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Rich Places Visualizing the 3 counties with the highest median household incomes in each state The 2012 - 2016 American Community Survey, is a massive five-year study conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. Among the data collected in this survey is the median household income for every county in the U.S. Recently I dug up some data from this survey to find out which counties had the highest income in each state. In the map below, the three counties with the highest median household income in each state are shown in blue. Hover over or click on individual counties to see their median household income, along with their population size.

Visualizing County Incomes

The dot plot below shows the median household incomes for the three highest income counties in each state:

Counties with Stories

It's fascinating to see what is considered a "high income county" from state to state. For example, the median household income in Loudoun County, Virginia is $125,672, which is more than double that of Maricopa County, the county with the highest median household income ($55,676) in Arizona.

It's also interesting to see how the location of these counties on the map indicate the type of economy that exists in that area.

For example, Los Alamos County, New Mexico has a median household income of $105,902 likely because it's the home of the U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory, which employs many scientists and engineers.

Another interesting spot on the map is Williams County, North Dakota, which has a median household income of $90,080 due the booming oil industry in that region.

Along the west coast the counties with the highest median household incomes are all located near major cities like Seattle, Oregon, and San Francisco.

Similarly, along the east coast the counties with the highest median household incomes are all located near major cities like Washington D.C., Boston, and New York City.

And among the states not located along the coasts we see that the highest income counties are near major cities like Minneapolis, Minnesota, Denver, Colorado, Chicago, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri.

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Technical Notes: I downloaded data for these visuals directly from the U.S. Census American FactFinder. I used D3.js, a JavaScript visualization library, to create the map and the dot plot.

