The Richest County in Every State
January 2, 2020 by Sam StebbinsMedian household income has climbed steadily in the United States since 2014, hitting an all time high of over $63,000 in 2018. In a country of over 330 million people, however, the national median income does not often reflect incomes at a local level — and how much you earn can depend greatly on where you live.
Median household income varies considerably from state to state — from as little as $43,600 in Mississippi to as much as nearly $82,000 in Maryland — and the difference can be even greater across communities and municipalities within states. For example, in every state, there is at least one county where the median income is higher than it is nationwide.
Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed median household income in over 2,000 counties and county equivalents nationwide to identify the richest county in each state.
Many of the counties on this list — particularly those around major urban areas like New York City and Washington D.C. — have a high cost of living that necessitates higher overall incomes to some degree. However, the high incomes in these areas are also often attributable in part to the availability of jobs. In 49 of the 50 counties on this list, the unemployment rate is lower than it is across the state as a whole. Here is a look at the cities adding the most jobs.
Another factor contributing to higher incomes in the countries on this list is the skill level of the labor force. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical worker with only a high school diploma earns $749 a week — about 71% less than the median weekly wage of $1,281 for those with a bachelor’s degree. All but three counties on this list are home to a larger share of college-educated adults than the state as a whole. Here is a list of the best-educated city in each state.
Click here to see the richest county in every state.
Click here to see our methodology.
1. Alabama: Shelby County
> Median household income: $75,761 (state: $48,486)
> Poverty rate: 8.4% (state: 17.5%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 1.8% (state: 2.8%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 42.1% (state: 24.9%)
> Largest place in county: Hoover
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2. Alaska: Juneau City and Borough
> Median household income: $88,213 (state: $76,715)
> Poverty rate: 7.9% (state: 10.8%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 4.2% (state: 6.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 39.5% (state: 29.2%)
> Largest place in county: Juneau
3. Arizona: Maricopa County
> Median household income: $61,606 (state: $56,213)
> Poverty rate: 14.7% (state: 16.1%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.7% (state: 4.8%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 32.0% (state: 28.9%)
> Largest place in county: Phoenix
4. Arkansas: Benton County
> Median household income: $64,141 (state: $45,726)
> Poverty rate: 9.9% (state: 17.6%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.3% (state: 3.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 32.4% (state: 22.6%)
> Largest place in county: Rogers
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5. California: Santa Clara County
> Median household income: $116,178 (state: $71,228)
> Poverty rate: 7.9% (state: 14.3%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.2% (state: 3.9%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 51.3% (state: 33.3%)
> Largest place in county: San Jose
6. Colorado: Douglas County
> Median household income: $115,314 (state: $68,811)
> Poverty rate: 3.5% (state: 10.9%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.1% (state: 2.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 57.9% (state: 40.1%)
> Largest place in county: Highlands Ranch
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7. Connecticut: Fairfield County
> Median household income: $92,969 (state: $76,106)
> Poverty rate: 8.8% (state: 10.0%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.4% (state: 3.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 47.4% (state: 38.9%)
> Largest place in county: Bridgeport
8. Delaware: New Castle County
> Median household income: $70,996 (state: $65,627)
> Poverty rate: 11.4% (state: 11.9%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.8% (state: 3.7%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 35.9% (state: 31.4%)
> Largest place in county: Wilmington
9. Florida: St. Johns County
> Median household income: $77,323 (state: $53,267)
> Poverty rate: 8.4% (state: 14.8%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.4% (state: 3.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 43.7% (state: 29.2%)
> Largest place in county: Fruit Cove
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10. Georgia: Forsyth County
> Median household income: $101,743 (state: $55,679)
> Poverty rate: 5.9% (state: 16.0%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.5% (state: 3.4%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 51.7% (state: 30.7%)
> Largest place in county: Cumming
11. Hawaii: Honolulu County
> Median household income: $82,906 (state: $78,084)
> Poverty rate: 8.7% (state: 9.9%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.4% (state: 2.7%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 34.3% (state: 32.5%)
> Largest place in county: Honolulu
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12. Idaho: Ada County
> Median household income: $63,137 (state: $53,089)
> Poverty rate: 11.0% (state: 13.8%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.2% (state: 2.9%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 37.8% (state: 26.9%)
> Largest place in county: Boise
13. Illinois: Kendall County
> Median household income: $91,764 (state: $63,575)
> Poverty rate: 5.3% (state: 13.1%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.0% (state: 3.9%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 35.4% (state: 34.1%)
> Largest place in county: Oswego
14. Indiana: Hamilton County
> Median household income: $94,644 (state: $54,325)
> Poverty rate: 4.7% (state: 14.1%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.3% (state: 3.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 57.8% (state: 25.9%)
