Highest-earning county in every state

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January 28, 2020
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Highest-earning county in every state

The median household income in the United States has varied little from year-to-year in recent memory as wages have stagnated and consumers' buying patterns haven't remained largely unchanged.

However, the average household income differs from state to state. In Washington D.C., for example, the median household income in 2018 was $85,203, while just a few miles over in West Virginia, the median household income in the same year was just $44,097. And while the annual average increased in Washington D.C. compared to the year prior, the annual average decreased in West Virginia.

But data shows that annual income heavily depends on an individual's educational attainment, race, ethnicity, gender, and even location. One cluster of the United States is particularly well off: The five counties with the highest median household income in the country can all be found in the Washington D.C. metropolitan areas of Maryland and Northern Virginia. Those five counties are Virginia's Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington County, and Falls Church, as well as Maryland's Howard County.

Those counties can probably attribute their wealth to their proximity to Washington D.C., which attracts highly educated and skilled people in areas of law and public policy. And people in those fields often marry each other, making two high-earning households one very high-earning household.

The median household income in the U.S. overall is $61,937. But 6.3% of U.S. households make less than $10,000 a year, while 19.6% make less than $25,000.

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-earning county in every state. The counties in every state are ranked by their median household income. Data is current as of December 2019. Counties must have at least 1,000 households to be considered for the list.

Read on to find out which county in your state is raking in the most cash.

Alabama: Shelby County

- Median household income: $75,761 (22.3% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 78,328
- Households making less than $10,000: 4% (36.5% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 14.5% (26.0% lower than national average)

Shelby County, Ala., has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, a whole 1% below the national average of 3.9%. In the past year, the job market has grown 2%, and over the next 10 years, the job growth is expected to be 34%. The average annual income for someone living in Shelby County is $33,135, well above the national average.

Alaska: Juneau City and Borough

- Median household income: $88,213 (42.4% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 12,521
- Households making less than $10,000: 3.2% (49.2% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 10.2% (48% lower than national average)

Juneau City and Borough is home to Alaska’s state capital of Juneau, and as such, the largest industry is public administration, followed by health care, social assistance, and educational services. The highest paying industry is the utility industry, where workers earn about $93,750 a year. The income inequality in Juneau is actually lower than the national average as well, scoring a 0.436 on the Gini index.

Arizona: Maricopa County

- Median household income: $61,606 (0.5% lower than national average)
- Total number of households: 1,520,767
- Households making less than $10,000: 5.9% (6.3% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 18.1% (7.7% lower than national average)

In 2019, Maricopa County, Arizona had the highest population growth rate in the nation for the third year in a row, which has contributed to the success of its local economy. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis also found that Arizona had the fourth-highest wage growth rate in the nation in 2018 and the fifth-highest personal income growth rate.

[Pictured: World famous fountain which gave Fountain Hills its name.]

Arkansas: Benton County

- Median household income: $64,141 (3.6% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 94,333
- Households making less than $10,000: 3.6% (42.9% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 15.8% (19.4% lower than national average)

As of 2016, the largest employer in Benton County, Arkansas, was Walmart, followed by J.B. Hunt, Rogers School District, Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas, and Bentonville School District. Three different poultry processing companies also landed in the top-10 largest employers in Benton County, and several other school districts made the top 30 as well.

California: Santa Clara County

- Median household income: $116,178 (87.6% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 635,525
- Households making less than $10,000: 3.2% (49.2% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 10.6% (45.9% lower than national average)

The most common industry in Santa Clara County, California is professional, scientific, and technical services, which employs 167,916 people in the county. Other common industries are manufacturing, health care and social assistance, educational services, and retail trade. However, the highest-earning industries are the information industry, management of companies and enterprises, and professional, scientific, and technical services.

Colorado: Douglas County

- Median household income: $115,314 (86.2% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 117,426
- Households making less than $10,000: 1.8% (71.4% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 5.9% (69.9% lower than national average)

In 2018, jobs in Douglas County, Colorado grew 3.8%, and the number of businesses increased by 2.7%. Of the residents of Douglas County, 72.7% participated in the labor force during the same year. Douglas County was ranked #6 in 2017 out of all the counties in the United States for the highest median household income.

Connecticut: Fairfield County

- Median household income: $92,969 (50.1% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 340,491
- Households making less than $10,000: 4.6% (27% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 13.9% (29.1% lower than national average)

Being close to New York City, Fairfield County, Connecticut enjoys the metropolitan area’s rich and diverse economy. The top industries in the county include manufacturing, financial services, professional services, and health care. The region is also home to 19 Fortune 1000 companies, and visitors may recognize some well-known companies in the Fairfield region, including NBC Sports, Vineyard Vines, and Bic.

Delaware: New Castle County

- Median household income: $70,996 (14.6% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 203,855
- Households making less than $10,000: 5.9% (6.3% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 16.4% (16.3% lower than national average)

The biggest industry in New Castle County, Delaware is health care and social assistance, which employs 38,255 people, followed by educational services and retail trade. But the highest paying industries are the utility industry, professional, scientific, and technical services, and the management of companies and enterprises. From 2017 to 2018, employment in the county grew 8.12%, increasing to about 276,000 total employees.

Florida: St. Johns County

- Median household income: $77,323 (24.8% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 86,268
- Households making less than $10,000: 4.2% (33.3% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 12.7% (35.2% lower than national average)

St. Johns County, Florida, has the lowest overall tax structure in northeast Florida as well as a strategic location right on the east coast. The county has several local economic development incentives, which have attracted a highly educated workforce. The St. Johns County Economic Development Office offers special assistance to businesses looking to expand into the county and helps with site selection and even negotiates incentives with prospective businesses.

Georgia: Forsyth County

- Median household income: $101,743 (64.3% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 73,675
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.8% (55.6% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 9% (54.1% lower than national average)

In 2018, Forsyth County was the #1 locale in Georgia for business due to its low crime rate, well-compensated workforce, and stellar school system. Forsyth County also has the most educated workforce in the state, the lowest property taxes in metropolitan Atlanta, and compared to other counties, more of its residents work in the computer, mathematical, management, and financial business fields.

Hawaii: Honolulu County

- Median household income: $82,906 (33.9% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 311,525
- Households making less than $10,000: 4.8% (23.8% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 12.8% (34.7% lower than national average)

Honolulu bridges the gap between the east and the west, making it an important transportation crossroads that serves to bolster its economy. As such, Honolulu County’s economy relies on military defense, tourism, research and development, and manufacturing. Tourism actually contributes an annual $10 billion to the region’s economy, while the military bases in the area like Pearl Harbor are insulated from the normal business cycle.

Idaho: Teton County

- Median household income: $68,818 (11.1% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 3,736
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.2% (65.1% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 15.7% (19.9% lower than national average)

Teton County, Idaho, is home to just under 6,000 workers, and the main industry is construction, which employs 946 people. Other large industries in Teton County include retail trade and accommodation and food services, while the industries that pay the most in the area are the utility industry and the transportation and warehousing industries. From 2016 to 2017, employment in the county grew 1.47%.

Illinois: Kendall County

- Median household income: $91,764 (48.2% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 40,407
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.2% (65.1% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 7.2% (63.3% lower than national average)

In the 2000s, Kendall County, Ill. was the fastest growing county in the United States, thanks to its prime location outside of Chicago and ability to attract highly educated residents. The county can easily be reached by two major interstates and is located near two airports and several rail lines, making the county a competitive choice for businesses looking to grow.

Indiana: Hamilton County

- Median household income: $94,644 (52.8% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 116,982
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.1% (66.7% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 8.3% (57.7% lower than national average)

Over the last year, jobs in Hamilton County, Indiana grew 2.5%, and the job growth over the next decade is expected to be 42.6%—a much higher rate than the national average of 33.5%. The most common industry in the county is health care and social assistance, a field that employs 13.8% of residents. Other popular industries in Hamilton County include manufacturing and retail trade.

Iowa: Dallas County

- Median household income: $84,790 (36.9% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 32,886
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.6% (58.7% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 11.2% (42.9% lower than national average)

From 2016 to 2017, the median household income in Dallas County, Iowa grew 4.82%, from $78,918 to $82,719. The most common jobs in the county are management jobs, office and administrative support occupations, and business and financial operations jobs. However, the highest earning jobs in the area are the legal occupations, which earn an average annual salary of $95,250, followed by computer and mathematical jobs.

Kansas: Johnson County

- Median household income: $84,915 (37.1% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 226,242
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.8% (55.6% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 9.9% (49.5% lower than national average)

Johnson County, Kansas has long been considered the wealthiest county in the state. In 2015, 8.2% of households in Johnson County earned more than $200,000 annually, and even during the throes of the recession, the county had an unemployment rate of less than 5%.

Kentucky: Oldham County

- Median household income: $97,597 (57.6% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 20,733
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.2% (65.1% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 9.0% (54.1% lower than national average)

Oldham County, Kentucky, is a suburb of Louisville, but the county is also located just 100 miles from Cincinnati, making the region an attractive one for businesses. The county also has the lowest unemployment rate in Kentucky and the highest per capita income. The Oldham County School District is also ranked highly, having consistently scored high on the state’s standardized tests.

Louisiana: Ascension Parish

- Median household income: $76,589 (23.7% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 42,649
- Households making less than $10,000: 7% (11.1% higher than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 17.5% (10.7% lower than national average)

The most prevalent industry in Ascension Parish, Louisiana is health care, which employs 14% of the locale’s residents, followed closely by manufacturing, which employs 13.7% of residents. Retail, construction, and education jobs round out the top five occupations in Ascension Parish. Compared to the rest of Louisiana, management jobs are 223.4% more common in Ascension Parish, while oil and gas jobs are 80% less common.

[Pictured: View of Baton Rouge, which neighbors Ascension Parish.]

Maine: Cumberland County

- Median household income: $69,708 (12.5% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 119,717
- Households making less than $10,000: 5.2% (17.5% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 16.6% (15.3% lower than national average)

Cumberland County, Maine generates a third of Maine’s economic output, thanks to its spot as the epicenter in the state for the financial, health care, and education sectors. Part of the reason the county is so economically successful is that its population is significantly younger than many other counties in Maine, which are home to mostly older people, some of whom have retired. As such, other counties in Maine have a much lower participation in the workforce.

Maryland: Howard County

- Median household income: $117,730 (90.1% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 112,966
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.5% (60.3% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 7.8% (60.2% lower than national average)

Howard County, Maryland has one of the most educated workforces in the United States, and attracts people from all over due to its premiere location: the county is home to the National Security Agency, the U.S. Cyber Command, and Fort Meade, where cybersecurity innovations are just part of daily life. But despite the government presence, the private sector industries in Howard County generate $21.9 billion in economic output annually.

Massachusetts: Nantucket County

- Median household income: $105,171 (69.8% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 3,722
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.3% (63.5% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 9.1% (53.6% lower than national average)

Nantucket County, Massachusetts has an extremely high employment rate, with 96.9% of its residents holding jobs. Of those jobs, 18.9% are in the construction industry, while 15.8% are in the educational services, health care, and social assistance industry, and 10.2% are in the arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services areas. Most jobs in the county at 25.9% are sales and office jobs.

Michigan: Livingston County

- Median household income: $80,897 (30.6% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 71,180
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.8% (55.6% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 10.7% (45.4% lower than national average)

Over the last year, the job market in Livingston County, Michigan has grown just 0.2%, but over the next 10 years, the job market is expected to grow 38.8%, outpacing the national average of 33.5%. Residents in Livingston County also enjoy lower tax rates. The sales tax rate in the area is 6% while the national average is 7.3%, and the income tax rate is 4.3% compared to the national average of 4.6%.

Minnesota: Carver County

- Median household income: $97,895 (58.1% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 35,852
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.8% (55.6% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 8.6% (56.1% lower than national average)

Carver County, Minn., has one of the highest median household incomes in the state of Minnesota. Currently, there are 37,795 jobs located in Carver County, with the top three industries based on employment being manufacturing, health care and social assistance, and retail trade.

Mississippi: Madison County

- Median household income: $71,690 (15.7% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 39,020
- Households making less than $10,000: 5.6% (11.1% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 15.5% (20.9% lower than national average)

Madison County, Mississippi is located just outside of Jackson, and has proved a popular place to live: the population of the county has grown 8.1% over the last five years. The unemployment rate in the county is just 3.4%, which makes sense given that the county is home to over 560 restaurants, 485 retail establishments, and 31 museums.

