Loudoun ranks as nation's wealthiest county

WASHINGTON - It may not seem like it after you pay all the bills, but incomes in the Greater Washington area are among the highest in the nation.

The region comes in No. 2 in median household income, with 10 of region's counties in the top 20 nationwide. The region's median household income of $83,200 is 64 percent above the national average of $50,740.

In the No. 1 spot is San Jose, Calif., with a median household income of $83,793. The metro region with the No. 3 ranking is San Francisco.

On the county level, Loudoun County, Va., has the highest median household income in the country at $107,207. The ranking used to belong to Fairfax County, which fell to second with a median income of $105,241. Howard County, Md., ranked No. 3 with a median income of $101,672.

Matt Erskine, executive director of the Greater Washington Initiative, says the report is a good indication of the region's economic strength.

"This shows that we are attracted to the best and brightest."

Other local counties in the top 20 include the following:

• Calvert County, Md. -- No. 6 ($95,134);
• Arlington County, Va. -- No. 7 ($94,876);
• Montgomery County -- No. 10 ($91,835);
• Stafford County -- No. 12 ($87,629);
• Prince William County -- No. 13 ($87,423);
• Fauquier County -- No. 14 ($84,888);
• Charles County -- No. 20 ($83,412).

The report's rankings are based on 2007 Census data.

The report does not factor in the cost of living in the Washington area, which is the fifth-highest in the nation.

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