30 Cities Where the Middle Class Is Thriving
The American middle class is often depicted as a kind of mythical economic group living in perfect financial balance. In fact, the middle class continues to shrink in much of the country amid recent economic challenges and the constant rise in cost of living.
Fortunately, there are some cities where the middle class is thriving.
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In order to find out where the middle class is doing better than usual, GOBankingRates analyzed data from the U.S. Census on the 200 largest cities. The study, using the latest data from 2022, examined the growth of middle-class incomes, households, businesses and industries that employ them.
But, what is considered middle class? Middle class is ultimately based on income. According to Pew Research, middle-class incomes are two-thirds to double the national median, a wide range that can vary quite a lot from place to place.
For example, Hialeah, Florida’s median household income is $49,531, making its middle-class income range from $33,021 to $99,062. But in Chula Vista, California, the median household income is $101,984, making its middle-class income range from $67,989 to $203,968.
Read on to find out where America’s middle class is thriving.
Boise, Idaho
Median household income 2022: $76,402
Five-year median income growth: 40.1%
Middle-class income range: $50,935 to $152,804
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Denver
Median household income 2022: $85,853
Five-year median income growth: 42.9%
Middle-class income range: $57,235 to $171,706
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Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Median household income 2022: $75,376
Five-year median income growth: 44.1%
Middle-class income range: $50,251 to $150,752
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Median household income 2022: $61,634
Five-year median income growth: 38.9%
Middle-class income range: $41,089 to $123,268
Palmdale, California
Median household income 2022: $78,414
Five-year median income growth: 38.3%
Middle-class income range: $52,276 to $156,828
Worcester, Massachusetts
Median household income 2022: $63,011
Five-year median income growth: 37.4%
Middle-class income range: $42,007 to $126,022
Mesa, Arizona
Median household income 2022: $73,766
Five-year median income growth: 41.4%
Middle-class income range: $49,177 to $147,532
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Newark, New Jersey
Median household income 2022: $46,460
Five-year median income growth: 33.4%
Middle-class income range: $30,973 to $92,920
Santa Ana, California
Median household income 2022: $84,210
Five-year median income growth: 47.3%
Middle-class income range: $56,140 to $168,420
Chula Vista, California
Median household income 2022: $101,984
Five-year median income growth: 45.3%
Middle-class income range: $67,989 to $203,968
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Median household income 2022: $57,703
Five-year median income growth: 37.7%
Middle-class income range: $38,469 to $115,406
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Fontana, California
Median household income 2022: $93,230
Five-year median income growth: 36.5%
Middle-class income range: $62,153 to $186,460
Pictured: Rancho Cucamonga
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Median household income 2022: $75,040
Five-year median income growth: 38.8%
Middle-class income range: $50,027 to $150,080
Spokane, Washington
Median household income 2022: $63,316
Five-year median income growth: 41.4%
Middle-class income range: $42,211 to $126,632
Sacramento, California
Median household income 2022: $78,954
Five-year median income growth: 44.6%
Middle-class income range: $52,636 to $157,908
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Seattle
Median household income 2022: $116,068
Five-year median income growth: 45.9%
Middle-class income range: $77,379 to $232,136
Jersey City, New Jersey
Median household income 2022: $91,151
Five-year median income growth: 45.3%
Middle-class income range: $60,767 to $182,302
Orlando, Florida
Median household income 2022: $66,292
Five-year median income growth: 45.9%
Middle-class income range: $44,195 to $132,584
Surprise, Arizona
Median household income 2022: $87,756
Five-year median income growth: 39.5%
Middle-class income range: $58,504 to $175,512
Oakland, California
Median household income 2022: $94,389
Five-year median income growth: 49.2%
Middle-class income range: $62,926 to $188,778
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Tacoma, Washington
Median household income 2022: $79,085
Five-year median income growth: 42.5%
Middle-class income range: $52,723 to $158,170
Laredo, Texas
Median household income 2022: $60,928
Five-year median income growth: 47.5%
Middle-class income range: $40,619 to $121,856
Lancaster, California
Median household income 2022: $71,367
Five-year median income growth: 44.7%
Middle-class income range: $47,578 to $142,734
Pictured: Glendale, California
Atlanta
Median household income 2022: $77,655
Five-year median income growth: 50.2%
Middle-class income range: $51,770 to $155,310
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Stockton, California
Median household income 2022: $71,612
Five-year median income growth: 48.0%
Middle-class income range: $47,741 to $143,224
Salinas, California
Median household income 2022: $84,250
Five-year median income growth: 53.6%
Middle-class income range: $56,167 to $168,500
San Bernardino, California
Median household income 2022: $61,323
Five-year median income growth: 49.5%
Middle-class income range: $40,882 to $122,646
Providence, Rhode Island
Median household income 2022: $61,365
Five-year median income growth: 52%
Middle-class income range: $40,910 to $122,730
Miami
Median household income 2022: $54,858
Five-year median income growth: 61.4%
Middle-class income range: $36,572 to $109,716
Hialeah, Florida
Median household income 2022: $49,531
Five-year median income growth: 59.7%
Middle-class income range: $33,021 to $99,062
Andrew DePietro contributed to the reporting for this article.
Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the cities where the middle class is thriving by analyzing the 200 largest cities in the U.S. by population: (1) median household income in 2022, 2020 and 2017; (2) 2-year median household income growth; (3) 5-year median household income growth; (4) mean income for third quintile (40%-60%) of household earners, 2022, 2020 and 2017; (5) 2-year third quintile income growth; (6) 5-year third quintile income growth. All data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022, 2020, and 2017 American Community Surveys. All data was collected and is up to date as of April 15, 2024.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 30 Cities Where the Middle Class Is Thriving
