5. Howard County, Maryland

Forbes: America's Richest Counties

Median annual household income: $103,273

A fast-growing county situated between Washington and Baltimore, Howard County’s excellent school system attracts wealthy residents.

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America’s Most Affluent Neighborhoods
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America's Riches... To determine America’s richest counties, Forbes looked at median annual household income estimates from 2006 to 2010 in each county in the nation, provided by the U.S. Census’ American Community Survey. The estimates are in 2010 inflation-adjusted U.S. dollars.

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America’s Most Affluent Neighborhoods
The World’s Richest Countries
The World’s Billionaires

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10. Morris Count... Median annual household income: $96,747

The taxes are high, but nearly 500,000 residents are willing to pay them. Many commute to New York; others work nearby for companies like Honeywell International and Pfizer.

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America’s Most Affluent Neighborhoods
The World’s Richest Countries
The World’s Billionaires

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9. Somerset Coun... Median annual household income: $97,440

One of the nation’s oldest counties was once an agricultural center, but it has evolved into a high-tax New Jersey suburb of New York City.

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America’s Most Affluent Neighborhoods
The World’s Richest Countries
The World’s Billionaires

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8. Fairfax City,... Median annual household income: $97,900.

An independent city surrounded by Fairfax County, Fairfax City is politically independent, but has benefited in a similar fashion from the boom in government spending.

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America’s Most Affluent Neighborhoods
The World’s Richest Countries
The World’s Billionaires

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7. Douglas Count... Median annual household income: $99,198

With 285,000 residents, this county south of Denver has boomed over the last decade, luring young professionals with luxury homes, planned communities and 71 square miles of permanently protected land.

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America’s Most Affluent Neighborhoods
The World’s Richest Countries
The World’s Billionaires

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6. Hunterdon Cou... Median annual household income: $100,980

Tucked in northwestern N.J., this highly-taxed rural county borders Pennsylvania and has become popular with New York commuters.

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America’s Most Affluent Neighborhoods
The World’s Richest Countries
The World’s Billionaires

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5. Howard County... Median annual household income: $103,273

A fast-growing county situated between Washington and Baltimore, Howard County’s excellent school system attracts wealthy residents.

More From Forbes:
America’s Most Affluent Neighborhoods
The World’s Richest Countries
The World’s Billionaires

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
4. Los Alamos Co... Median annual household income: $103,643

Even though it’s far from Washington, Los Alamos County’s wealth is still largely the result of federal government spending. The biggest employer in the richest county in the Western United States is the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

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America’s Most Affluent Neighborhoods
The World’s Richest Countries
The World’s Billionaires

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3. Fairfax Count... Median annual household income: $105,416

With 1.1 million residents, Fairfax is Virginia’s most populous county. The federal government fuels the economy—Fairfax is home to the CIA and National Counterterrorism Center and companies with strong government ties like Freddie Mac.

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America’s Most Affluent Neighborhoods
The World’s Richest Countries
The World’s Billionaires

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2. Falls Church ... Median annual household income: $114,409

Located about six miles away from the nation’s capital, Falls Church has a very strong school system that attracts rich families.

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America’s Most Affluent Neighborhoods
The World’s Richest Countries
The World’s Billionaires

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1.Loudoun County... Median annual household income: $115,574

The nation’s richest county used to be a sleepy rural farmland with some 300 dairy farms, but now only one dairy remains. It has benefitted from its close proximity to Washington D.C. and the boom in federal government spending.

More From Forbes:
America’s Most Affluent Neighborhoods
The World’s Richest Countries
The World’s Billionaires

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
More From Forbes Click here to see which cities are the most overpriced in America.