Missouri: St. Charles County

- Median household income: $81,411 (31.4% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 144,643
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.6% (58.7% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 10.3% (47.4% lower than national average)

St. Charles County, Missouri is the fastest growing suburb of St. Louis and is home to several American companies large and small, including General Motors, Citi, Mastercard, Boeing, and Enterprise. In all, there are about 9,000 total employers in St. Charles County, some of which also include nonprofits, like school districts and hospitals.

Montana: Richland County

- Median household income: $67,272 (8.6% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 4,493
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.9% (54% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 14.3% (27% lower than national average)

Richland County, Montana tops the list of counties in the state for agricultural production, ranking #1 in the production of sugar beets and safflower. For oil production, Richland County has the second-highest output in Montana, and the barley industry is growing fast, coming in at #8. The town of Sidney in Richland County is home to one of the region’s major shopping centers and also boasts a number of medical facilities and museums.

Nebraska: Sarpy County

- Median household income: $79,549 (28.4% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 65,045
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.8% (55.6% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 9.9% (49.5% lower than national average)

Sarpy County, Nebraska knows a thing or two about economic development: just last year, it scored its eighth data center when Google announced that it would build a $600 million data center within the county. In fact, the operation of the data centers in Sarpy County has resulted in a statewide economic impact of $522 million, and has resulted in 1,900 jobs. Fidelity, Facebook, Yahoo, and Travelers also have data centers in the county.

Nevada: Lander County

- Median household income: $93,583 (51.1% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 2,087
- Households making less than $10,000: 7.5% (19% higher than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 18.2% (7.1% lower than national average)

Lander County is the wealthiest county in Nevada for a reason. The county is responsible for 75% of the total gold production in the United States, and other mines within the county produce silver, copper, and iron. The Greystone Mine is the largest barite operation in the country and produces tons of the mineral used in oil production each year. The Lander Economic Development Authority even helps companies site search, train employees, and analyze tax incentives.

New Hampshire: Rockingham County

- Median household income: $90,429 (46% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 120,147
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.6% (58.7% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 10.1% (48.5% lower than national average)

About 172,000 people are employed in Rockingham County, New Hampshire with the largest industries being health care and social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Meanwhile, the highest-paying industry is the utility industry, where workers earn an average annual salary of $110,888, followed by the rental and leasing industry and the finance, insurance, and real estate industries.

New Jersey: Hunterdon County

- Median household income: $112,535 (81.7% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 47,180
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.8% (55.6% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 8.7% (55.6% lower than national average)

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Hunterdon County, New Jersey grew 12.2%, and as of 2017, there were 49,069 people employed in the county and 3,813 total businesses. Retail sales generated the most revenue in the county earlier in the decade in 2012 compared to other industries, raking in $2,349,986, followed by manufacturer shipments, which generated $1,400,241.

New Mexico: Los Alamos County

- Median household income: $115,248 (86.1% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 7,567
- Households making less than $10,000: 3.7% (41.3% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 8.7% (55.6% lower than national average)

More than half of the population in Los Alamos County, New Mexico at 54.3%, works in the professional, scientific and management, and administrative and waste industries. Meanwhile, 16.3% of residents work in educational services or health care and social assistance. The Los Alamos National Laboratory is the area’s top employer with more than 10,500 employees. Many people who have previously worked at the laboratory have also developed start-ups.

New York: Nassau County

- Median household income: $111,240 (79.6% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 445,517
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.9% (54% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 9.9% (49.5% lower than national average)

From March 2019 to April 2019, the unemployment rate in Nassau County, New York decreased from 3.3% to 2.9%, the lowest unemployment rate in the county in 20 years, making it one of the lowest rates overall in New York. In particular, leisure and hospitality employment are on the rise in the area, and was predicted to grow 3.7% in 2019 and 0.8% in 2020. In the summer, the Long Island county generates about $722 million from tax revenues alone.

North Carolina: Wake County

- Median household income: $76,956 (24.2% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 390,498
- Households making less than $10,000: 3.5% (44.4% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 12.6% (35.7% lower than national average)

From 2001 to 2018, the labor force in Wake County, North Carolina has grown from 374,836 people to 575,035 people. The most common industry in the county is the government, which employs 15.3% of Wake County residents, followed by retail trade and healthcare and social assistance, which employ 11% and 10.6% of residents respectively. The least common industries are mining and quarrying, as well as agriculture and forestry.

