Forbes.com calls Stafford ‘best place to get ahead’

Staff reports
Published: March 28, 2008

STAFFORD — Stafford County is one of the best places in the United States to get ahead, according to Forbes.com.

The business Web site considered income and job date from the U.S. Census and Department of Labor Statistics. It also ranked locations where median income was rising the most quickly. Their list was limited to counties where the median income was at least $75,000.

Gov. Tim Kaine congratulated Stafford for the recognition, noting that Virginia was recently named a top state to do business by Governing Magazine.

Forbes.com stated: “Stafford County has a proven ability to land federal jobs and companies with government contracts, as well as to attract businesses from all over the country…”

Stafford Hospital Center will open in 2009, bringing in new jobs. Stafford is fourth in Virginia in terms of growth in businesses, by percentage, with an increase of 36.7 percent from 2002 to 2007.

According to an earlier alcolade from Forbes.com, Stafford is also the 11th wealthiest county in the United States. Its median household income is listed at $85,014.