A recent New York Times article about the increasing gap between the richest and poorest communities in America utilized new data that reveals how well off Chester County and its neighboring counties are compared with the rest of the nation.

Of the 3,128 counties in the United States, Chester County ranks as the 52nd least distressed, thus placing it in the top 1.6 percent of prosperity. The numbers also indicate that Chester County is the most prosperous county in Pennsylvania.

The study was conducted by the newly formed Economic Innovation Group (EIG), a nonprofit research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C.

To come up with the rankings in EIG’s Distressed Communities Index, analysts focused on seven factors, which present a complete and multidimensional picture of economic distress. They are 1.) the prevalence of adults with a high school degree; 2.) home vacancy rates; 3.) adults in the work force; 4.) the percentage of people living below the poverty line; 5.) median income as a percentage of the state average; 6.) change in employment; and 7.) change in the number of businesses.

One of the statistics regarding the half-million people living Chester County that jumps off the page is that the median income here is 162 percent of the state’s average. In simpler terms, Chester County residents make roughly 1.6 times more than those living in the rest of Pennsylvania.

Chester County has also experienced a 6.5 percent increase in employment since the end of the recession.

The article provides one of the most detailed looks at the nation’s growing inequality since the end of the Great Recession. The numbers suggest that the chasm that existed between the richest and poorest American communities is only widening, as distressed areas are faring worse as the recovery gains traction across much of the country.

“It’s almost like you are looking at two different countries,” said Steve Glickman, executive director of EIG.

“The most prosperous areas have enjoyed rocketship-like growth,” said John Lettieri, EIG’s senior director for policy and strategy. “There you are very unlikely to run into someone without a high school diploma, a person living below the poverty line, or a vacant house. That is just not part of your experience.”

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Top photo of Bridge Street in Phoenixville courtesy of The Chester County Planning Commission.