Even in a country where the median household income has dropped for the second year in a row, some metropolitan areas across the country are still doing well.

An analysis of new Census data reveals the 10 American cities with the highest average income. The list is topped by the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., where the average household income is $86,680 annually and only about 8 percent of households live below the poverty line.

The list of America's richest cities was compiled by 24/7 Wall St. based on its analysis of the 2011 Census Bureau American Community Survey.

One of the biggest factors that sets these cities apart, according to the report, is how many residents are employed and what type of work they are doing.

"High-tech jobs, particularly those related to computers and information technology, tend to pay higher salaries and are more likely to be located in areas with affluent residents. On the other hand, most of the jobs in the lower-income metro areas tend to be in retail, service, agriculture and low-tech manufacturing," the report said.

A closer look at the cities that made the "richest cities" list underscores the importance of employment and industry in an area's residents being successful.

"Included among the richest cities are the information technology centers of Boston and Boulder, the finance hub of Bridgeport-Stamford, and the San Jose region, better known as Silicon Valley, home to some of the largest chipmakers and computer parts manufacturers in the world," the report said.

Here is a breakdown of America's 10 poorest states and the stats that contributed to the rankings, via 24/7 Wall St.

10. Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, New York

Median household income: $66,734
Population: 672,871 (79th highest)
Unemployment rate: 7.6% (116th lowest)
Percent households below poverty line: 12.2% (49th lowest)

9. Boulder, Colorado

Median household income: $68,637
Population: 299,378 (158th highest)
Unemployment rate: 6.2% (45th lowest)
Pct. households below poverty line: 14.1% (100th lowest)

8. Boston, Massachusetts and surrounding areas
Median household income: $69,455
Population: 4,591,112 (10th highest)
Unemployment rate: 6.6% (55th lowest)
Pct. households below poverty line: 10.7% (22nd lowest)

7. Anchorage, Alaska

Median household income: $71,700
Population: 387,516 (133rd highest)
Unemployment rate: 6.7% (63rd lowest)
Pct. households below poverty line: 8.7% (6th lowest)

6. San Francisco/Oakland/Fremont, California

Median household income: $71,975
Population: 4,391,037 (11th highest)
Unemployment rate: 9.4% (127th highest)
Pct. households below poverty line: 11.9% (45th lowest)

5. Trenton/Ewing, New Jersey

Median household income: $73,890
Population: 367,063(140th highest)
Unemployment rate: 7.7% (123rd lowest)
Pct. households below poverty line: 11.4% (34th lowest)

4. Oxnard/Thousand Oaks/Ventura, California

Median household income: $74,623
Population: 831,771 (63rd highest)
Unemployment rate: 10.1% (93rd highest)
Pct. households below poverty line: 11.3% (32nd lowest)

3. Bridgeport/Stamford/Norwalk, Connecticut

Median household income: $77,289
Population: 925,899 (56th highest)
Unemployment rate: 8.2% (163rd lowest)
Pct. households below poverty line: 9.4% (13th lowest)

2. San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara, California

Median household income: $84,012
Population: 1,865,450 (31st highest)
Unemployment rate: 9.9% (105th highest)
Pct. households below poverty line: 10.6% (21st lowest)

1. Washington, D.C. and surrounding areas
Median household income: $86,680
Population: 5,703,948 (7th highest)
Unemployment rate: 5.8% (29th lowest)
Pct. households below poverty line: 8.3% (5th lowest)

Tags: Census