The Metro D.C. area is home to several of the richest counties in the country. Four of the top five nationwide are in Northern Virginia.
An American Community Survey released by the U.S. Census Bureau revealed that four counties in Northern Virginia -- Loudoun County, Falls Church City, Fairfax County, and Arlington County -- are in the top five of highest median household incomes in the entire country. The report ranked the highest and lowest median incomes based on data collected between 2012 and 2016. Loudoun County ranked first on the list, followed by Falls Church City and Fairfax County, while Arlington County came in at fifth. Maryland’s Howard County landed at fourth. Economists attribute Loudoun County’s high median income to the large number of well-paid job opportunities provided by data centers and tech companies in the county, as well as positions at Dulles International Airport, the County School System, and the Department of Homeland Security.
A combined total of nine of the top 20 richest counties on the list were Washington, D.C., area counties, with Fairfax City coming in at No. 9, Montgomery County at No. 14, Prince William County at No. 17, and Stafford County at No. 20. While Fairfax City and Falls Church City are independent cities, the Census Bureau counts them as counties.
Nationwide, the average median household income in the report was $55,322. Loudoun County’s average median household income ($125,672) was more than double than the national average, as was that of Falls Church City ($115,244), Fairfax County ($114,329), and Howard County ($113,800).
The only other states besides Virginia and Maryland with more than one county in the top twenty were New Jersey (No. 6 -- Hunterdon County with $108,177, No. 10 -- Morris County with $102,798, and No. 11 -- Somerset County with $102,405), New York (No. 12 -- Nassau County with $102,044 and No. 19 Putnam County with $97,606), and California (No. 13 -- Santa Clara County with $101,173, No. 15 -- Marin County with $100,310, and No. 18 -- San Mateo County with $98,546). Notably, counties in the Washington, D.C., New York City, and San Francisco Bay areas accounted for 17 of the top 20 richest counties nationwide.