North Dakota: Williams County

- Median household income: $86,575 (39.8% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 13,695
- Households making less than $10,000: 3.5% (44.4% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 10.4% (46.9% lower than national average)

Williams County, North Dakota has an extremely low unemployment rate, at just 1.5%, down from an already low 1.8% in 2018. North Dakota as a whole, in comparison, has an unemployment rate of 2.1%. People living in Williams County are also spending their earnings and keeping the area’s economy strong: taxable sales in the fourth quarter in 2019 were up 15.54%.

Ohio: Delaware County

- Median household income: $104,322 (68.4% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 68,649
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.5% (60.3% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 8% (59.2% lower than national average)

Almost 100,000 people have jobs in Delaware County, Ohio, with most them working in health care and social assistance, finance and insurance, and retail trade. The highest-paying industry, though, is mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, where workers earn an average annual salary of $250,001. The average male living in Delaware County earns $61,819 per year, while the average woman makes $45,809.

Oklahoma: Canadian County

- Median household income: $71,157 (14.9% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 44,633
- Households making less than $10,000: 3.6% (42.9% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 12.6% (35.7% lower than national average)

A suburb of Oklahoma City, Canadian County combines both urban and rural settings, offering a unique blend of business and industry. The county has high-ranked schools and is home to Canadian Valley Technology Center, the top career-technology network in the country. Plus, the cost of living in the county is just 80% of the national average.

Oregon: Washington County

- Median household income: $78,010 (26% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 216,507
- Households making less than $10,000: 3.5% (44.4% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 12.5% (36.2% lower than national average)

Washington County is a suburb of Portland, Oregon that serves as the world headquarters for several large companies including Intel, IBM, and Nike. Intel even invested $25 billion in the county in 2005. As the second-largest county in Oregon, the population blossomed at the turn of the century and grew 15% from 2000 to 2007. The area has become synonymous with technological innovation and has particularly attracted the biotechnology industry.

Pennsylvania: Chester County

- Median household income: $96,726 (56.2% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 189,592
- Households making less than $10,000: 3% (52.4% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 10.5% (46.4% lower than national average)

Some top employers in Chester County, Pennsylvania are Vanguard, Giant Food Stores, Wal-Mart, Johnson & Johnson, and Wawa. As such, Chester County claims to be within a day’s drive of 25% of the country’s consumer buying power. Manufacturing jobs comprise 23.1% of the workforce in the county, and major manufacturers in the area include Sunoco, Herr’s, and Graco.

Rhode Island: Washington County

- Median household income: $81,301 (31.3% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 49,111
- Households making less than $10,000: 4.4% (30.2% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 15.1% (23% lower than national average)

With a population of 126,000 people, Washington County, Rhode Island employs 64,600 people, with the most prevalent industries in the county being health care and social assistance, educational services, and retail trade. The highest-paying industry in Washington County is the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industry, which pays an average annual salary of $152,750. Other high-paying industries include utilities and professional, scientific, and technical services.

South Carolina: Beaufort County

- Median household income: $63,110 (1.9% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 70,607
- Households making less than $10,000: 5.1% (19% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 16.6% (15.3% lower than national average)

The regional economy in Beaufort County, South Carolina is largely comprised of the medical and hospitality industries, but also includes several defense contracting businesses, aerospace and automotive manufacturers, forest products, and food processing. The coastal county’s proximity to both Charleston and Savannah are also favorable to both small and large entrepreneurs.

South Dakota: Lincoln County

- Median household income: $81,422 (31.5% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 19,294
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.4% (61.9% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 8.6% (56.1% lower than national average)

Lincoln County, South Dakota has an unemployment rate well below the national average at just 2.4%, and has experienced a 1.7% increase in jobs over the past year. Meanwhile, over the next ten years, job growth is expected to increase 39.6%. Lincoln County also has no income tax, and a 6.5% sales tax, which is lower than the national average.

Tennessee: Williamson County

- Median household income: $109,026 (76% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 75,344
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.4% (61.9% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 7.9% (59.7% lower than national average)

Williamson County, Tennessee boasts the lowest county tax out of all the Nashville suburbs, and Tennessee itself has no income tax. Out of the top 25 largest publicly traded companies in the Nashville area, 12 are stationed in Williamson County, including Nissan, Verizon, and Mars. The county claims that more than 54% of its residents are college graduates, and 21% are entrepreneurs.