state,id,Geography,county,population,medianHouseholdIncome Virginia,51107,"Loudoun County, Virginia",Loudoun County,362435,125672 Virginia,51610,"Falls Church city, Virginia",Falls Church city,13597,115244 Virginia,51059,"Fairfax County, Virginia",Fairfax County,1132887,114329 Maryland,24027,"Howard County, Maryland",Howard County,308447,113800 Maryland,24031,"Montgomery County, Maryland",Montgomery County,1026371,100352 Maryland,24009,"Calvert County, Maryland",Calvert County,90527,96808 New Jersey,34019,"Hunterdon County, New Jersey",Hunterdon County,125708,108177 New Jersey,34027,"Morris County, New Jersey",Morris County,498215,102798 New Jersey,34035,"Somerset County, New Jersey",Somerset County,331686,102405 New Mexico,35028,"Los Alamos County, New Mexico",Los Alamos County,17895,105902 New Mexico,35043,"Sandoval County, New Mexico",Sandoval County,138117,60158 New Mexico,35015,"Eddy County, New Mexico",Eddy County,56369,59625 Colorado,8035,"Douglas County, Colorado",Douglas County,314238,105759 Colorado,8039,"Elbert County, Colorado",Elbert County,24225,87288 Colorado,8014,"Broomfield County, Colorado",Broomfield County,62449,83334 New York,36059,"Nassau County, New York",Nassau County,1356801,102044 New York,36079,"Putnam County, New York",Putnam County,99408,97606 New York,36103,"Suffolk County, New York",Suffolk County,1498130,90128 California,6085,"Santa Clara County, California",Santa Clara County,1885056,101173 California,6041,"Marin County, California",Marin County,259358,100310 California,6081,"San Mateo County, California",San Mateo County,754748,98546 Tennessee,47187,"Williamson County, Tennessee",Williamson County,205645,100140 Tennessee,47189,"Wilson County, Tennessee",Wilson County,125616,63426 Tennessee,47165,"Sumner County, Tennessee",Sumner County,172786,58972 Ohio,39041,"Delaware County, Ohio",Delaware County,188996,94234 Ohio,39165,"Warren County, Ohio",Warren County,222184,76200 Ohio,39055,"Geauga County, Ohio",Geauga County,94020,74165 Georgia,13117,"Forsyth County, Georgia",Forsyth County,203841,91842 Georgia,13113,"Fayette County, Georgia",Fayette County,109495,81689 Georgia,13219,"Oconee County, Georgia",Oconee County,35071,75946 Utah,49043,"Summit County, Utah",Summit County,39009,91470 Utah,49029,"Morgan County, Utah",Morgan County,10645,80865 Utah,49009,"Daggett County, Utah",Daggett County,751,75938 Texas,48157,"Fort Bend County, Texas",Fort Bend County,683756,91152 Texas,48397,"Rockwall County, Texas",Rockwall County,88010,89161 Texas,48085,"Collin County, Texas",Collin County,886633,86188 Massachusetts,25021,"Norfolk County, Massachusetts",Norfolk County,691218,90226 Massachusetts,25019,"Nantucket County, Massachusetts",Nantucket County,10694,89428 Massachusetts,25017,"Middlesex County, Massachusetts",Middlesex County,1567610,89019 Minnesota,27139,"Scott County, Minnesota",Scott County,139490,90198 Minnesota,27019,"Carver County, Minnesota",Carver County,97143,88638 Minnesota,27163,"Washington County, Minnesota",Washington County,248745,86689 North Dakota,38105,"Williams County, North Dakota",Williams County,31643,90080 North Dakota,38053,"McKenzie County, North Dakota",McKenzie County,10718,78179 North Dakota,38089,"Stark County, North Dakota",Stark County,29837,76817 Pennsylvania,42029,"Chester County, Pennsylvania",Chester County,512028,88995 Pennsylvania,42091,"Montgomery County, Pennsylvania",Montgomery County,815876,81902 Pennsylvania,42017,"Bucks County, Pennsylvania",Bucks County,626220,79559 Alaska,2060,"Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska",Bristol Bay Borough,942,88000 Alaska,2110,"Juneau City and Borough, Alaska",Juneau City and Borough,32524,87436 Alaska,2016,"Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska",Aleutians West Census Area,5714,86964 Indiana,18057,"Hamilton County, Indiana",Hamilton County,303042,87782 Indiana,18063,"Hendricks County, Indiana",Hendricks County,155817,73042 Indiana,18011,"Boone County, Indiana",Boone County,61884,72774 Connecticut,9001,"Fairfield County, Connecticut",Fairfield County,941618,86670 Connecticut,9013,"Tolland County, Connecticut",Tolland County,151689,80129 Connecticut,9007,"Middlesex County, Connecticut",Middlesex County,164438,79837 Kentucky,21185,"Oldham County, Kentucky",Oldham County,63876,86324 Kentucky,21015,"Boone County, Kentucky",Boone County,125656,69165 Kentucky,21215,"Spencer County, Kentucky",Spencer County,17798,65700 Illinois,17093,"Kendall County, Illinois",Kendall County,121452,85736 Illinois,17043,"DuPage County, Illinois",DuPage County,930514,81521 Illinois,17097,"Lake County, Illinois",Lake County,702890,79886 New Hampshire,33015,"Rockingham County, New Hampshire",Rockingham County,300365,82398 New Hampshire,33011,"Hillsborough County, New Hampshire",Hillsborough County,404948,73189 New Hampshire,33013,"Merrimack County, New Hampshire",Merrimack County,147715,67181 Wyoming,56005,"Campbell County, Wyoming",Campbell County,48473,80822 Wyoming,56035,"Sublette County, Wyoming",Sublette County,10032,76004 Wyoming,56039,"Teton County, Wyoming",Teton County,22623,75594 Iowa,19049,"Dallas County, Iowa",Dallas County,78074,78918 Iowa,19181,"Warren County, Iowa",Warren County,48170,67090 Iowa,19129,"Mills County, Iowa",Mills County,14841,66203 Washington,53033,"King County, Washington",King County,2079550,78800 Washington,53061,"Snohomish County, Washington",Snohomish County,758649,73528 