Source: Chester County Economic Development Council

The Triple A rating, according to Wikipedia, is given by credit rating companies to the highest the “best quality, most reliable and stable companies.”

Fitch Ratings made the following observation about Chester County’s diverse economy when New York City-based corporate credit rating agency bestowed their highest municipal bond rating on Chester County last summer:

The county’s economy is well established and diverse among financial services, education, health services and agriculture sectors. Non-governmental employers are led by Vanguard Group, QVC, Inc., Siemens Medical Solutions, and Giant Food Stores.

The county’s unemployment rate of 5.0% in July 2014 remains well below the state and national averages of 6.1% and 6.5%, respectively and lower than the rate recorded a year earlier, as labor force reduction (-0.9%) outpaced employment growth (0.5%).

Taxable assessed value, which is 72% residential, has remained fairly stable over the last several years. The county enjoys a diverse tax base with little concentration in any one sector or taxpayer.

The top 10 taxpayers represent a modest 2.4% of total assessed valuation. Total property tax collections are strong, averaging over 99% for the last five years.

Wealth levels are well-above-average with 2012 median household income equal to 165% and 163% of state and national levels, respectively, making Chester County one of the wealthiest counties in the state.