By Erica Mitrano
Maryland Independent
Thursday, April 1, 2010; SM19

Two of Southern Maryland's three counties are among the 25 wealthiest in the country, according to Forbes magazine. Calvert County is the 13th-richest county in the nation, with a median household income of $89,040. Charles County ranks 21st, with a median income of $86,586.

The rankings, which appeared in the March 4 issue of Forbes, are based on U.S. Census data from 2008. St. Mary's County did not make the top 25 list.

Charles and Calvert officials attribute the economic success to the counties' proximity to the federal government in the District and to naval bases and their attendant civilian contractors.

"Usually when the economy is down, the government spending goes up," said Ellen Flowers-Fields, director of economic development for the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, a coalition of the three county governments that serves as the overall planning and economic development organ for the region. "So, it helps balance things out for us."

But, Flowers-Fields said, the rankings don't mean the region hasn't been affected by the recession.

"There are still tens of thousands of people in Southern Maryland that are looking for work," she said.

Calvert's "out-commute" rate -- or the proportion of its residents who work outside the county -- also helps with its prosperity, said Linda Vassallo, the county's Director of Economic Development.

In 2008, 58.6 percent of the workforce -- defined as anyone 16 and older who is able to work -- left the county for employment, slightly down from 59.3 percent in 2007.

Although the commuters work elsewhere, they pay taxes in Calvert and patronize local businesses, shoring up the economy, officials said.

Similarly, about 60 percent of Charles workers leave the county to work, said county Director of Economic Development and Tourism George L. Robertson.

Robertson attributes Charles's standing to demographics that "we're very happy about and many counties across the country would be envious of." These include a high number of residents who are in their 20s and 30s and a high proportion of residents who have college or advanced degrees, he said.

Almost a third of residents in both Calvert and Charles counties are 25 or older and possess at least a bachelor's degree, according to Forbes.

Charles does not rank as high in per-capita income as it does in household earnings, suggesting a prevalence of families with two significant earners. Southern Maryland followed the national trend of suburbs boasting the most prosperous inhabitants, according to Forbes.

Howard and Montgomery counties came in ahead of Southern Maryland on the national rankings at third and 10th, respectively.

Loudoun County ranked first nationally, with a median income of $110,643.