Population, Jobs and Commutes in the Washington Region, Part Two

Everyone knows that both population and employment have grown by significant amounts in the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) since 1970. But the jurisdictions in the area have grown at very different rates.

From the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), here are the populations for every jurisdiction in the Washington MSA in 1970 and 2007.


The “Big Four” Jurisdictions – Fairfax County in Virginia, Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland and the District of Columbia – accounted for 77% of the MSA’s population in 1970 and 64% of the MSA’s population in 2007. Consider their rates of population growth over those 37 years.

Fairfax: 111.9%
Montgomery: 79.5%
Prince George’s: 23.9%
District of Columbia: -22.1%

Again from BEA, here are the employments for every jurisdiction in the Washington MSA in 1970 and 2007.


The Big Four accounted for 77% of the MSA’s employment in 1970 and 71% of the MSA’s employment in 2007. Consider their rates of employment growth over those 37 years.

Fairfax: 475.1%
Montgomery: 178.1%
Prince George’s: 120.3%
District of Columbia: 20.8%

Here are the shares of the Big Four and the other counties of the region’s population and employment in 1970 and 2007.


The story of the last 37 years in terms of population and employment is simple. All of Virginia, including Fairfax, is on the rise. D.C. has hollowed out. Prince George’s County has slipped, especially in relative population. Montgomery County has held its own and the outer Maryland counties (Calvert, Charles and Frederick) have gained.

Finally, here is the average wage per job in 2008 dollars from BEA in 1970 and 2008.


Arlington and the District were the two highest wage jurisdictions in both 1970 and 2008. Let’s put aside both of them for a moment as their unique proximity to the Capitol and the Pentagon give them both labor market advantages that no other jurisdiction in the country enjoys. Here are the real wage growths for the remainder of the Big Four over the 38-year period.

Fairfax: 67.9%
Montgomery: 43.8%
Prince George’s: 29.4%

Whether we measure population growth, employment growth or real wage growth, the story remains the same: Fairfax first, Montgomery second and Prince George’s last, with the District varying. These realities impact the region’s transportation network in ways that we will begin examining in Part Three.