While San Diego might be a great place for those who are already wealthy, BankRate.com says the coastal city landed at the bottom of the list because of its low surplus income after taxes, high unemployment rate and the high average debt burden of its residents.

Surplus Income:  $8,786

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 8.7%

Per Capita GDP: $57,955

Homeownership Rate: 53.1%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $78,282

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.24%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 36%

Surplus Income:  $2,582

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 7.86%

Per Capita GDP: $44,803

Homeownership Rate: 61.8%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $ $60,456

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.18%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 35%

Surplus Income:  $10,234

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 9.98%

Per Capita GDP: $59,092

Homeownership Rate: 50.2%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $64,778

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.25%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 36.4%

Surplus Income:  $8,242

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 7.96%

Per Capita GDP: $59,339

Homeownership Rate: 67.7%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $62,280

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.25%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 44.4%

Surplus Income:  $12,839

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 9%

Per Capita GDP: $52,178

Homeownership Rate: 60.5%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $55,204

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.27%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 39%

While San Fran boasts the highest per capita GDP on the ranking, the West Coast city’s surplus income is on the low side, and its average total consumer debt is among the highest driven by high housing costs and living expenses relative to incomes. It also has one of the lowest home ownership rates. 

Surplus Income:  $11,791

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 6.76%

Per Capita GDP: $100,115

Homeownership Rate: 52.5%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $92,010

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.19%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 36.4%

Surplus Income:  $11,777

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 6.86%

Per Capita GDP: $74,701

Homeownership Rate: 60%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $84,519

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.19%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 45%

Surplus Income:  $8,644

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 6.72%

Per Capita GDP: $74,643

Homeownership Rate: 60.5%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $79,767

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.29%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 42.9%

Surplus Income:  $10,406

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 9.22%

Per Capita GDP: $57,752

Homeownership Rate: 64.4%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $58,498

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.24%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 42.3%

Surplus Income:  $11,576

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 5.26%

Per Capita GDP: $61,711

Homeownership Rate: 70.8%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $78,137

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.17%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 47.4%

Surplus Income:  $13,227

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 8.32%

Per Capita GDP: $45,145

Homeownership Rate: 57.4%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $46,540

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.21%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 34.7%

Surplus Income:  $18,625

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 7.94%

Per Capita GDP: $57,294

Homeownership Rate: 62%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $72,634

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.28%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 42.7%

Surplus Income:  $9,289

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 6.62%

Per Capita GDP: $60,730

Homeownership Rate: 56.5%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $46,316

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.21%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 36.7%

While New York is known as the money-making capital of the world, the Big Apple didn’t break into the top three because of its low savable income after taxes, high consumer debt, and low homeownership rates. The city’s per capita GDP, was among the highest.

Surplus Income:  $12,919

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 8.66%

Per Capita GDP: $69,074

Homeownership Rate: 49.4%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $60,885

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.28%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 42.3%

While Detroit doesn’t necessarily have a dynamic job market, as BankRate.com points out, the city broke into the top five for building wealth due to its high savable income and low average consumer debt. On the other hand, it does have the highest unemployment rate among the cities ranked. 

Surplus Income:  $15,185

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 11.42%

Per Capita GDP: $49,653

Homeownership Rate: 74.6%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $44,531

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.2%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 45.2%

Surplus Income:  $14,725

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 8.14%

Per Capita GDP: $55,430

Homeownership Rate: 68.9%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $44,624

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.29%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 42.8%

The region with the most units in the planning process is the Washington, D.C.-Virginia-Maryland region, with 23,997 planned units. The region also has 28,260 units under construction, which is the third highest amount on the list, after New York City and Dallas.

Surplus Income:  $14,552

Unemployment Rate (average 2010-2014): 6.46%

Per Capita GDP: $72,258

Homeownership Rate: 57.7%

Average Total Consumer Debt: $42,784

Average Mortgage Rate: 4.19%

Participation Rate in Employer-based Retirement Plans: 36.7%