Columbia, MD

One of the wealthiest cities in America is Columbia, founded in 1967 and today comprised of 10 self-contained villages. The village concept gives Columbia a small-town feel even though its population has surpassed 100,000, and amenities include three lakes, 80 miles of pathways and The Mall in Columbia. The city’s median family income is $120,000, and federal government and research-related jobs play big roles in the local economy because Columbia is only 30 miles from Washington, D.C.