Eu duvido que a maioria dos hobbits se considerem ricos. Afinal, havia muitos com trabalhos servis ou semi-qualificados. O Gaffer e Sam eram jardineiros, vemos proprietários de usinas e um strong setor agrícola:
They do not and did not understand or like machines more complicated than a forge-bellows, a water-mill, or a hand-loom, though they were skilful with tools.
Suas profissões físicas incluíam:
Os Bolseiros eram ricos, mas eles eram o que seria a aristocracia - mais o ouro de Bilbo de suas viagens não doía. Os Tooks como um todo eram ricos, mas viviam em uma área comum muito grande e um indivíduo Took não seria rico por qualquer meio:millers, smiths, ropers, and cartwrights, and others of that sort;
Sometimes, as in the case of the Tooks of Great Smials, or the Brandybucks of Brandy Hall, many generations of relatives lived in (comparative) peace together in one ancestral and many-tunnelled mansion.
Havia de fato pobres hobbits:
Actually in the Shire in Bilbo's days it was, as a rule, only the richest and the poorest Hobbits that maintained the old custom. The poorest went on living in burrows of the most primitive kind, mere holes indeed, with only one window or none; while the well-to-do still constructed more luxurious versions of the simple diggings of old.
Mas, em geral, os Hobbits, como um, estavam bem por causa das riquezas da terra onde o Condado estava:
No geral, havia um strong senso de comunidade que significava apoiar e prover para os outros, o que teria se emprestado ao conceito de compartilhar a riqueza conforme necessário:the Hobbits had again become accustomed to plenty. The land was rich and kindly, and though it had long been deserted when they entered it, it had before been well tilled, and there the king had once had many farms, cornlands, vineyards, and woods.
Their faces were as a rule good-natured rather than beautiful, broad, bright-eyed, red-cheeked, with mouths apt to laughter, and to eating and drinking. And laugh they did, and eat, and drink, often and heartily, being fond of simple jests at all times, and of six meals a day (when they could get them). They were hospitable and delighted in parties, and in presents, which they gave away freely and eagerly accepted.
Uma civilização estável e strongs laços familiares também ajudaram a idéia de proporcionar aos outros:
The Hobbits named it the Shire, as the region of the authority of their Thain, and a district of well-ordered business; and there in that pleasant comer of the world they plied their well-ordered business of living.
...
Families for the most part managed their own affairs. Growing food and eating it occupied most of their time. In other matters they were, as a rule, generous and not greedy, but contented and moderate, so that estates, farms, workshops, and small trades tended to remain unchanged for generations.
Então, basicamente, Hobbiton e o Condado eram quase uma utopia. Bem-intencionados e bem intencionados, alimentos e outras necessidades foram fornecidos pelos strongs laços familiares, caso alguém caísse em tempos difíceis (presencie a adoção de Frodo por Bilbo como outro exemplo).
Todas as citações tiradas do prólogo do Senhor dos Anéis.