobs, too.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$82,212 median income · $523,391 median home
There’s one big reason Ann Arbor is on this list. It starts with an S and ends in MART. These folks are just geniuses. They’re spoiled with culture, too.
Not only do families in Ann Arbor command relatively big salaries, over two-thirds of the residents in Ann Arbor have a college degree.
In fact, Ann Arbor is the 2nd smartest city in the nation. Only 4% of residents don’t have a high school diploma.
While the theater scene has a big following, the museums are where the city stands out.
That’s okay. They can just afford to buy the paintings and look at them in the comfort of their large homes.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$119,681 median income · $676,205 median home
Down I95 a days drive is Alexandria, which is also right up there with apparent snobbery.
Whose kids are the most pampered in all the land? Alexandria’s kids, that’s who. There are more private schools in Alexandria than most other cities in the nation.
And they’re culture snobs here, too.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$119,681 median income · $676,205 median home
Down I95 a days drive is Alexandria, which is also right up there with apparent snobbery.
Whose kids are the most pampered in all the land? Alexandria’s kids, that’s who. There are more private schools in Alexandria than most other cities in the nation.
And they’re culture snobs here, too.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is the United States’s statewide median.
the United States statewide median: $80,734
the United States statewide median: $332,700
On the map
Where the snobbiest cities in America are
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the snobbiest places in The United States for 2026
We started by making a list of every city in America with more than 100,000 people based on the 2020-2024 American Community Survey. That left us with 664 cities to rank.
We then looked at the following snob-tastic criteria from the Census, FBI, and Zillow for each of the cities on the list using Saturday Night Science.
- Average home price (Higher is snobbier)
- Median household income (Higher is snobbier)
- Percent of population with a college degree (Higher is snobbier)
- Private schools per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Museums per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Farmers markets per capita (Higher is snobbier)
Finally, we averaged together the ranks of all the individual scores into a giant “Snobby Index” and the city with the lowest index — Cambridge, MA — ranked as the “Snobbiest City In America.” We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the snobbiest cities in the US. This article is an opinion based on facts and meant as infotainment — don’t freak out.
It’s time to put on your monocle and go through these snooty places.
The full plate
Snobbiest Cities In America For 2026
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambridge, MA | 118,796 | $1,041,569 | $130,748 |
| 1 | Cambridge, MA | 118,796 | $1,041,569 | $130,748 |
| 2 | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA | 109,857 | $872,208 | $103,069 |
| 3 | Alexandria, VA | 156,976 | $676,205 | $119,681 |
| 3 | Alexandria, VA | 156,976 | $676,205 | $119,681 |
| 4 | Cambridge, MA | 118,796 | $1,041,569 | $130,748 |
| 4 | Cambridge, MA | 118,796 | $1,041,569 | $130,748 |
| 5 | Ann Arbor, MI | 122,036 | $523,391 | $82,212 |
| 6 | Alexandria, VA | 156,976 | $676,205 | $119,681 |
| 6 | Alexandria, VA | 156,976 | $676,205 | $119,681 |
| 7 | Boulder, CO | 106,433 | $964,531 | $87,493 |
| 8 | Charleston, SC | 154,338 | $589,607 | $92,414 |
| 9 | Daly City, CA | 101,964 | $1,143,595 | $123,547 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | 754,195 | $868,680 | $123,860 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | 754,195 | $868,680 | $123,860 |
| 11 | Pasadena, CA | 136,969 | $1,209,228 | $105,192 |
| 11 | Pasadena, CA | 136,969 | $1,209,228 | $105,192 |
| 12 | Berkeley, CA | 120,257 | $1,443,684 | $108,092 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | 505,268 | $385,599 | $85,652 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | 505,268 | $385,599 | $85,652 |
| 14 | Bellevue, WA | 151,847 | $1,516,154 | $165,576 |
| 15 | San Francisco, CA | 830,235 | $1,356,662 | $140,970 |
| 15 | San Francisco, CA | 830,235 | $1,356,662 | $140,970 |
| 16 | Boca Raton, FL | 100,234 | $562,566 | $106,273 |
| 17 | San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | $1,686,905 | $153,504 |
| 17 | San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | $1,686,905 | $153,504 |
| 18 | Portland, OR | 641,165 | $534,638 | $90,919 |
