1. Falls Church City, Va.
Median annual household income: $113,313.
Boasting a strong school system and located about six miles away from the nation's capital, Falls Church has for years enticed rich families, making it the nation's richest county.
2. Loudoun County, Va.
Median annual household income: $112,021
The second richest county in the nation used to be a sleepy rural community just a few decades ago, but in recent years it became a technology center and a popular Washington, D.C. suburb.
3. Fairfax County, Va.
Median annual household income: $104,259
Another Washington county, Fairfax County, Va., rounds out the top three. With 1.1 million residents, this populous county has a massive federal government presence. It is home to companies with strong connections to the government, like Freddie Mac, and intelligence agencies like the CIA and the National Counterterrorism Center.
4. Hunterdon County, N.J.
Median annual household income: $102,500
This county in northwestern N.J. has the highest median annual household income in the country outside of the Virginia suburbs. A rural area, it borders Pennsylvania and has become home to both New York City and Philadelphia commuters in recent years.
5. Howard County, Md.
Median annual household income: $101,003
Located between Baltimore and Washington, this fast-growing county boasts a fantastic school system, attracting rich residents.
6. Los Alamos County, N.M.
Median annual household income of $100,423
The richest county in the Western United States is Los Alamos, N.M., where decades of government money spent on nuclear weapons resulted in a bonanza for the local economy. Most of the 18,000 residents of the county (New Mexico's smallest) live in Los Alamos or White Rock. The biggest employer is the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
7. Douglas County, Colo.
Median annual household income: $99,522
Now a relatively populous county with 280,000 residents, this county south of Denver has boomed over the last 10 years, luring young professionals with luxury homes and planned communities.
8. Morris County, N.J.
Median annual household income of $96,316
The taxes are high, but most of the 490,000 residents can afford them. Companies like Honeywell International and Pfizer have a major presence here, but this is still mostly a home for New York City commuters.
9. Somerset County, N.J.
Median annual household income: $96,233
Another high-tax New Jersey suburb of New York City.
10. Fairfax City County, Va.
Median annual household income: $96,232
Another suburb of Washington, it has benefited from the boom in government of the past few years.
http://www.forbes.com/2011/04/11/americas-richest-counties-business-washington.html
Comments(1)