> Largest place in county: Carmel
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15. Iowa: Dallas County
> Median household income: $84,790 (state: $58,580)
> Poverty rate: 5.9% (state: 11.7%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 1.5% (state: 2.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 49.4% (state: 28.2%)
> Largest place in county: Waukee
16. Kansas: Johnson County
> Median household income: $84,915 (state: $57,422)
> Poverty rate: 5.6% (state: 12.4%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.5% (state: 3.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 55.3% (state: 32.9%)
> Largest place in county: Overland Park
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17. Kentucky: Oldham County
> Median household income: $97,597 (state: $48,392)
> Poverty rate: 5.5% (state: 17.9%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.8% (state: 4.3%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 42.2% (state: 23.6%)
> Largest place in county: La Grange
18. Louisiana: Ascension Parish
> Median household income: $76,589 (state: $47,942)
> Poverty rate: 11.6% (state: 19.4%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 4.1% (state: 4.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 26.8% (state: 23.7%)
> Largest place in county: Gonzales
19. Maine: Cumberland County
> Median household income: $69,708 (state: $55,425)
> Poverty rate: 9.7% (state: 12.5%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.0% (state: 2.8%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 46.7% (state: 30.9%)
> Largest place in county: Portland
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20. Maryland: Howard County
> Median household income: $117,730 (state: $81,868)
> Poverty rate: 5.4% (state: 9.4%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.5% (state: 3.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 61.4% (state: 39.6%)
> Largest place in county: Columbia
21. Massachusetts: Nantucket County
> Median household income: $105,171 (state: $77,378)
> Poverty rate: 8.6% (state: 10.8%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 1.9% (state: 2.9%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 51.7% (state: 42.9%)
> Largest place in county: Nantucket
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22. Michigan: Livingston County
> Median household income: $80,897 (state: $54,938)
> Poverty rate: 5.6% (state: 15.0%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.9% (state: 4.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 34.8% (state: 28.6%)
> Largest place in county: Howell
23. Minnesota: Carver County
> Median household income: $97,895 (state: $68,411)
> Poverty rate: 4.0% (state: 10.1%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.4% (state: 3.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 48.1% (state: 35.4%)
> Largest place in county: Chaska
24. Mississippi: Madison County
> Median household income: $71,690 (state: $43,567)
> Poverty rate: 10.9% (state: 20.8%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 4.1% (state: 5.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 47.7% (state: 21.8%)
> Largest place in county: Madison
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25. Missouri: St. Charles County
> Median household income: $81,411 (state: $53,560)
> Poverty rate: 5.6% (state: 14.2%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.0% (state: 3.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 37.8% (state: 28.6%)
> Largest place in county: St. Charles
26. Montana: Richland County
> Median household income: $67,272 (state: $52,559)
> Poverty rate: 5.4% (state: 13.7%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.8% (state: 3.4%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.0% (state: 31.2%)
> Largest place in county: Sidney
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27. Nebraska: Sarpy County
> Median household income: $79,549 (state: $59,116)
> Poverty rate: 5.4% (state: 11.6%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.8% (state: 3.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 40.1% (state: 31.3%)
> Largest place in county: Bellevue
28. Nevada: Elko County
> Median household income: $77,209 (state: $57,598)
> Poverty rate: 11.9% (state: 13.7%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.7% (state: 4.1%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 18.2% (state: 24.2%)
> Largest place in county: Elko
29. New Hampshire: Rockingham County
> Median household income: $90,429 (state: $74,057)
> Poverty rate: 4.7% (state: 7.9%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.5% (state: 2.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 40.7% (state: 36.5%)
> Largest place in county: Derry
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30. New Jersey: Hunterdon County
> Median household income: $112,535 (state: $79,363)
> Poverty rate: 4.8% (state: 10.4%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.5% (state: 3.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 52.0% (state: 38.9%)
> Largest place in county: Flemington
31. New Mexico: Los Alamos County
> Median household income: $115,248 (state: $48,059)
> Poverty rate: 5.3% (state: 20.0%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.1% (state: 4.8%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 66.5% (state: 27.1%)
> Largest place in county: Los Alamos
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32. New York: Nassau County
> Median household income: $111,240 (state: $65,323)
> Poverty rate: 5.7% (state: 14.6%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.4% (state: 4.0%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 45.2% (state: 35.9%)
> Largest place in county: Hempstead
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33. North Carolina: Wake County
> Median household income: $76,956 (state: $52,413)
> Poverty rate: 9.8% (state: 15.4%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.1% (state: 4.0%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 51.8% (state: 30.5%)
> Largest place in county: Raleigh
34. North Dakota: Williams County
> Median household income: $86,575 (state: $63,473)
