Where do the highest-earning households in America live? Not just in the cities you would expect. While coastal metros dominate the top of the list, some suburban and exurban counties quietly outpace famous names.
We analyzed U.S. Census Bureau data for every county in America to rank the 25 with the highest median household income. The national median is $74,755 — every county on this list exceeds that by a wide margin.
The 25 Highest-Income Counties in America
Ranked by median household income from highest to lowest.
| Rank | County | State | Median Income | Per Capita Income | Median Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loudoun County | Virginia | $181,765 | $71,986 | $743,800 |
| 2 | Santa Clara County | California | $164,281 | $80,312 | $1,490,600 |
| 3 | San Mateo County | California | $158,855 | $84,288 | $1,559,600 |
| 4 | Fairfax County | Virginia | $153,637 | $71,828 | $732,800 |
| 5 | Howard County | Maryland | $149,763 | $67,501 | $597,900 |
| 6 | Douglas County | Colorado | $149,594 | $69,608 | $713,600 |
| 7 | Marin County | California | $149,091 | $93,920 | $1,507,300 |
| 8 | Los Alamos County | New Mexico | $147,139 | $74,704 | $495,800 |
| 9 | Nassau County | New York | $146,202 | $64,198 | $684,700 |
| 10 | Forsyth County | Georgia | $143,784 | $58,249 | $550,400 |
| 11 | Falls Church city | Virginia | $143,262 | $88,790 | $1,055,600 |
| 12 | Arlington County | Virginia | $142,114 | $90,786 | $895,000 |
| 13 | Hunterdon County | New Jersey | $141,715 | $72,227 | $517,200 |
| 14 | San Francisco County | California | $140,970 | $92,289 | $1,394,500 |
| 15 | Somerset County | New Jersey | $140,374 | $72,193 | $552,100 |
| 16 | Nantucket County | Massachusetts | $139,688 | $77,014 | $1,593,800 |
| 17 | Summit County | Utah | $138,114 | $79,376 | $1,067,700 |
| 18 | Stafford County | Virginia | $137,807 | $53,157 | $485,100 |
| 19 | Morris County | New Jersey | $137,326 | $71,044 | $582,500 |
| 20 | Williamson County | Tennessee | $135,594 | $66,219 | $751,900 |
| 21 | Aleutians West Census Area | Alaska | $135,500 | $57,451 | $434,700 |
| 22 | Calvert County | Maryland | $133,922 | $57,710 | $460,200 |
| 23 | Delaware County | Ohio | $133,540 | $61,395 | $445,500 |
| 24 | Elbert County | Colorado | $132,685 | $59,151 | $709,800 |
| 25 | Montgomery County | Maryland | $132,450 | $67,571 | $640,300 |
What Drives High Incomes in These Counties?
The highest-income counties share several characteristics:
- Proximity to major employment centers: Most are within commuting distance of major metros — Washington DC, New York, San Francisco, and Boston. High-paying federal, tech, finance, and biotech jobs cluster in these regions.
- High educational attainment: These counties typically have college graduation rates well above the national average. Education and income are tightly correlated at the county level.
- Two-income households: Median household income reflects all earners in a household. Counties with high rates of dual-income professional couples rank higher.
- Industry mix: Tech, finance, government contracting, and healthcare drive the highest salaries. Counties anchored by these industries dominate the list.
High Income Does Not Always Mean High Wealth
A crucial distinction: income is not the same as wealth. Many of the highest-income counties also have the highest housing costs. A household earning $150,000 in a county where the median home costs $800,000+ may have less disposable income and savings than a household earning $80,000 in a county where homes cost $200,000.
That is why per capita income matters as a complementary metric. It divides total income by population, giving a per-person measure that accounts for household size. A county with a high median household income but a modest per capita income likely has large households where multiple people contribute to the total.
The Income-to-Housing Gap
Look at the median home values alongside median incomes. In many of the top-25 counties, the median home value is 5-8x the median income. The traditional "affordable" benchmark is 3x income.
This means that even in the highest-income counties, housing affordability is a challenge. Many residents are house-rich but cash-poor, with a large share of income going to mortgage payments, property taxes, and maintenance.
How These Counties Compare to the National Average
The national median household income is $74,755, with a per capita income of $39,455.
The top county on this list earns $181,765 — 143% above the national median. Even county #25 on the list significantly outpaces national figures.
These income gaps reflect growing geographic inequality in the United States. High-income counties are pulling further ahead of the national average with each passing decade, concentrating prosperity in specific regions.
Methodology
All data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Counties are ranked by median household income (table B19013). Counties with suppressed or missing data were excluded.
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). All figures are estimates based on survey data and may not reflect current economic conditions.