Community Corner

This Is The Richest City In Virginia, Analysis Says

More than 50 percent of households in Virginia's richest city make more than $200,000 each year, according to the analysis.

VIRGINIA — Vienna is the richest city in Virginia, according to an updated analysis that looks at which towns enjoy the highest median incomes in the country.

To determine the richest city in each state, writers at Stacker.com used information from the most recent Census Bureau American Community Survey Five-Year Data and ranked cities by median household income.

Any ties were broken by the percentage of people annually earning more than $200,000, according to the analysis.

Find out what's happening in Viennafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

According to the ranking, it's easy to see why Vienna has attracted wealthy residents.

"The gorgeous landscape near the Potomac River, local history, and public art offer something for everyone. The Washington D.C. suburb dates to 1742, and a train depot and general store, both built in 1859, still stand," the writers at Stacker.com said.

Find out what's happening in Viennafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Here's a look at the numbers that made Vienna the richest city in Virginia:

  • Median household income: $215,556 (186.8% more than U.S. median income)
  • Households earning over $200,000: 2,861 (52.8% of households)
  • Median earnings for workers: $96,429 (male: $165,370; female: $105,682)
  • Civilian population with health insurance: 96.2%
  • Unemployment rate: 3.6%
  • Families with income below the poverty level: 3.5%

According to the analysis, from 1963 to 2022, the richest 1 percent of American families experienced a sevenfold increase in wealth from $1.8 million to $13.6 million. During the same period, the average wealth of those in the bottom 10 percent only rose from -$23 to $450.

Because of this, wealth inequality is higher in the United States than it is in almost any other developed nation, the analysis claims.

"This is a relatively new phenomenon, with the wealth divide expanding starkly over the past half-century or so," the writers at Stacker.com said.

See the full list of richest cities by state.

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