Alella, a town in the Maresme region, has overtaken Matadepera to claim the top spot as the Catalan municipality with the highest gross disposable family income per inhabitant, according to the latest data from the Catalan Institute of Statistics (Idescat). With an average income of €35,425, Alella edged out Matadepera, located in Vallès Occidental, by €659. This change, announced on 29 April, represents a notable shift in a ranking that has otherwise remained largely consistent over the past 25 years.
The economic mobility of Catalan municipalities has been slow, with wealth continuing to concentrate in much the same areas as a quarter-century ago. Towns that led the per capita income ranking in 2000 largely remain at the top today, while those at the bottom have also stayed there. Alella's rise is one of the few instances of progressive ascent, as it was only in seventh position in 2000, behind Matadepera, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Teià, Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, l’Ametlla del Vallès, and Sant Just Desvern.
Maresme's Growing Influence
The Maresme region has consistently placed a high number of municipalities on the list of those with the highest per capita income. The latest Idescat statistics for 2023 show that 12 of the top 40 municipalities are from this area. Sant Andreu de Llavaneres and l’Ametlla del Vallès, which were in the top seven in 2000, have been replaced by Cabrils and Tiana, both also from Maresme. Despite this regional concentration of wealthy towns, the average income for Maresme as a whole remains below that of Barcelonès and Baix Llobregat.
While the lists of Catalonia's wealthiest towns show great stability, occasional surprises do occur. One such event happened with the 2020 tax agency data, when Riudarenes in La Selva nearly doubled its previous year's figures. It suddenly became one of Spain's most prosperous municipalities, second only to Pozuelo de Alarcón in Madrid. In the Idescat list, Riudarenes also climbed to the top, significantly outperforming Matadepera and Sant Just Desvern, much to the disbelief of its own residents.
Explaining Sudden Wealth Shifts
An urban legend incorrectly attributed Riudarenes' sudden leap to a lottery win. The true explanation, however, lay in the successful operations of a pork industry company. This company used the international circumstances of the pandemic year to consolidate a large amount of income, leading to the town's dramatic rise in the rankings. This example shows how specific economic activities can temporarily alter the established order of wealth distribution.
Just as it is difficult for municipalities to climb the per capita income ladder, it also appears challenging for towns at the bottom to improve their standing. Recent statistics identify Salt as the municipality with the lowest per capita income, at €13,633 annually, which is 35 points below the Catalan average. Lloret de Mar is in the second-lowest position, traditionally penalised in these rankings due to its reliance on seasonal tourism and a significant number of low-skilled jobs. In 2000, Badia del Vallès, Santa Margarida de Montbui, and Santa Coloma de Gramenet were among the towns at the very bottom of the list, indicating a persistent pattern of lower income levels in certain areas.
