According to the most recent American Community Survey, Loudoun County had the highest median household income in the nation in 2008 at $111,925.  Many have used that statistic to label Loudoun as the "wealthiest" or "richest" county in the nation.  Loudoun taxpayers hear it over and over from advocates of more government spending, including some county bureaucrats and politicians, as a justification for raising taxes.  All those rich folks can afford to pay up, right?

Not so fast.  A closer look shows that median household income is skewed by Loudoun's unique demographics and that the average household is not rich, as the statistic might suggest to some.  Other income statistics, such as per-capita income, show Loudoun ($44,533) ranking behind both Fairfax ($49,990) and Arlington ($58,282) Counties just in northern Virginia.

The number one factor skewing the household income median upward is the large percentage of married couples, as shown by filing status in state tax return data.  Most of these households have double incomes out of necessity.  The relatively small percentage of low-income households in the county also skews the median upward.  Many people who work here in Loudoun earn much less than the median income and find it hard to afford housing.   Many choose to commute in from nearby areas with a lower cost of living, such as Winchester, Martinsburg and Frederick, where they can afford a single family house for what a condo or townhouse would cost in Loudoun.  Because mostly younger people were attracted to Loudoun during the high-growth years, the county has a low percentage of senior citizens, who tend to have lower incomes.

Any measure of wealth or affordability would have to take expenses into consideration.  Income statistics do not speak to expenses.  A large income means little if basic living expenses are high and Loudoun is a very expensive place to live!

Higher income often means a higher tax bracket.  Many families try to keep afloat financially with another income, but most of a second household income is typically eaten up in income taxes and expenses, such as childcare and commuting costs.  Loudoun has the second highest real property tax rate in the state and the average homeowner tax bill is the highest in northern Virginia.

The county is home to a high percentage of young families, who tend to be saddled with major expenses.  These young folks tend not to have a lot of accumulated wealth and have had to take on high mortgage debt to buy their homes.  The housing bust - the average home assessment dropped from a high of $526,111 in 2006 to $395,480 in 2009 - has left as many as 40% of Loudoun homeowners with mortgage balances greater than their house values.  Many college graduates are still paying off student loans.  Commuting costs are high in an outer county, especially the only one that is not linked to the Beltway by a toll-free expressway.  Loudoun commuters using the Dulles Toll Road and Dulles Greenway will soon be paying up to $3,125 in tolls a year.

In addition to basic living expenses, families are trying to save money for their retirement and their kids college education.  The cost of college continues to rise because the state has been reducing aid to state-funded colleges in an effort to balance its budget.  Paying higher taxes for more public schools spending leaves less money for savings.

Probably no statistic is more telling than the foreclosure rate.  If Loudoun really is the richest county in the country, then why are so many folks losing their homes?  Loudoun has approximately 105,000 housing units, but there have been nearly 5,000 residential foreclosures in the past few years.

The tax burden on Loudoun homeowners is too high already and needs to be lowered.  The average Loudoun taxpayer cannot afford higher taxes in 2010.  Email your Supervisors at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and ask them not to raise taxes in 2010.