One of the great advantages to living in Northern Virginia is the fact that incomes are consistently higher here than in other parts of the county. It’s a fact backed up by the U.S. Census Bureau. Recent data emerged showing that Fairfax County incomes stayed fairly stable since last year, and that other nearby counties had incomes higher than the state median. Across the nation, many metro areas saw increases in average incomes, showing signs of positive financial change in Americans’ lives for the first time since the Great Recession.
According to the American Community Survey, Fairfax County saw the median household income increase to $113,208 in 2015, up just a bit from $110,674 in 2014. The jump is considered to be within the survey's margin of error, making it statistically insignificant. Virginia saw an overall increase in median household income, but it was still well below that of Fairfax, coming in at $66,262. Other Northern Virginia counties came out high as well. Loudoun County's median household income settled at a lofty $125,003 in 2015, and Prince William County’s ended up at $99,766 — a marked increase over the previous year.
The indices of incomes are important for more than just bragging rights. "The American Community Survey allows us to track incremental changes across our nation on how Americans live and work, year-to-year," Census Bureau Director John H. Thompson stated in a quote issued by the Reston Patch. "It helps people, businesses and governments in all of our states and local communities better understand the needs of their populations, the markets in which they operate and the challenges and opportunities they face."
America, overall, saw a rosier picture income-wise than it has in the past. Out of the country’s 25 largest metro areas, 21 out of 25 saw the median income rise. Of the same 25 areas, 16 saw poverty decrease. Nationwide figures released earlier this week were indicative of the fact that the United States had witnessed an annual increase in household incomes for the first time since 2007, the year previous to the Great Recession. The States also witnessed the biggest yearly lowering in the poverty rate since 1999.
The ACS is surveyed and the results released monthly, as per a Census statement, with income data collected for the twelve months (once calendar year) before the interview. Data released recently, including that about Fairfax and other NoVA counties, included states and communities with a population larger than 65,000. In December a more comprehensive report including income and poverty levels over the last five years will be released.
