Government Contracting Creating New Kind of Wealthy in Fairfax County

Tuesday's Washington Post has a front-page story about the incredible wealth that has fueled places like Great Falls over the last 20 years.

Government contracting has led to a boom where 16 percent of Great Falls households earn $500,000 or above a year, and more than half make at least $250,000, according to Nielsen Claritas.  That puts it far ahead of traditionally wealthy places across the Potomac River like Bethesda and Potomac.

Data from the 2010 Census' American Community Survey (ACS) shows the Washington area is the wealthiest and most educated area in the nation. Fairfax and Loudoun counties are the only two counties with median household incomes above $100,000.

Reston's median income is $98,207, according to the 2010 ACS, which places it well above the national average.

And while Reston may not be home to as many tech and defense multimillionaires as Great Falls, the benefit of those dollars can be seen here - in $11 glasses of wine atcondos that can cost close to $1 million, and plenty of jobs at defense contracting firms with offices in Reston.

How do you feel about the incredible wealth that has transformed the Dulles Tech Corridor? Have you benefitted or are you still looking for your own piece of the pie?