WHERE THE OTHER HALF LIVES

Dallas sits pretty among world's top 20 cities with most mega-wealthy homeowners

mansion with multiple vehicles parked in front

The ultra-wealthy love to live in New York and London, but they're showing some love to Dallas, too.

stephen njau on Unsplash

The ultra rich are ultra attracted to Dallas. In a new report, Dallas ranks No. 14 in a list of the 20 cities worldwide with the highest number of ultra-high net worth individuals. Dallas lands just behind Paris as a location where the greatest number of ultra-wealthy people have primary or secondary homes.

The report by Altrata, an intelligence firm that creates data-based profiles on ultra-high net worth individuals (UHNWs), explores where the most individuals with a net worth of over $30 million choose to live.

While other recent reports highlighting North Texas focus on the 1% and the income required to attain that rank, this study investigates those with accumulated wealth.

New York leads the global list with 21,714 ultra-wealthy residents, while Dallas claims 4,686.

Just behind Dallas is Houston, at No. 15, which boasts 4,420 ultra-wealthy folks.

While Dallas and Houston are the only Texas cities on the list (how did billionaire-tech-mecca Austin not make it?), U.S. cities dominate the rankings with only four international cities in the top 10: London, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Singapore.

That Dallas and Houston rose to the top of this list shouldn't be surprising since both cities were also recognized recently among the biggest markets in Texas for sales of homes valued at $10 million or more. As evidenced by recent listings, mansions and extreme luxury homes are a notable part of the real estate market in Dallas.

"In a world of volatile politics, uncertain economic prospects and rapid social and technological change, the wealthy population’s preferences for how and where they live are constantly shifting. Yet the significance of ‘home’ for the wealthy — as a haven for family, a place of work or a vacation escape for personal wellbeing — remains as strong as ever," the authors of the report say. "Moreover, the allure of the city, whether for business, cultural, family or lifestyle reasons, remains strong, driving demand across the world’s luxury residential real estate market."

This report also investigated the cities with the most ultra-wealthy individuals per capita, with Monaco and Aspen topping that list. Cities where the most ultra-rich people have second homes include New York, Miami, and Los Angeles.

For the curious, or for those planning on moving on up, here's the full list of the top 20 cities where the rich (and famous?) live and how many ultra-wealthy residents each city has:

New York: 21,714
London: 15,907
Hong Kong: 15,175
Los Angeles: 13,194
Miami: 10,831
San Francisco: 9,221
Beijing: 8,923
Singapore: 7,471
Chicago: 6,506
Washington, D.C.: 5,732
Boston: 5,722
San Jose: 5,291
Paris: 5,235
Dallas: 4,686
Houston: 4,420
Seattle: 4,334
Toronto: 3,742
Atlanta: 3,420
Denver: 3,134
Phoenix: 2,969

luxury home-for-sale rankings

Money news

Dallas ranks as No. 1 city with smallest inflation problem in U.S.

Photo by Erin Hervey on Unsplash

Dallas' inflation has cooled off after it was last saddled with the highest inflation rate nationally in January 2024.

Inflation has been one of the biggest hot-button issues in the country in 2025, but a new study says inflation not impacting Dallas nearly as much as it is other U.S. cities.

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ranked as the metro with the smallest inflation problem in the U.S. in WalletHub's new report, "Changes in Inflation by City."

The report analyzed the impact of inflation across 23 major metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) using Consumer Price Index data from the latest month available and compared to data from two months prior. The analysis also factored in inflation data from last year to better track both short- and long-term inflation changes.

Dallas saw only a 0.10 percent increase in its local inflation rate when compared to two months prior, and the rate is only 0.60 percent higher than it was this time last year.

Dallas residents may be feeling the sting a lot less than they did in January 2024, when WalletHub said the city had the No. 1 highest inflation rate in the U.S. In April 2023, Dallas-Fort Worth had the 10th highest inflation rate nationwide.

The study found Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Massachusetts-New Hampshire is the MSA that is currently being rattled by the highest inflation rate in the nation. The northeastern metro saw a 1.10 percent uptick in inflation when compared to two months ago, and it's 3 percent higher than it was a year ago.

Inflation has continued to fluctuate throughout the year in different areas, but WalletHub said the national inflation rate has significantly lowered since it last hit a 40-year high during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The year-over-year inflation rate sits at 2.4 percent as of May 2025, which is still above the target rate of 2 percent," the report said. "Various factors, such as the war in Ukraine, labor shortages and recent tariffs, drive this higher than average inflation. Despite the country not meeting its target yet, the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates at the level set in December 2024."

Elsewhere in Texas, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land experienced the 13th highest inflation rate in the U.S., the report found. Inflation in the region increased 0.90 percent over the last two months, and it is currently 1.2 percent higher than it was one year ago.

The top 10 metros where inflation has risen the most are:

No. 1 – Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Massachusetts-New Hampshire
No. 2 – St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois
No. 3 – Baltimore-Columbia-Townson, Maryland
No. 4 – San Diego-Carlsbad, California
No. 5 – Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado
No. 6 – Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
No. 7 – Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California
No. 8 – Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin
No. 9 – Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California
No. 10 – New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania

arlington dallas economy fort worth inflation report wallethub