Is where I live. o:

[quote]A Pleasanton surprise: richest midsize city
By Sophia Kazmi
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Beverly Hills it's not, but according to the latest U.S. Census information, Pleasanton is the wealthiest midsize city in the nation.

In 2005, the median household income in Pleasanton was $101,022, the highest income for any city with a population between 65,000 and 249,999 people.

In a report released Tuesday, the census numbers show Pleasanton beat out Orange County's Newport Beach, which came in second with a median income of $97,428. And Livermore, Pleasanton's neighbor to the east, took the third spot with a median income of $96,632.

Although Pleasanton is home to numerous art galleries, and its downtown is peppered with spas, salons and fine dining establishments, residents said Tuesday that they aren't really calling themselves rich.

Jorge Riotic said the incomes may be high, it's really how much money you have left after paying the bills and taxes that decides who is wealthy.

"It's kind of difficult to determine," Riotic said. "You have this income, but you have services that are higher than other parts of the country. So in the end it washes out."

Riotic said in the nearly 10 years he has lived in Pleasanton, he thinks incomes of residents have gone up, but that is true of the entire Tri-Valley.

Susie Kim, who has lived in the city for about 16 years, considers herself affluent because she lives in a nice neighborhood, but she says "rich" is a relative term. She says one of her neighbors has four kids, so they have more expenses than she does.

"It's different for each person," she said.

Jerry Thorne, a Pleasanton city councilman, would call Pleasanton a rich city. There is a good-size, middle-class population, but many of them bought their home many years ago, Thorne said.

"There are a lot of middle-class folks who couldn't afford to buy the house they're living in now" if they had to buy it today, he said.

Councilman Steve Brozosky said the city is a draw to higher earners because of its good schools, community services, low crime rate and proximity to San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

"That's why a lot of people come out here and spend the extra money" to move to Pleasanton, he said.

Brozosky said he wouldn't call himself rich, unless perhaps the equity of his home becomes a part of the calculation. But then, he added, that would only make him rich on paper.

"I think our family is doing as well as most families in Pleasanton are," he said.

So what would be considered rich? Debbie Torres, who co-owns Divine Skin and Body Care in downtown Pleasanton, said someone could be rich if they were pulling in a six-figure salary.

"But they have to live within their means," said Torres, who lives in Tracy.
Sophia Kazmi covers Dublin and Castro Valley. Reach her at 925-847-2122 or skazmi@cctimes.com.
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o:

I knew there were some rich people here but o:

 

Well you do own an S2K

 

so cal > north cal


doors open meng! :run:

 

That's how I be stunnin. o:


I'll be back in SoCal at some point. h:

 

virginia is for fuckin hustlers.

 

that doesnt surprise me too much....Pleasanton is pretty balla.
what does surprise me is that it beats newport...and also that livermore is up there. i didnt know livermore was balla h:

 

I was surprised about both too. Livermore has gotten pretty big the last few years though, and there are some really nice areas on the outskirts of the city. What's funny is people around here still think Livermore is hickish and ghetto. h:

 

people around YOUR area would think that

 

zzzzzzzzzzzzzing

 

Well it IS kinda hickish o: