Special Report

The Richest County in Every State

Alex Potemkin / Getty Images

Median 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.

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Alabama

[in-text-ad]

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

See all stories featuring: Alaska

Zeb Micelli / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Arizona

Brandonrush / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Arkansas

[in-text-ad-2]

SpVVK / iStock

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

See all stories featuring: California

SWKrullImaging / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: Colorado

[in-text-ad]

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Connecticut

JERRYE and ROY KLOTZ MD / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Delaware

GabrielPevide / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: Florida

[in-text-ad-2]

Thomson200 / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

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

See all stories featuring: Georgia

segawa7 / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: Hawaii

[in-text-ad]

mtcurado / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: Idaho

IvoShandor / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Illinois

Jose A Perez / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: Indiana

[in-text-ad-2]

Stephen Matthew Milligan / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Iowa

Stephen Edmonds / Flickr

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

See all stories featuring: Kansas

[in-text-ad]

dadonk / iStock

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

See all stories featuring: Kentucky

BOB WESTON / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: Louisiana

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: Maine

[in-text-ad-2]

AppalachianViews / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: Maryland

Kenneth Wiedemann / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: Massachusetts

[in-text-ad]

Dwight Burdette / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Michigan

Bobak Ha'Eri / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Minnesota

Bill Herndon / Flickr

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

See all stories featuring: Mississippi

[in-text-ad-2]

Kbh3rd / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Missouri

Tim Kiser / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Montana

[in-text-ad]

Atomic Energy505 / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Nebraska

Visitor7 / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Nevada

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: New Hampshire

[in-text-ad-2]

KenWiedemann / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: New Jersey

Dean_Fikar / oStpcl

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

See all stories featuring: New Mexico

[in-text-ad]

alarico / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: New York

Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: North Carolina

chamey / iStock

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

See all stories featuring: North Dakota

[in-text-ad-2]

Nyttend / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Ohio

katsrcool / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Oklahoma

[in-text-ad]

M.O. Stevens / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Oregon

Robert Kirk / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: Pennsylvania

Swampyank / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Rhode Island

[in-text-ad-2]

fallbrook / iStock

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

See all stories featuring: South Carolina

BOB WESTON / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: South Dakota

[in-text-ad]

csfotoimages / iStock

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

See all stories featuring: Tennessee

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

See all stories featuring: Texas

J. Stephen Conn / Flickr

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

See all stories featuring: Utah

[in-text-ad-2]

hstiver / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: Vermont

Jacqueline Nix / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: Virginia

[in-text-ad]

aiisha5 / Getty Images

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

See all stories featuring: Washington

Mark Fickett / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: West Virginia

James Steakley / Wikimedia Commons

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

See all stories featuring: Wisconsin

[in-text-ad-2]

Justinreznick / iStock

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

 

See all stories featuring: Wyoming

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.

Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)

Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.

Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.

Click here now to get started.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.