Top 11 Cities to Meet Dates in the Top 1%

You may want to seek a partner in the top 1% of wealth for many reasons. Maybe you’ve got a thing for big boats. Maybe you’re in the 1% yourself and want a partner to match your energy. Or perhaps you simply want access to a higher quality of life and all that comes with it: financial security, better healthcare, networking opportunities — the list goes on. 

Is seeking this kind of relationship really the worst thing? Men have been using young, beautiful women to elevate their social status for centuries. 

That said, if you’ve decided to embark on the search for a partner in the upper echelons of society, it’s important that you look in the right places. From the financial hubs of New York City to the tech centers of California, you’ve got some great options to choose from. Let’s take a closer look.

The city that never sleeps earns a top spot on our list. It’s considered the financial capital of the world, after all. Plus, just about every show telling a story about rich people — Succession, Gossip Girl, Mad Men, to name a few — takes place here. 

This bustling metropolis offers a wealth (pun intended) of opportunities to come in contact with the affluent. It’s got the financial elite of Wall Street, the tycoons of real estate, and some of the biggest names in the entertainment and fashion industries. Whatever your preferences may be, you’ll be sure to have plenty of candidates to explore.

Gorgeous weather, gorgeous views, and some of the richest people you’ll ever meet. That pretty much sums up San Jose, California. 

This city, where the typical middle-class citizen earns between $84,000 and $252,000 per year, is at the center of Silicon Valley — a hub for some of the largest tech companies in the world, including Google and Facebook. It’s also home to many of the world’s most prestigious universities, which have a pretty good track record of churning out top-notch additions to the labor pool.

So, if you’re into the lifestyle that a Googler or Stanford grad might have to offer, go ahead and book that flight to the West Coast. And if nothing else, at least you’ll have some good weather to keep you company.

Top 1%ers may not necessarily be born in the Bradenton/Sarasota area, but plenty of them end up there. After decades of climbing the corporate ladder or running eight-figure business ventures, many people simply want to enjoy their wealth in a beautiful place. 

This part of Florida boasts gorgeous white sand beaches, jaw-dropping waterfront properties, and more golf courses than any person could possibly want or need.

Although 25% of the population is over the age of 65, this isn’t to say the Bradenton/Sarasota area is just a hotspot for retirees. These coastal cities have also become magnets for young professionals thanks to their vibrant real estate and entrepreneurship scenes. 

Here we are again on the West Coast (and I’m not complaining). San Diego, much like San Jose, is a hub for countless high-earning economic opportunities that bring incredible wealth into the area. Tech, startups, finance, healthcare, and Hollywood — it’s all here! 

And you won’t have to search far and wide to find wealthy matches, either. According to the San Diego Business Journal, the region is currently home to 102,000 millionaires. Basically, you could shake a palm tree, and a millionaire may fall out — I like the sound of that.

What NYC is to bankers, Arlington is to the political and academic elite. Because of its proximity (in miles but certainly not in minutes spent in the car) to Washington, DC, opportunities to rub elbows with affluent government figures, lawyers, and influential academics are plentiful.

Plus, the city is chock full of historical sites, up-scale eateries, and luscious green landscapes, so you should never run out of luxurious date night ideas.

Home of the deep-dish pizza, the Chicago Bears, and, apparently, plenty of millionaires. This mid-western city is a booming metropolis with a massive economy that both produces and attracts high-net-worth professionals from around the globe. We’re talking financiers, tech CEOs, healthcare bosses, manufacturing tycoons, and many more. 

With its median income ranking seventh in the US, you can hop on over to the windy city feeling confident about your chances of snagging a wealthy lover (and, hopefully, a hot and fresh slice from Giordano’s).

When I think of the kind of wealthy people I might find in Houston, I picture a middle-aged oil tycoon with a thick Southern accent and a white cowboy hat that’s about half the size of his body. Turns out, I may not be far off. 

As the energy capital of the world, Houston is a magnet for hundreds of thousands of professionals and entrepreneurs looking to get their piece of the oil and gas industry pie (not my most appetizing analogy, I’ll admit). 

However, it doesn’t stop at big-name energy execs. This Southern city also boasts strong presences in the aerospace, healthcare, and financial spheres, making Houston a top contender for your list of must-try destinations.

Affluent people flock to Salt Lake City for the same reason they flock to places like Florida: It features a delicious blend of lifestyle appeal and stable economic opportunity. 

Its natural beauty also complements the city’s successful financial industries and blossoming tech and startup scene. Salt Lake City is lush with natural landscapes and mountains so picturesque you’ll think you died and woke up in Switzerland. So, if you’re looking for a wealthy partner with a year-round pass to some of the best ski slopes in the world, you’ve come to the right place. 

This may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of the top 1%, but don’t be too quick to write it off. Besides the city’s burgeoning success in the real estate and entrepreneurial space, Sante Fe’s flare for cultural and artsy experiences attracts those who appreciate the sophisticated things in life. 

And thanks to the city’s bounty of museums, art galleries, high-end shopping, and Michelin-star restaurants, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for meet-cutes with rich singles.

If the mega-city vibes of Chicago or NYC are a bit out of your comfort zone, you may consider taking a trip out to Fort Wayne, Indiana. With a population of approximately 270,000, this Midwestern hub offers the earning potential of a bigger city with the charm and close-knit feel of a small town. 

Plus, the cost of living in Fort Wayne is 10% lower than the national average, which can only mean one thing: Any 1%er you find could be spending a lot less money on rent and a lot more money on spoiling you. 

There’s no better city to round out our list than the home of the most luxurious sandwich on the planet — the Philly cheesesteak. 

All jokes aside, this Northeastern city might be quite the strategic choice in the search for partners with big dollar signs next to their name. It has a handful of prestigious universities, some of the nation’s leading hospitals in specialty care, and plenty of thriving financial and tech companies producing high-net-worth individuals.

These appealing features — combined with the city’s plethora of upscale neighborhoods, fine dining experiences, and proximity to affluent hotspots like NYC and Washington, DC — make Philly a unique and slightly off-the-beaten-path destination to find your wealthy match. 

If we can take anything away from this article, it should be that wealth doesn’t have to look like a 105th-floor Manhattan penthouse (although if Roman Roy is paying, you can bet your ass I’m there). It can take many forms and be found in all sorts of places — even ones you never expected. 

So, do your research (the list above is a great place to start), narrow it down using your own criterion, and get searching! May the money-magnetizing odds be ever in your favor.