Washington Area Richest In Nation Last Year

The Washington region ranks as the wealthiest metropolitan area in the country, with half of the top 10 -- and four of the top five -- richest counties located in Maryland and Virginia.

Census data released Thursday show that it still pays to live in the nation's hub of lobbyists and government contractors, with its cocoon of federal government jobs holding steady in a slowly rebounding economy.

Loudoun County's median household income reached $119,540 last year, towering above the next closest, Fairfax County at $103,010 and followed by Maryland's Howard County at $101,771. Arlington County rounded out the top five with a median household income of $94,986 and Prince William County's was $92,655, ranking ninth.

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