Washington,53035,"Kitsap County, Washington",Kitsap County,257488,65017 Wisconsin,55089,"Ozaukee County, Wisconsin",Ozaukee County,87625,78415 Wisconsin,55133,"Waukesha County, Wisconsin",Waukesha County,395377,78268 Wisconsin,55109,"St. Croix County, Wisconsin",St. Croix County,86726,73743 Kansas,20091,"Johnson County, Kansas",Johnson County,572428,78186 Kansas,20103,"Leavenworth County, Kansas",Leavenworth County,78785,66046 Kansas,20121,"Miami County, Kansas",Miami County,32787,63353 Nevada,32015,"Lander County, Nevada",Lander County,5907,78077 Nevada,32007,"Elko County, Nevada",Elko County,52029,74672 Nevada,32011,"Eureka County, Nevada",Eureka County,1730,70000 South Dakota,46083,"Lincoln County, South Dakota",Lincoln County,51396,77455 South Dakota,46127,"Union County, South Dakota",Union County,14842,63890 South Dakota,46045,"Edmunds County, South Dakota",Edmunds County,4000,62467 Hawaii,15003,"Honolulu County, Hawaii",Honolulu County,986999,77161 Hawaii,15009,"Maui County, Hawaii",Maui County,162456,68777 Hawaii,15007,"Kauai County, Hawaii",Kauai County,70447,68224 Michigan,26093,"Livingston County, Michigan",Livingston County,185841,76764 Michigan,26125,"Oakland County, Michigan",Oakland County,1235215,69850 Michigan,26037,"Clinton County, Michigan",Clinton County,77245,62646 Missouri,29183,"St. Charles County, Missouri",St. Charles County,379856,75603 Missouri,29165,"Platte County, Missouri",Platte County,94970,70879 Missouri,29047,"Clay County, Missouri",Clay County,233135,63702 Rhode Island,44009,"Washington County, Rhode Island",Washington County,126319,74302 Rhode Island,44001,"Bristol County, Rhode Island",Bristol County,49228,73096 Rhode Island,44005,"Newport County, Rhode Island",Newport County,82714,71347 Alabama,1117,"Shelby County, Alabama",Shelby County,205951,72310 Alabama,1089,"Madison County, Alabama",Madison County,349973,60150 Alabama,1115,"St. Clair County, Alabama",St. Clair County,86576,54042 Nebraska,31153,"Sarpy County, Nebraska",Sarpy County,172460,72269 Nebraska,31177,"Washington County, Nebraska",Washington County,20338,65565 Nebraska,31025,"Cass County, Nebraska",Cass County,25463,65385 Louisiana,22005,"Ascension Parish, Louisiana",Ascension Parish,117009,71752 Louisiana,22023,"Cameron Parish, Louisiana",Cameron Parish,6739,65679 Louisiana,22103,"St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana",St. Tammany Parish,246269,63686 North Carolina,37183,"Wake County, North Carolina",Wake County,998576,70620 North Carolina,37179,"Union County, North Carolina",Union County,217614,67194 North Carolina,37135,"Orange County, North Carolina",Orange County,139807,61130 West Virginia,54037,"Jefferson County, West Virginia",Jefferson County,55531,69753 West Virginia,54003,"Berkeley County, West Virginia",Berkeley County,110173,57148 West Virginia,54079,"Putnam County, West Virginia",Putnam County,56743,56640 Oregon,41067,"Washington County, Oregon",Washington County,564088,69743 Oregon,41005,"Clackamas County, Oregon",Clackamas County,394967,68915 Oregon,41051,"Multnomah County, Oregon",Multnomah County,778193,57449 Florida,12109,"St. Johns County, Florida",St. Johns County,218362,69523 Florida,12113,"Santa Rosa County, Florida",Santa Rosa County,163903,60652 Florida,12087,"Monroe County, Florida",Monroe County,77150,60303 Oklahoma,40017,"Canadian County, Oklahoma",Canadian County,129571,66664 Oklahoma,40073,"Kingfisher County, Oklahoma",Kingfisher County,15392,62912 Oklahoma,40131,"Rogers County, Oklahoma",Rogers County,89970,59828 Vermont,50007,"Chittenden County, Vermont",Chittenden County,160510,66414 Vermont,50013,"Grand Isle County, Vermont",Grand Isle County,6945,64295 Vermont,50001,"Addison County, Vermont",Addison County,36926,61020 Delaware,10003,"New Castle County, Delaware",New Castle County,551997,66283 Delaware,10001,"Kent County, Delaware",Kent County,171474,55184 Delaware,10005,"Sussex County, Delaware",Sussex County,211224,54218 Mississippi,28089,"Madison County, Mississippi",Madison County,101791,65924 Mississippi,28033,"DeSoto County, Mississippi",DeSoto County,170890,60111 Mississippi,28121,"Rankin County, Mississippi",Rankin County,147930,59370 Montana,30083,"Richland County, Montana",Richland County,11392,65638 Montana,30043,"Jefferson County, Montana",Jefferson County,11601,62939 Montana,30095,"Stillwater County, Montana",Stillwater County,9342,59603 Maine,23005,"Cumberland County, Maine",Cumberland County,288204,61902 Maine,23031,"York County, Maine",York County,200536,59132 Maine,23023,"Sagadahoc County, Maine",Sagadahoc County,35134,55766 South Carolina,45013,"Beaufort County, South Carolina",Beaufort County,175316,59227 South Carolina,45091,"York County, South Carolina",York County,245606,56482 South Carolina,45035,"Dorchester County, South Carolina",Dorchester County,148517,56345 Arkansas,5007,"Benton County, Arkansas",Benton County,245231,59016 Arkansas,5125,"Saline County, Arkansas",Saline County,115577,57632 Arkansas,5085,"Lonoke County, Arkansas",Lonoke County,71279,56156 Idaho,16081,"Teton County, Idaho",Teton County,10437,58173 Idaho,16001,"Ada County, Idaho",Ada County,425798,58099 Idaho,16013,"Blaine County, Idaho",Blaine County,21427,58086 Arizona,4013,"Maricopa County, Arizona",Maricopa County,4088549,55676 Arizona,4011,"Greenlee County, Arizona",Greenlee County,9224,51813 Arizona,4021,"Pinal County, Arizona",Pinal County,397604,51190