But Fairfield Cty. retains large national wealth lead
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The state’s Gold Coast of Fairfield County remains the wealthiest metro area in the nation. That’s the good news. The bad news is that per-capita income in southwestern Connecticut fell by one of the largest margins in the nation in 2009.
According to data released earlier this month by the U.S. Department of Commerce, per-capita income in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk metro area was $73,720 last year, down 6.8 percent from the $79,108 average posted in 2008. Before you shed a tear for Fairfield County, however, the 2009 figure was still almost 20 percent higher than the second-wealthiest metro area of San Francisco and the East Bay, which averaged $59,696 after declining by 4.6 percent from 2008.
Income was down across the nation last year, and about three-quarters of the 366 metro areas measured by the Commerce Department posted declines, for an aggregate drop of 2.8 percent, to $40,757.
As evidence of the Nutmeg State’s relative prosperity, in addition to Fairfield County, three other Connecticut metro areas numbered among the top 25 highest-income areas in the nation.
Greater Hartford ranked 12th in the nation last year, up from 15th in 2008, but nevertheless income there dipped 2.1 percent, to $49,667. Greater New Haven fared a bit better, with average income declining just 1.7 percent, to $46,125, jumping New Haven-Milford from No. 26 to No. 22 nationally.
New London ranked No. 23 in 2009, up from 29th place the year before.
The Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk income decline from 2008 to 2009 was the fourth-steepest in the U.S. The sharpest was felt by Midland, Tex., where per-capita income plunged 8.4 percent, to $49,441.
Among the 84 metro areas that posted income gains in 2009, most were smaller cities. The most robust increase came in Jacksonville, N.C., where average income rose almost 12 percent, to $44,664.| < Prev | Next > |
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