America’s middle class isn’t dead — It’s thriving in these 20 cities

Across various publications, experts and reports, a recurring critical theme is the state of the middle class in America and its struggles in an increasingly expensive and transforming society. Indeed, in much of the country, the middle class is facing a bleak financial future. Fortunately, that isn’t the whole story. There are some cities where the middle class is thriving.

In order to find out where, GOBankingRates conducted a study, analyzing the 200 largest U.S. cities in terms of the growth in middle-class incomes, households and businesses and industries employing them. But, what is considered “middle class”? Middle class is ultimately based on income, with educational achievement and status being secondary factors. According to Pew Research, middle-class incomes are those that are two-thirds to double the national median. This is crucial because it demonstrates how being middle class actually shifts from place to place.

For example, Miami’s median household income is $33,999, making its middle-class income range $22,666 to $67,998. But in San Francisco, the median household income is $96,265, making its middle-class income range $64,177 to $192,530. But despite these differences, you can still find places where America’s middle class is thriving.

More from GO Banking Rates:
22% of Americans Mistakenly Think They’re ‘Middle Class’
This Is How Much Middle-Class Families Earn in Every State
Americans Could Be Saving More Money — They Just Don’t Know It

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: America’s Middle Class Isn’t Dead — It’s Thriving in These 20 Cities

Methodology: GOBankingRates determined which cities the middle class is thriving in by analyzing the 200 largest cities in the U.S. by population: (1) median household income in 2017, 2015 and 2012; (2) 2-year median household income growth; (3) 5-year median household income growth; (4) mean income for third, or middle, quintile (40%-60%) of household earners, 2017, 2015 and 2012; (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 2017 American Community Survey.