| 18 | Portland, OR | 641,165 | $534,638 | $90,919 |
| 19 | Stamford, CT | 137,144 | $704,417 | $111,586 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | 681,294 | $582,914 | $109,870 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | 681,294 | $582,914 | $109,870 |
| 21 | Allen, TX | 110,265 | $493,532 | $130,901 |
| 22 | Miramar, FL | 138,600 | $518,019 | $89,125 |
| 23 | Pasadena, CA | 136,969 | $1,209,228 | $105,192 |
| 23 | Pasadena, CA | 136,969 | $1,209,228 | $105,192 |
| 24 | Richmond, VA | 229,359 | $369,646 | $64,587 |
| 24 | Richmond, VA | 229,359 | $369,646 | $64,587 |
| 25 | The Woodlands, TX | 121,002 | $542,635 | $140,701 |
| 26 | Salt Lake City, UT | 208,007 | $573,181 | $75,090 |
| 26 | Salt Lake City, UT | 208,007 | $573,181 | $75,090 |
| 27 | Carlsbad, CA | 114,373 | $1,370,649 | $142,748 |
| 27 | Jurupa Valley, CA | 107,011 | $672,514 | $97,550 |
| 29 | Washington, DC | 681,294 | $582,914 | $109,870 |
| 29 | Washington, DC | 681,294 | $582,914 | $109,870 |
| 30 | Scottsdale, AZ | 243,821 | $858,022 | $110,886 |
| 30 | Scottsdale, AZ | 243,821 | $858,022 | $110,886 |
| 31 | San Francisco, CA | 830,235 | $1,356,662 | $140,970 |
| 31 | San Francisco, CA | 830,235 | $1,356,662 | $140,970 |
| 32 | Sugar Land, TX | 110,016 | $447,176 | $136,217 |
| 33 | Miami, FL | 459,745 | $579,564 | $62,462 |
| 33 | Miami, FL | 459,745 | $579,564 | $62,462 |
| 34 | Sandy Springs, GA | 107,087 | $691,063 | $104,340 |
| 35 | San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | $1,686,905 | $153,504 |
| 35 | San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | $1,686,905 | $153,504 |
| 36 | Denver, CO | 718,877 | $539,666 | $94,718 |
| 36 | Denver, CO | 718,877 | $539,666 | $94,718 |
| 37 | Westminster, CO | 115,484 | $527,654 | $100,272 |
| 38 | Boston, MA | 666,442 | $798,217 | $97,344 |
| 39 | Santa Clara, CA | 130,256 | $1,782,192 | $178,958 |
| 40 | Arlington, VA | 236,254 | $823,811 | $142,114 |
| 40 | Arlington, VA | 236,254 | $823,811 | $142,114 |
| 41 | Urban Honolulu, HI | 345,482 | $768,465 | $86,504 |
| 42 | Scottsdale, AZ | 243,821 | $858,022 | $110,886 |
| 42 | Scottsdale, AZ | 243,821 | $858,022 | $110,886 |
| 43 | Huntington Beach, CA | 195,240 | $1,366,658 | $120,919 |
| 43 | Fort Collins, CO | 170,229 | $563,815 | $85,070 |
| 43 | Fort Collins, CO | 170,229 | $563,815 | $85,070 |
| 45 | Santa Rosa, CA | 177,090 | $718,726 | $99,060 |
| 45 | Santa Rosa, CA | 177,090 | $718,726 | $99,060 |
| 46 | St. George, UT | 101,995 | $519,370 | $76,508 |
| 47 | Seattle, WA | 754,195 | $868,680 | $123,860 |
| 47 | Seattle, WA | 754,195 | $868,680 | $123,860 |
| 48 | Plano, TX | 290,594 | $498,989 | $112,253 |
| 49 | Enterprise, NV | 240,464 | $488,021 | $98,462 |
| 50 | Centennial, CO | 108,201 | $649,086 | $131,928 |
| 51 | Arlington, VA | 236,254 | $823,811 | $142,114 |
| 51 | Arlington, VA | 236,254 | $823,811 | $142,114 |
| 52 | Naperville, IL | 150,692 | $610,454 | $155,105 |
| 53 | Wilmington, NC | 120,805 | $416,159 | $66,738 |
| 53 | Wilmington, NC | 120,805 | $416,159 | $66,738 |
| 54 | Santa Rosa, CA | 177,090 | $718,726 | $99,060 |
| 54 | Santa Rosa, CA | 177,090 | $718,726 | $99,060 |
| 55 | Tacoma, WA | 222,758 | $493,840 | $85,884 |
| 55 | Tacoma, WA | 222,758 | $493,840 | $85,884 |
| 56 | Burbank, CA | 104,546 | $1,200,885 | $97,082 |
| 57 | Eugene, OR | 179,591 | $473,231 | $66,562 |
| 57 | Eugene, OR | 179,591 | $473,231 | $66,562 |
| 58 | Pittsburgh, PA | 304,759 | $237,533 | $65,742 |
| 58 | Pittsburgh, PA | 304,759 | $237,533 | $65,742 |
| 59 | Oakland, CA | 439,418 | $716,248 | $101,600 |
| 59 | Oakland, CA | 439,418 | $716,248 | $101,600 |
| 60 | Bend, OR | 103,390 | $732,650 | $96,394 |
| 61 | Columbia, MO | 128,548 | $321,091 | $66,498 |
| 62 | Fremont, CA | 228,295 | $1,543,132 | $181,506 |
| 63 | Torrance, CA | 142,130 | $1,124,932 | $116,217 |
| 64 | Riverview, FL | 113,697 | $366,095 | $100,438 |
| 64 | Madison, WI | 278,001 | $423,767 | $78,050 |
| 64 | Madison, WI | 278,001 | $423,767 | $78,050 |
| 66 | Atlanta, GA | 505,268 | $385,599 | $85,652 |
| 66 | Atlanta, GA | 505,268 | $385,599 | $85,652 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, FBI UCR, Zillow. The 664 largest US cities.
Summary
Summing Up The Not So Humble Pie
Well there you have it, the places in America that needed a piece of humble pie, with Cambridge in particular being called out as the snobbiest city in the nation.
The snobbiest cities in the United States are Cambridge, MA, Cambridge, MA, San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA, Alexandria, VA, Alexandria, VA, Cambridge, MA, Cambridge, MA, Ann Arbor, MI, Alexandria, VA, and Alexandria, VA.
So sure, we may call you guys a little ‘snobby’. But it’s only because we’re jealous.
