text: While it’s easy to identify the largest and most affluent metropolises in the United States, it’s far more difficult to pinpoint the priciest suburb closest to each major city. So real estate firm Engel & Völkers examined the fringes of the country’s 10 most populated urban spreads to determine just that. 
   
   Here’s a rundown of the well-to-do towns that made the list, ordered from least to greatest in terms of the corresponding major city’s population. 
   
   Los Altos Hills, CA 
   
   Bordering San Jose, Los Altos Hills is one of Silicon Valley’s most esteemed residential enclaves. With rolling hills and unparalleled bay views, it’s a popular home base for tech titans—including Cisco president John Chambers—and baseball legend Barry Bonds. (To boot, among its plethora of multimillion-dollar havens is the $10,000-a-night Airbnb mansion Beyoncé rented before performing at Super Bowl 50’s halftime show.) 
   
   Population (as of 2013): 8,334 
   
   Median home sales price: $3.45 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A five-bedroom, 12-bath home now priced at $88 million 
   
   Westlake, TX 
   
   Nestled on the outskirts of Dallas, Westlake is one of Texas’ most enviable communities. A Certified Gold Scenic City, it contains the Vaquero Club (one of the most exclusive private clubs in the nation) and the prestigious Westlake Academy, along with several corporate campuses such as Deloitte University and Fidelity Investments. Noteworthy residents include Glenn Beck, who occupies a 8,000-square-foot house formerly owned by retired MLB player Jorge Piedra and his Swarovski heiress wife, Vanessa. Properties currently up for grabs (sans celebrity ties) include this $4 million Mediterranean-style home. 
   
   Population (as of 2013): 1,096 
   
   Median home sales price: $2 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: An 11,248-square-foot mansion presently listed at $6.299 million 
   
   Rancho Santa Fe, CA 
   
   A stone’s throw away from San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe houses a slew of wealthy notables—from baseball bigwig Bud Black to billionaire businessman Bill Gates (who purchased his horse ranch for $18 million from weight loss guru Jenny Craig). Former denizens include singers Patti Page, Bing Crosby, Jewel, and Janet Jackson; NASA astronaut Pete Conrad (the third man to walk on the moon); golfer Phil Mickelson; and filmmaker Howard Hughes. Among the beautiful abodes now on the market in the area is this 7,400-square-foot, two-acre spread, now priced at $3.888 million. 
   
   Population (as of 2010): 3,117 
   
   Median home sales price: $2.119 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A 210-acre ranch with an 8,148-square-foot home now asking $85 million 
   
   Terrell Hills, TX 
   
   Population (as of 2013): 5,088 
   
   Median home sales price: $1.322 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A four-bedroom, five-bath home presently priced at $2.077 million 
   
   Five miles from downtown San Antonio, Terrell Hills is just minutes away from the vibrant city, widely regarded as one of the most culturally rich places in southwest Texas. Historic and cultural landmarks including the Riverwalk, Witte Museum, and the Alamo are at arm’s reach for inhabitants of the illustrious town, who include Oscar winner Tommy Lee Jones. 
   
   Paradise Valley, AZ 
   
   Back in the day, Paradise Valley catered to farmers and their cattle. But today it’s regarded as Phoenix’s most coveted suburb and one of Arizona’s most popular tourist spots, touting a number of luxury resorts and must-see attractions. Framed by magnificent mountains, the desert oasis counts boxers Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, along with former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and former U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle among its past residents. Picturesque properties for sale in the area include this 6,905-square-foot, $5 million contemporary. 
   
   Population (as of 2013): 13,387 
   
   Median home sales price: $1.1 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A five-acre Mediterranean estate with a 25,416-square-foot main house now listed at $25 million 
   
   Bryn Mawr, PA 
   
   Bryn Mawr—which translates to “great hill” in Welsh—rests 10 miles outside of Philadelphia, in a moneyed region known as the Main Line. Teeming with distinguished schools, high-end boutiques, and fine-dining restaurants, the lush stretch is tied to an impressive who’s who, from Katharine Hepburn (who attended Bryan Mawr College) and former President Woodrow Wilson (who taught government at the school) to Kat Dennings (who grew up there) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Emlen Tunnell. 
   
   Population (as of 2010): 3,779 
   
   Median home sales price: $760,292 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A 6,500-square-foot haven nestled on over five acres currently asking $4.25 million 
   
   Southside Place, TX 
   
   Southside Place is known for its family-friendly nature and close proximity to Houston. Spanning a mere 10 blocks, the charming expanse has an abundance of pools, parks, and reputable public schools, making it a great white-picket-fence escape from the bustling city. 
   
