Atherton Reclaims America’s Priciest Zip Code Crown
Key Takeaway: PropertyShark’s 2026 ranking puts Atherton, California back at number one with a median sale price of $10,725,000, the first eight-figure median ever recorded. It is the town’s ninth time atop the list in 11 years.
Atherton has reclaimed its crown. PropertyShark reported that the Bay Area town’s 94027 zip code retook the number one spot in its 2026 ranking of America’s most expensive zip codes with a median sale price of $10,725,000, up 29% year over year.
The figure is the first eight-figure median sale price ever recorded in the ranking’s 11-year history, and marks Atherton’s ninth time as the country’s priciest zip code in the past 11 years. The ranking, released October 13, 2026, is based on closed residential sales from January 1 to September 30, 2026.
Back on top after the 2025 upset
Atherton’s return ends a brief interregnum. In 2025, Fisher Island, Florida dethroned Atherton after an eight-year run at the top, knocking it to second place, even though Atherton’s cheapest home went for $3 million that year, SFGATE reported.
This year the order flipped decisively. Sagaponack, New York reclaimed second place at $7,350,000, up 24%, while Fisher Island fell to third at $7,217,000, down 24%. Eleven states hit record-high prices in 2026.
2026 brought record price peaks to 11 states, including the first ever eight-figure median sale price with Atherton’s dramatic surge back to #1.
PropertyShark
California’s shrinking dominance
The ranking also documents a longer shift. California still holds 57% of the top 100, but that is its lowest share in more than 11 years, down from a 73% peak in 2019, as wealth spreads to the Northeast, Sunbelt hot spots and mountain resorts, Mansion Global noted.
The Bay Area now ties the New York metro at 31 zip codes each, down from 55 Bay Area zips in 2019. Newport Beach is the priciest city overall with all six of its residential zips in the top 100; Beverly Hills 90210 ranks eighth at $5,390,000, up 24% to a record, while Montecito’s 93108 is ninth at $5,295,000, also a record.
California has long dominated the list, but its supremacy has weakened since the pandemic, as wealth in America has shifted to the benefit of the Northeast and to diversified pockets throughout the country.
Chava Gourarie, Mansion Global
Key Story Metrics
| Figure | Reported Status |
|---|---|
| Atherton median (94027) | $10,725,000 |
| Year-over-year change | +29% |
| Times #1 in 11 years | 9 |
| #2 Sagaponack, N.Y. 11962 | $7,350,000 (+24%) |
| #3 Fisher Island, Fla. 33109 | $7,217,000 (-24%) |
| Top-100 entry price | $2.22M (+9% vs 2025, +69% vs 2016) |
| California share of top 100 | 57% (lowest in 11+ years) |
| Bay Area zips in top 100 | 31 (tied with New York metro) |
✓ Verified
Verified: Atherton’s $10,725,000 median, the 29% increase, the first eight-figure median, the ninth #1 in 11 years, the 2025 Fisher Island upset, and the California share figures are corroborated by at least two of PropertyShark, SFGATE and Mansion Global.
⚠ Still needs confirmation
Needs confirmation: individual zip-level medians beyond the top ranks, as reported; the Mercury News’ own framing of the story sits behind a paywall and was not used.
Frequently Asked Questions
What data is the ranking based on?
Closed residential sales from January 1 to September 30, 2026, with a minimum of five transactions per zip code; medians are rounded to the nearest $1,000.
Who was number one last year?
Fisher Island, Florida, which dethroned Atherton in 2025 after an eight-year Atherton run.
How dominant is California on the list?
California holds 57% of the top 100, but that is its lowest share in more than 11 years, down from 73% in 2019.
Which California city has the most zip codes on the list?
Newport Beach, with all six of its residential zip codes in the top 100.
- PropertyShark: most expensive zip codes in the US 2026
- SFGATE: expensive zip codes California
- Mansion Global: America’s most expensive zip code
Editor’s note: This article is based on PropertyShark’s October 13, 2026 ranking, cross-checked against SFGATE and Mansion Global. The Mercury News’ version of the story is paywalled and was not used beyond its headline. Minor rounding differences between outlets are resolved using PropertyShark’s exact figures.
