During the years of slavery the richest counties in the USA were those places that had plantations, and therefore high numbers of slaves that provided the labor that powered agriculture. Those days, slaves were not counted during census, but only added to the potential wealth of their masters. Today, some things remain consistent: the richest counties do not just reflect the biggest concentration of wealth per square meter in the United States of America; but also reflect an analysis of the industries with the most wealth, or potential for wealth.
Since certain industries tend to cluster together in certain regions, it is very likely that the money, and workforce behind those industries will live within range of their investments and places of work. Therefore, much data can be pulled from the information in the following pages (even though we do not delve so deep).
You can break the information into ethnicity, industry, education, and age range of the residents of the richest counties in the United States.
A high median income county means many things including: a high purchasing power (high volume of retail sales, and a thriving local economy), it means a high standard of living, and it usually means a healthy real estate market. It is therefore understandable that many companies want to take their businesses to such places.
Let us highlight them one by one:
Loudoun County, Virginia
Median Household Income: $134,464
Loudoun County is within the borders of Virginia in the United States. Loudoun County has a population of about 413,538, which makes it Virginia's third-most populous county, and shows that prosperity is not dependent on population.
With a median household income of $136,268, Loudoun County is the richest county in the United States of America- a position it has held since 2008.
Loudoun County was once completely rural, and still has a strong rural economy; backed up by an equine industry that is worth about $78 million. Horse racing is a big deal here, and that is a major contributor to local economy. The Morven Park International Equestrian Center which hosts national horse trials is located in Loudoun County. There is also a growing wine industry in Loudoun County; there are several internationally recognized wines made here.
This county also has 25 active farms; this is a great place to raise cattle.
Loudoun's is gradually transforming to a suburban setting; the county has a full-fledged service economy, and now has a heavily presence of tech companies such as Verizon, Telos, Orbital Sciences, Paxfire and others. With the influx of these corporations come their workers who have swelled the local population.
Howard County, Maryland
Median Household Income: $120,941
Howard County is located in the state of Maryland, and is closely linked to Baltimore, Columbia, and Towson. The county has a population of about 328,200. Howard County has a Median Household Income of $120,941, which makes it the second richest county in America. Much of that money is made in Washington D.C, where many of the county’s residents work in the media.
Columbia, in Howard County is a major planned community full of detached houses, and occupied by upper middle class families. This town is basically the face of the County. Most of the residents of this county are employed in the services economy. The top employers in this county are Howard County Public School System, The County Government (not counting those employed in the schools) and tech companies like Verizon.
Fairfax County, Virginia
Median Household Income: $115,717
Fairfax County is also located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. Fairfax County is near Alexandria and Arlington County. The county’ population is presently estimated at about 1,147,532. Fairfax has the highest number of people in the whole of Virginia. The county is mainly sub-urban, although small parts are also urban and rural.
Fairfax is boosted by its sound service economy; the biggest employers are Fairfax County Public Schools, United States government, and Fairfax County government. No wonder residents here receive about 52% more than the national average wages.
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Median Household Income: $113,684
Hunterdon County is in the state of New Jersey. The county’s population was recently put at 124,371, and that shows a population reduction of about 3.1% compared to the previous estimate. Hunterdon County's median household income is $105,186, and the county is showing signs of growth.
This seems like a great place to invest in real estate; the median property tax stands $7,999, which is the highest in the country
Santa Clara County, California
Median Household Income: $111,069
From Hollywood bigwigs, to tech CEOs, Santa Clara County, in California, is one of the nation's most attractive places for rich people. Some love the weather, others love the opportunities, and most just want to be close to the centre of the biggest movie industry in the world.
The population of Santa Clara County, in California is estimated at 1,781,642, and the median household income is $111,069. Much of the population is engaged in technology, media, or the movies. As with most places in the world; there is poverty and unemployment, but in Santa Clara, you will find one of the largest concentration of wealth anywhere in the world.
Arlington County, Virginia
Median Household Income: $110,388
Arlington County is also in Virginia. This is the third Virginia County to be on this list. Arlington County, has an estimated population of 236,842, making it the sixth-largest by population in Virginia. The median household income is $110,388, and this is mostly powered by government jobs.
A report states that as high as about 60% of office space in the Rosslyn-Ballston (in Arlington County) is leased to government agencies and government contractors. Other residents are engaged in the tech industry (19.1% ) Hotels and Accommodation (28.9% ) and others in food.
Douglas County, Colorado
Median Household Income: $109,292
Douglas County is in the state of Colorado. It has a population of about 285,465, and the median household income stands at $109,292 which is the highest in the state of Colorado. Douglas county is close to Denver and Colorado Springs.
The county’s economy is powered by the service industry; some of the biggest employers are: Douglas County School system, Charles Schwab Corporation, Douglas County Government, EchoStar, Western Union.
San Mateo County ,California
Median Household Income: $108,627
San Mateo County is a county in the state of California. This is the second California county to make this list. San Mateo has a population of 718,451, and a median household income of $108,627. San Mateo county covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula, including the Airport.
The area is loaded with tech money and tech talent; Facebook, YouTube, Visa Inc, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Electronic Arts, and so on all call this place home; but the list gets longer every day, as more and more tech start ups spring up in the area.
Morris County
Median Household Income: $106,985
Morris County is located in the state of New Jersey, but some argue that this area with a population of 492,276, is more New York than New Jersey. This is because the county is very close to New York City. Morris County has 39 municipalities, but no large cities. The area seems to enjoy being sub urban.
About 33 Fortune 500 companies have their headquarters, offices or a major facilities located in the county, so we should not be surprised to see a median household income of $106,985. The median price of housing was $469,900 in 2018, and it is fully expected that prices will continue to rise into the near future.
Williamson County, Tennessee
Median Household Income: $106,054
Williamson County is in the U.S. state of Tennessee. This is the only county in Tennessee to make this list. Williamson County has a population of about 183,182, and a median household income of about $106,054. The county seems to have found the perfect balance between agriculture and services.
Williamson County was an agrarian community for most of the 19th century; the major crop was cotton. Despite the fact that the county has largely changed to a suburban area complete with retail businesses cotton and cattle ranching still play roles in the local economy.
Conclusion:
Virginia has a good number of these counties with the most wealth in the country. Of course the purpose of this post is for entertainment, but if this writer had any money he would bet that the development would soon spill over into other parts of Virginia, and so he would start looking for good real estate to invest in.
If a person was to set up a farm in some of these areas, it could do well; most of the residents of these places are conscious of what they eat, and that could be good for business.
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