   Population (as of 2013): 1,784 
   
   Median home sales price: $1.253 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A Prairie-style house with four bedrooms and four baths now priced at $2.395 million 
   
   Glencoe, IL 
   
   Twenty miles north of Chicago lies the Village of Glencoe—a quaint community teeming with green, bordered by Lake Michigan, the Cook County Forest preserve, and Glencoe Golf Course. TV star Fred Savage and film actors Bruce Dern and Lili Taylor all grew up in the small town, which was also once home to vacuum cleaner king Earle Hoover, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Archibald MacLeish, and Judge James Wilkerson (who put Al Capone behind bars). 
   
   Population (as of 2013): 8,854 
   
   Median home sales price: $1.3 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A six-bedroom, English Country-style manor presently listed at $7.5 million 
   
   Bel Air, CA 
   
   Ensconced beneath the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, Bel Air has served as the backdrop for innumerable film and television productions in the past and boasts countless A-list residents—among them, Tesla CEO and founder Elon Musk (whose 20,248-square-foot haven cost $17 million) and Jennifer Aniston (who spent $21 million on her 8,500-square-foot estate). Erstwhile dwellers include Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy, film icon Alfred Hitchcock, British screen legend Elizabeth Taylor, and Nancy and Ronald Reagan. 
   
   Population (as of 2013): 17,613 
   
   Median home sales price: $3.45 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A yet-to-be-built bespoke behemoth, set to be priced at $75 million (for 23,000 square-feet) or $115 million (for 59,000 square feet) 
   
   Bronxville, NY 
   
   Fifteen miles north of the Big Apple, Bronxville is one of Westchester County’s most beguiling suburbs. Measuring only one square mile, the close-knit spread—styled to resemble an English village—showcases an assortment of shops and restaurants, along with two collegiate institutions (including Sarah Lawrence College). Frank Abagnale Jr.—whose life story inspired the movie Catch Me If You Can—was born in the village, where the Kennedys also once lived. 
   
   Population (as of 2013): 6,403 
   
   Median home sales price: $2.325 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A Classic Revival-style charmer currently listed at $7.295 million ||||| 5 Reasons To Shop For A Home In December 
   
   While it’s easy to identify the largest and most affluent metropolises in the United States, it’s far more difficult to pinpoint the priciest suburb closest to each major city. So real estate firm Engel & Völkers examined the fringes of the country’s 10 most populated urban spreads to determine just that. 
   
   Here’s a rundown of the well-to-do towns that made the list, ordered from least to greatest in terms of the corresponding major city’s population. 
   
   Los Altos Hills, CA 
   
   Bordering San Jose, Los Altos Hills is one of Silicon Valley’s most esteemed residential enclaves. With rolling hills and unparalleled bay views, it’s a popular home base for tech titans—including Cisco president John Chambers—and baseball legend Barry Bonds. (To boot, among its plethora of multimillion-dollar havens is the $10,000-a-night Airbnb mansion Beyoncé rented before performing at Super Bowl 50’s halftime show.) 
   
   Population (as of 2013): 8,334 
   
   Median home sales price: $3.45 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A five-bedroom, 12-bath home now priced at $88 million 
   
   Westlake, TX 
   
   Nestled on the outskirts of Dallas, Westlake is one of Texas’ most enviable communities. A Certified Gold Scenic City, it contains the Vaquero Club (one of the most exclusive private clubs in the nation) and the prestigious Westlake Academy, along with several corporate campuses such as Deloitte University and Fidelity Investments. Noteworthy residents include Glenn Beck, who occupies a 8,000-square-foot house formerly owned by retired MLB player Jorge Piedra and his Swarovski heiress wife, Vanessa. Properties currently up for grabs (sans celebrity ties) include this $4 million Mediterranean-style home. 
   
   Population (as of 2013): 1,096 
   
   Median home sales price: $2 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: An 11,248-square-foot mansion presently listed at $6.299 million 
   
   Rancho Santa Fe, CA 
   
   A stone’s throw away from San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe houses a slew of wealthy notables—from baseball bigwig Bud Black to billionaire businessman Bill Gates (who purchased his horse ranch for $18 million from weight loss guru Jenny Craig). Former denizens include singers Patti Page, Bing Crosby, Jewel, and Janet Jackson; NASA astronaut Pete Conrad (the third man to walk on the moon); golfer Phil Mickelson; and filmmaker Howard Hughes. Among the beautiful abodes now on the market in the area is this 7,400-square-foot, two-acre spread, now priced at $3.888 million. 
   
