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Greater Washington Ranks #2 in Median Household Income
Seven Counties in Top 15 Nationally

Washington , DC, August 30, 2007 – Greater Washington now ranks second in the nation (behind San Jose) among U.S. metropolitan regions in median household income, according to recently released U.S. Census data.

Greater Washington’s median household income ($78,978) is 39% above the national average.  If San Jose and San Francisco (which ranked 3rd) were combined into one metropolitan area that compared more closely in population, Greater Washington would rank st nationally.

In June, the Greater Washington Initiative released its 2007 Regional Report that included a forecast showing a 16.5% increase in median household income by 2012 to $86,980, propelling Greater Washington into st place nationally.

Currently, nearly 38% of households in Greater Washington have incomes higher than $100,000, compared to 18% nationally, and the Greater Washington Initiative’s forecast expects this total to increase to 42% by 2012.

“In addition to spotlighting our region’s economic strength, this latest data provides an incredibly strong indicator of the region’s attractiveness to the knowledge workforce. Greater Washington continues to attract and retain the best and brightest, and they are well compensated for it,” said Steven Pedigo, Director of Research for the Greater Washington Initiative.

Not surprisingly, Greater Washington boasts seven counties in the top 15 nationally. Fairfax County, VA ($100,318) has the highest median household income and represents the first time any U.S. county has surpassed six figures. Other Greater Washington counties include Loudoun County, VA ($99,371 - #2); Howard County, MD ($94,260 - #3); Montgomery County, MD ($87,624 - #8); Arlington County, VA ($87,350 - #9); Stafford County, VA ($85,014 - #11); and Calvert County, MD ($84,891 - #12).

Median Household Income –   Regionally

Rank

Region

Median Household Income

% of Households with Median Household Income Over 100K

1

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA  Metro Area

$80,638

39.6%

2

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV  Metro Area

$78,978

37.9%

3

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont , CA   Metro Area

$70,463

33.9%

4

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy , MA -NH  Metro Area

$64,144

29.2%

5

Minneapolis-St. Paul- Bloomington, MN-WI  Metro Area

$62,223

24.6%

6

Baltimore-Towson , MD   Metro Area

$61,010

26.1%

7

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue , WA   Metro Area

$60,663

24.3%

8

San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA  Metro Area

$59,591

25.6%

9

New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA  Metro Area

$59,281

27.5%

10

Chicago-Naperville-Joliet , IL-IN-WI   Metro Area

$57,008

23.3%


Source: U.S. Census, American Community Survey, 2006.

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The Greater Washington Initiative ( GWI) is the regional economic development marketing organization that promotes the area encompassing the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland as a premier business location. GWI is an affiliate of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. For more information, visit www.greaterwashington.org .

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Greater Washington Initiative
(202) 857-5999