The small town of Monte Sereno has been named the richest city in California.

With a population of approximately 4,000, Monte Sereno was founded as a farming community in the early 1900s. Fast forward to today, the average income of Monte Sereno residents is over $250,000.

Today, Monte Sereno is located just minutes from the heart of Silicon Valley. Its scenic beauty, prime location, and renowned school systems have enticed tech executives to take up residence in this hidden gem.

Monte Sereno did not emerge as a commercial hub, which allowed the town to remain residential. The city was incorporated into Sanata Clara County in 1957 after residents fought to prevent annexation by neighboring cities.

This small town’s average income exceeds even that of large California cities, according to a GoBankingRates analysis.

The small town of Monte Sereno has been named the richest city in California

The average income of Monte Sereno residents is said to be $250,000.

Monte Sereno is not only known for its high-income residents. Some notable points of interest in the town include the house where American author John Steinbeck wrote his iconic novel, The Grapes of Wrath, and the site of the Billy Jones Railway.

Apart from the Steinbeck house, Monte Sereno is purely residential. The closest restaurants, pharmacies, and grocery stores are in the neighboring town of Los Gatos, just outside the city’s borders.

According to recent 2020 census data, Monte Sereno’s population is 67.7% white, 19.6% Asian, and 0.7% black.

San Francisco, located about 50 miles northwest of Monte Sereno, has an average income of $212,115. Meanwhile, San Jose’s average income is $193,252.

Despite their reputation as one of the most expensive cities in the United States, San Francisco and San Jose offer an exceptional standard of living for low- and middle-income households.

While the Bay Area’s high cost of living is significant, it’s more than offset by higher wages, making it the nation’s top city in quality of life, according to a study by the Ludwig Institute for Shared . Economic Prosperity (LISEP).

These findings challenge recent negative headlines that have described San Francisco as a “ruining city” or “hell” due to rising crime rates, homelessness and drug use.

In fact, AARP reports that San Francisco has surprisingly been named the best place to live for older Americans because of its access to medical care, grocery stores, affordable housing and cultural opportunities.

Some notable points of interest in Monte Sereno include the house where American author John Steinbeck wrote his iconic novel, The Grapes of Wrath, and the site of the Billy Jones Railroad.

Even Los Angeles, which counts high-profile multimillionaires like Kim Kardashian among its residents, lags behind Monte Sereno in average household income.

While Hollywood’s big players profit, the average income in Los Angeles is $125,675.

Other high-profile California regions, like Napa, are extremely expensive for tourists. The wine region welcomes more than 3 million people each year, with the average tourist spending $281 per day.

However, Monte Sereno still reigns as the highest earner in California.