   Population (as of 2010): 3,117 
   
   Median home sales price: $2.119 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A 210-acre ranch with an 8,148-square-foot home now asking $85 million 
   
   Terrell Hills, TX 
   
   Population (as of 2013): 5,088 
   
   Median home sales price: $1.322 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A four-bedroom, five-bath home presently priced at $2.077 million 
   
   Five miles from downtown San Antonio, Terrell Hills is just minutes away from the vibrant city, widely regarded as one of the most culturally rich places in southwest Texas. Historic and cultural landmarks including the Riverwalk, Witte Museum, and the Alamo are at arm’s reach for inhabitants of the illustrious town, who include Oscar winner Tommy Lee Jones. 
   
   Paradise Valley, AZ 
   
   Back in the day, Paradise Valley catered to farmers and their cattle. But today it’s regarded as Phoenix’s most coveted suburb and one of Arizona’s most popular tourist spots, touting a number of luxury resorts and must-see attractions. Framed by magnificent mountains, the desert oasis counts boxers Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, along with former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and former U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle among its past residents. Picturesque properties for sale in the area include this 6,905-square-foot, $5 million contemporary. 
   
   Population (as of 2013): 13,387 
   
   Median home sales price: $1.1 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A five-acre Mediterranean estate with a 25,416-square-foot main house now listed at $25 million 
   
   Bryn Mawr, PA 
   
   Bryn Mawr—which translates to “great hill” in Welsh—rests 10 miles outside of Philadelphia, in a moneyed region known as the Main Line. Teeming with distinguished schools, high-end boutiques, and fine-dining restaurants, the lush stretch is tied to an impressive who’s who, from Katharine Hepburn (who attended Bryan Mawr College) and former President Woodrow Wilson (who taught government at the school) to Kat Dennings (who grew up there) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Emlen Tunnell. 
   
   Population (as of 2010): 3,779 
   
   Median home sales price: $760,292 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A 6,500-square-foot haven nestled on over five acres currently asking $4.25 million 
   
   Southside Place, TX 
   
   Southside Place is known for its family-friendly nature and close proximity to Houston. Spanning a mere 10 blocks, the charming expanse has an abundance of pools, parks, and reputable public schools, making it a great white-picket-fence escape from the bustling city. 
   
   Population (as of 2013): 1,784 
   
   Median home sales price: $1.253 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A Prairie-style house with four bedrooms and four baths now priced at $2.395 million 
   
   Glencoe, IL 
   
   Twenty miles north of Chicago lies the Village of Glencoe—a quaint community teeming with green, bordered by Lake Michigan, the Cook County Forest preserve, and Glencoe Golf Course. TV star Fred Savage and film actors Bruce Dern and Lili Taylor all grew up in the small town, which was also once home to vacuum cleaner king Earle Hoover, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Archibald MacLeish, and Judge James Wilkerson (who put Al Capone behind bars). 
   
   Population (as of 2013): 8,854 
   
   Median home sales price: $1.3 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A six-bedroom, English Country-style manor presently listed at $7.5 million 
   
   Bel Air, CA 
   
   Ensconced beneath the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, Bel Air has served as the backdrop for innumerable film and television productions in the past and boasts countless A-list residents—among them, Tesla CEO and founder Elon Musk (whose 20,248-square-foot haven cost $17 million) and Jennifer Aniston (who spent $21 million on her 8,500-square-foot estate). Erstwhile dwellers include Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy, film icon Alfred Hitchcock, British screen legend Elizabeth Taylor, and Nancy and Ronald Reagan. 
   
   Population (as of 2013): 17,613 
   
   Median home sales price: $3.45 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A yet-to-be-built bespoke behemoth, set to be priced at $75 million (for 23,000 square-feet) or $115 million (for 59,000 square feet) 
   
   Bronxville, NY 
   
   Fifteen miles north of the Big Apple, Bronxville is one of Westchester County’s most beguiling suburbs. Measuring only one square mile, the close-knit spread—styled to resemble an English village—showcases an assortment of shops and restaurants, along with two collegiate institutions (including Sarah Lawrence College). Frank Abagnale Jr.—whose life story inspired the movie Catch Me If You Can—was born in the village, where the Kennedys also once lived. 
   
   Population (as of 2013): 6,403 
   
   Median home sales price: $2.325 million 
   
   Most expensive home for sale: A Classic Revival-style charmer currently listed at $7.295 million
target: – Think moving to the 'burbs will save you money? Not in these neighborhoods. Real estate firm Engel & Völkers has identified the priciest suburb around each of America's 10 most populous urban areas, based on the median home price. The top five, per Forbes: Bel Air outside Los Angeles: $3.45 million Los Altos Hills outside San Jose: $3.45 million Bronxville outside New York City: $2.33 million Rancho Santa Fe outside San Diego: $2.12 million Westlake outside Dallas: $2 million Click for the full list or the strongest and weakest housing markets.