Texas: Fort Bend County

- Median household income: $95,561 (54.3% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 230,381
- Households making less than $10,000: 3.1% (50.8% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 9.7% (50.5% lower than national average)

Between 2017 and 2018, the median household income in Fort Bend County, Texas, rose 1.2%, and that number has continued to be on the upswing. The largest industry in the county is health care and social assistance, which employs 57,656 people, followed by retail trade, and educational services. The highest-paying industries in the county are jobs in the management of companies, mining and quarrying, and agriculture and forestry.

Utah: Summit County

- Median household income: $100,453 (62.2% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 14,555
- Households making less than $10,000: 4.6% (27% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 10.3% (47.4% lower than national average)

Most employment that isn’t agricultural-related in Summit County, Utah, is in the leisure or the hospitality industry, since the county is home to hot tourist destinations such as Park City. In the 2016–2017 year, the leisure and hospitality industries employed 37% of the county’s workforce, and is still the #1 employer. Overall employment in the county has increased 11% in the last five years and 17% in the last 10 years.

Vermont: Chittenden County

- Median household income: $69,896 (12.9% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 65,400
- Households making less than $10,000: 4.5% (28.6% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 16.7% (14.8% lower than national average)

The average resident of Chittenden County, Vermont earns $33,881 per year, and the county overall enjoys a low unemployment rate of just 2.1%. Out of the entire workforce in the county, 15.6% work in educational services, while 15.4% work in health care and social assistance, and 11.4% work in retail trade.

Virginia: Loudoun County

- Median household income: $136,268 (120% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 125,309
- Households making less than $10,000: 1.6% (74.6% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 4.9% (75% lower than national average)

Loudoun County, Virginia has had the highest median household income in the United States since 2007, and has been named a top location for households between the ages of 25 and 34 earning at least a six-figure annual salary or more. Data centers are a particularly strong source of economic success in Loudoun County and currently occupy 10 million square feet in the county while another 3 million square feet are either being planned or developed.

Washington: King County

- Median household income: $89,418 (44.4% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 865,627
- Households making less than $10,000: 4.6% (27% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 12.6% (35.7% lower than national average)

King County, Washington is home to about 1.44 million jobs, including over 100,000 jobs in the industries of professional and business services, education and health services, government, retail trade, leisure and hospitality, and information and manufacturing. And from 2017 to 2018, each of those major industries expanded, except for the government.

West Virginia: Jefferson County

- Median household income: $76,503 (23.5% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 20,895
- Households making less than $10,000: 4.5% (28.6% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 15.4% (21.4% lower than national average)

Jefferson County, West Virginia is responsible for 20% of West Virginia’s tourism revenue, and many large businesses are planning their moves to the county. The company Rockwool built a $150 million manufacturing facility in the county in 2018, while Nestle Waters also opened a new distribution center in the county the same year. Even the county’s firemen have gotten in on the action, scoring a 20% across-the-board raise in 2018.

Wisconsin: Waukesha County

- Median household income: $84,331 (36.2% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 157,548
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.6% (58.7% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 11.2% (42.9% lower than national average)

Waukesha County, Wisconsin employs 214,000 people, and the largest industries in the county include manufacturing, health care and social assistance, and retail trade. The highest paying jobs in Waukesha County are management jobs, which pay an average annual salary of $86,698. Utility and wholesale trade jobs are also high paying, earning $85,986 and $76,561 annually, respectively.

Wyoming: Teton County

- Median household income: $83,831 (35.3% higher than national average)
- Total number of households: 9,158
- Households making less than $10,000: 2.2% (65.1% lower than national average)
- Households making less than $25,000: 10.8% (44.9% lower than national average)

Teton County, Wyoming residents can take advantage of no income tax and just a 6% sales tax, which is lower than the national average sales tax of 7.3%. The average Teton County resident earns $43,628 per year, and almost a quarter of the county’s workforce at 21.5% works in the accommodation and food services industry, while 11.4% work in the healthcare and social assistance industries, and a grand total of 0% work in the management industry.

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