> Poverty rate: 6.9% (state: 10.9%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 1.4% (state: 2.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 24.8% (state: 29.5%)
> Largest place in county: Williston
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35. Ohio: Delaware County
> Median household income: $104,322 (state: $54,533)
> Poverty rate: 4.6% (state: 14.5%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.2% (state: 4.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 54.4% (state: 27.8%)
> Largest place in county: Delaware
36. Oklahoma: Canadian County
> Median household income: $71,157 (state: $51,424)
> Poverty rate: 8.4% (state: 16.0%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.9% (state: 3.3%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 26.8% (state: 25.2%)
> Largest place in county: Oklahoma City
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37. Oregon: Washington County
> Median household income: $78,010 (state: $59,393)
> Poverty rate: 9.6% (state: 14.1%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.1% (state: 4.0%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 43.7% (state: 32.9%)
> Largest place in county: Hillsboro
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38. Pennsylvania: Chester County
> Median household income: $96,726 (state: $59,445)
> Poverty rate: 6.8% (state: 12.8%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.3% (state: 4.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 51.8% (state: 30.8%)
> Largest place in county: West Chester
39. Rhode Island: Washington County
> Median household income: $81,301 (state: $63,296)
> Poverty rate: 9.4% (state: 13.1%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.4% (state: 3.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 45.0% (state: 33.3%)
> Largest place in county: Westerly
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40. South Carolina: Beaufort County
> Median household income: $63,110 (state: $51,015)
> Poverty rate: 11.1% (state: 16.0%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 1.9% (state: 2.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 40.3% (state: 27.4%)
> Largest place in county: Hilton Head Island
41. South Dakota: Lincoln County
> Median household income: $81,422 (state: $56,499)
> Poverty rate: 3.7% (state: 13.6%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.2% (state: 3.0%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 39.4% (state: 28.5%)
> Largest place in county: Sioux Falls
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42. Tennessee: Williamson County
> Median household income: $109,026 (state: $50,972)
> Poverty rate: 4.3% (state: 16.1%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.3% (state: 3.4%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 59.0% (state: 26.6%)
> Largest place in county: Franklin
43. Texas: Fort Bend County
> Median household income: $95,561 (state: $59,570)
> Poverty rate: 7.8% (state: 15.5%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 3.3% (state: 3.4%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 46.1% (state: 29.3%)
> Largest place in county: Sugar Land
44. Utah: Summit County
> Median household income: $100,453 (state: $68,374)
> Poverty rate: 6.5% (state: 10.3%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.0% (state: 2.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 55.3% (state: 33.3%)
> Largest place in county: Park City
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45. Vermont: Chittenden County
> Median household income: $69,896 (state: $60,076)
> Poverty rate: 11.8% (state: 11.2%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 1.3% (state: 2.2%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 50.7% (state: 37.3%)
> Largest place in county: Burlington
46. Virginia: Loudoun County
> Median household income: $136,268 (state: $71,564)
> Poverty rate: 3.7% (state: 10.9%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.0% (state: 2.6%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 60.8% (state: 38.2%)
> Largest place in county: Leesburg
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47. Washington: King County
> Median household income: $89,418 (state: $70,116)
> Poverty rate: 9.5% (state: 11.5%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.7% (state: 4.5%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 51.4% (state: 35.3%)
> Largest place in county: Seattle
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48. West Virginia: Jefferson County
> Median household income: $76,503 (state: $44,921)
> Poverty rate: 9.7% (state: 17.8%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.8% (state: 4.8%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 30.8% (state: 20.3%)
> Largest place in county: Corporation of Ranson
49. Wisconsin: Waukesha County
> Median household income: $84,331 (state: $59,209)
> Poverty rate: 4.9% (state: 11.9%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.5% (state: 3.3%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 43.8% (state: 29.5%)
> Largest place in county: Waukesha
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50. Wyoming: Teton County
> Median household income: $83,831 (state: $62,268)
> Poverty rate: 7.1% (state: 11.1%)
> Oct. 2019 unemployment: 2.7% (state: 3.8%)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 57.4% (state: 26.9%)
> Largest place in county: Jackson
Methodology:
To identify the richest county in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed median annual household incomes for each U.S. county using 5-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey. We only considered counties with income estimates with a maximum 10% margin of error.
We also reviewed in each county the percentage of adults who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, poverty rate, and median home value from the ACS. Unemployment rates for October 2019 are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and are not seasonally adjusted.
County equivalents, such as parishes in Louisiana and boroughs in Alaska, were included in our analysis. Alaskan Census areas, however, which are sparsely populated andare under the purview of the state government, were excluded.
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