Middle Class Disappearing: U.S. Cities Experiencing Dramatic Decline

Wednesday, 11 September 2024, 14:42

Middle class households are disappearing in several U.S. cities according to a recent report. Major cities like Henderson, Nevada, and Virginia Beach, Virginia, have seen significant declines in their middle-class demographics. This trend reflects the broader national issue of a shrinking middle class across the United States.
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Middle Class Disappearing: U.S. Cities Experiencing Dramatic Decline

Middle Class Disappearing in Major U.S. Cities

The recent analysis by MoneyGeek highlights a troubling trend: the middle class is disappearing in major U.S. cities. A closer look reveals that income distribution is shifting dramatically.

Key Findings on Middle Class Declines

  • Henderson, Nevada: Middle-class households declined from 45.2% to 41.1% between 2017 and 2022.
  • Virginia Beach, Virginia: A drop from 46.8% to 43% indicates similar trends.
  • San Diego: Experienced the largest decline among the top 10 cities.

Only San Antonio, Philadelphia, and Houston among the ten largest cities saw an increase in their middle-class populations.

Income Ranges for Middle-Class Households

As defined by federal data, middle-class households, typically comprising three people, earn between $62,000 and $187,000 annually. Notable cities with shrinking middle classes include:

  1. Henderson, Nevada
  2. Virginia Beach, Virginia
  3. Anchorage, Alaska
  4. Santa Ana, California
  5. Chesapeake, Virginia
  6. Bakersfield, California
  7. Raleigh, North Carolina
  8. North Las Vegas
  9. St. Petersburg, Florida
  10. Irving, Texas

St. Petersburg reported the lowest middle-class income range of $46,627 to $139,882, while Anchorage set the highest threshold at $67,167 to $201,502.

Broader Implications

This decline in middle-class demographics underscores a larger economic gap, where the upper class is gaining ground while the middle class diminishes.


This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.


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