HOW THE COUNTIES STACK UP

Montgomery County, Md., and Fairfax County, Va., are suburban areas near Washington, D.C., that are quite similar in some ways to Orange County. Each has experienced fast-paced growth in recent years, and each has responded differently. Here is a look at what the statistics show about how these three counties are similar--and how they are different.

ORANGE COUNTY

Population: 2,162,439

Area: 798 square miles

Total Households: 796,326

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.

Population: 710,267

Area: 400 square miles

Total Households: 244,167

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.

Population: 666,785

Area: 495 square miles

Total Households: 247,806 * Population and Household figures are 1987 estimates. POPULATION GROWTH 1980-1987

ORANGE COUNTY: 11.9%

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: 19.0%

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: 15.2%

HOUSEHOLD GROWTH 1980-1987

ORANGE COUNTY: 16.0%

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: 19.0%

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: 19.6%

AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE 1987 estimates

ORANGE COUNTY: 2.7

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: 2.9

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: 2.7

MEDIAN AGE 1987 estimates

ORANGE COUNTY: 32.8

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: 33.3

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: 35.0

ETHNICITY 1987 estimates

White

ORANGE COUNTY: 86.7%

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: 86.1%

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: 82.8% Black

ORANGE COUNTY: 1.6%

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: 7.2%

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: 11.7% Latino

ORANGE COUNTY: 17.8%

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: 4.7%

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: 5.7% Other

ORANGE COUNTY: 11.7%

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: 6.7%

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: 5.5% Totals are more than 100% because racial/ethnic boundaries overlap. MEDIAN EDUCATION Adults over 25 Years of school completed

ORANGE COUNTY: 12.9

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: 14.8

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: 14.8

MEDIAN HOME VALUE

ORANGE COUNTY: $108,137

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: $95,227

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: $97,433

NEW HOUSING UNITS 1987

ORANGE COUNTY: 9,300*

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: 12,032

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: 9,675

* estimated

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME 1987 estimates

ORANGE COUNTY: $33,444

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: $46,659

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: $44,437

INCOME OVER $50,000 1987 estimates

ORANGE COUNTY: 26.7%

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: 45.2%

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: 42.8%

UNEMPLOMENT December, 1987

ORANGE COUNTY: 2.5%

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: 1.8%

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: 2.2%

INDUSTRY Highest ranking industries (1980 census) Orange County

1. Durable Manufacturing: 19.9%

2. Retail Trade: 17.4%

3. Financial/Insurance/Real Estate: 7.4% Fairfax County, Va.

1. Professional/Related Service: 22.3% 2. Public Administration: 22.0%

3. Retail Trade: 14.2%

Montgomery County, Md.

1. Professional/Related Service: 27.0% 2. Public Administration: 18.7%

3. Retail Trade: 15.0%

OCCUPATION Highest ranking occupations (1980 census) Orange County

1. Administration/Clerical: 17.6%

2. Professional: 15.3%

3. Management: 15.3% Fairfax County, Va.

1. Administration/Clerical: 21.2%

3. Management: 15.3%

2. Professional: 13.6%

Montgomery County, Md.

1. Professional: 24.1%

2. Administration/Clerical: 19.1%

3. Management: 18.9% HOUSEHOLD RESIDENCY 1987 estimates FIVE YEARS OR LESS

ORANGE COUNTY: 57.9%

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: 67.8%

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: 59.4% MORE THAN FIVE YEARS

ORANGE COUNTY: 42.1%

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: 32.2%

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: 40.6%

TRAVEL TIME TO WORK 1980 census LESS THAN 30 MINUTES

ORANGE COUNTY: 67.1%

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: 50.7%

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: 55.4% 30 MINUTES OR MORE

ORANGE COUNTY: 32.9%

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.: 49.3%

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.: 44.6%

Sources: Donnelly Demographics; Fairfax County, Va. Office of Public Affairs; Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments