Set aside any notions of the middle class disappearing; in 50 U.S. cities, the middle class is flourishing with a noticeable rise in population.
To identify the cities witnessing the most substantial middle-class expansion, GOBankingRates examined cities in the U.S. with over 40,000 households. The analysis focused on the percentage of households considered middle class, earning between $50,000 to $149,999 in 2022. These cities were then ranked based on the five-year change in the percentage of middle-class households from 2017 to 2022, with the top 50 cities showcasing the most significant changes included in the final list.
Florida stands out with three mentions in the top 10 cities, where Hialeah, Miami, and Palm Bay all experienced notable growth in the middle class.
Listed from 50 to 1, here are the 50 U.S. cities witnessing a rise in their middle-class population:
50. Chattanooga, Tennessee
Total Households 2022: 77,016
Middle-Class Percentage 2017: 36.1%
Middle-Class Percentage 2022: 42.7%
5-Year Change: 18.28%
49. Dallas
Total Households 2022: 521,147
Middle-Class Percentage 2017: 36.5%
Middle-Class Percentage 2022: 43.2%
5-Year Change: 18.36%
48. Syracuse, New York
Total Households 2022: 58,424
Middle-Class Percentage 2017: 31.2%
Middle-Class Percentage 2022: 37.1%
5-Year Change: 18.91%
47. Jackson, Mississippi
Total Households 2022: 62,053
Middle-Class Percentage 2017: 31.1%
Middle-Class Percentage 2022: 37.0%
5-Year Change: 18.97%
46. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Total Households 2022: 98,749
Middle-Class Percentage 2017: 35.7%
Middle-Class Percentage 2022: 42.5%
5-Year Change: 19.05%
45. Stockton, California
Total Households 2022: 96,975
Middle-Class Percentage 2017: 40.8%
Middle-Class Percentage 2022: 48.6%
5-Year Change: 19.12%
44. Sunrise Manor, Nevada
Total Households 2022: 64,271
Middle-Class Percentage 2017: 38.1%
Middle-Class Percentage 2022: 45.4%
5-Year Change: 19.16%
43. Milwaukee
Total Households 2022: 230,759
(Continues until all cities are listed)
Here are the rewritten details for the locations mentioned:
42. Augusta, Georgia
– Total households in 2022: 72,510
– Middle-class households in 2017: 35.1%
– Middle-class households in 2022: 41.9%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 19.37%
41. Spokane Valley, Washington
– Total households in 2022: 41,984
– Middle-class households in 2017: 43.6%
– Middle-class households in 2022: 52.2%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 19.72%
40. Wilmington, North Carolina
– Total households in 2022: 53,374
– Middle-class households in 2017: 36.2%
– Middle-class households in 2022: 43.7%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 20.72%
39. Lowell, Massachusetts
– Total households in 2022: 42,343
– Middle-class households in 2017: 41.3%
– Middle-class households in 2022: 49.9%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 20.82%
38. Orlando, Florida
– Total households in 2022: 122,607
– Middle-class households in 2017: 37.3%
– Middle-class households in 2022: 45.1%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 20.91%
2 percent of households in the middle class: 43.4%
5-year change in middle-class households: 22.60%
29. North Charleston, South Carolina
Total households in 2022: 45,917
Percent of households in the middle class in 2017: 37.4%
Percent of households in the middle class in 2022: 45.9%
5-year change in middle-class households: 22.73%
28. Providence, Rhode Island
Total households in 2022: 69,110
Percent of households in the middle class in 2017: 34.6%
Percent of households in the middle class in 2022: 42.5%
5-year change in middle-class households: 22.83%
27. St. Louis
Total households in 2022: 143,059
Percent of households in the middle class in 2017: 33.4%
Percent of households in the middle class in 2022: 41.1%
5-year change in middle-class households: 23.05%
26. Allentown, Pennsylvania
Total households in 2022: 45,553
Percent of households in the middle class in 2017: 36.6%
Percent of households in the middle class in 2022: 45.2%
5-year change in middle-class households: 23.50%
25. Green Bay, Wisconsin
Total households in 2022: 43,892
Percent of households in the middle class in 2017: 40.6%
Percent of households in the middle class in 2022: 50.4%
5-year change in middle-class households: 24.14%
24. Newark, New Jersey
Total households in 2022: 112,635
Percent of households in the middle class in 2017: 31.7%
Percent of households in the middle class in 2022: 39.4%
5-year change in middle-class households: 24.29%
23. Akron, Ohio
Total households in 2022: 83,935
Percent of households in the middle class in 2017: 33.3%
Percent of households in the middle class in 2022: 41.4%
5-year change in middle-class households: 24.32%
22. Buffalo, New York
Total households in 2022: 118,897
Percent of households in the middle class in 2017: 31.2%
Percent of households in the middle class in 2022: 38.8%
5-year change in middle-class households: 24.36%
21. Kansas City, Kansas
Total households in 2022: 56,842
Percent of households in the middle class in 2017: 37.3%
Percent of households in the middle class in
In 2017, 30.7% of households were classified as middle class, while in 2022, this percentage increased to 38.5%, reflecting a 5-year change of 25.41%. The data is sourced from ©Shutterstock.com.
Here are some additional figures for specific locations:
16. Spring Hill, Florida:
– 2022 total households: 44,625
– 2017 middle-class households: 41.8%
– 2022 middle-class households: 52.6%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 25.84%
15. Knoxville, Tennessee:
– 2022 total households: 84,195
– 2017 middle-class households: 31.8%
– 2022 middle-class households: 40.3%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 26.73%
14. Savannah, Georgia:
– 2022 total households: 57,673
– 2017 middle-class households: 34.3%
– 2022 middle-class households: 43.7%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 27.41%
13. Lakeland, Florida:
– 2022 total households: 44,323
– 2017 middle-class households: 37.0%
– 2022 middle-class households: 47.2%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 27.57%
12. Pompano Beach, Florida:
– 2022 total households: 46,038
– 2017 middle-class households: 38.0%
– 2022 middle-class households: 48.6%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 27.89%
11. Lansing, Michigan:
– 2022 total households: 50,137
– 2017 middle-class households: 35.4%
– 2022 middle-class households: 45.3%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 27.97%
10. Cleveland:
– 2022 total households: 167,829
– 2017 middle-class households: 25.5%
– 2022 middle-class households: 32.8%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 28.63%
9. Laredo, Texas:
– 2022 total households: 74,380
– 2017 middle-class households: 36.3%
– 2022 middle-class households: 47.1%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 29.75%
8. San Bernardino, California:
– 2022 total households: 62,486
– 2017 middle-class households: 36.7%
– 2022 middle-class households: 47.8%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 30.25
Here is a revised version of the text:
Middle-class households in the following cities have shown significant growth over the past five years:
3. Dayton, Ohio
– Total households in 2022: 57,362
– Percentage of middle-class households in 2017: 27.3%
– Percentage of middle-class households in 2022: 36.7%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 34.43%
2. Pueblo, Colorado
– Total households in 2022: 45,782
– Percentage of middle-class households in 2017: 32.0%
– Percentage of middle-class households in 2022: 44.4%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 38.75%
1. Hialeah, Florida
– Total households in 2022: 76,255
– Percentage of middle-class households in 2017: 28.3%
– Percentage of middle-class households in 2022: 41.5%
– 5-year change in middle-class households: 46.64%
Methodology: A study by GOBankingRates analyzed U.S. cities with over 40,000 households based on data from the 2022 American Community Survey. The study identified the top 50 cities where the middle class has experienced the most growth. The analysis considered the percentage of upper-class households (earning $50,000 – $149,999) in each city in 2022. Cities were ranked based on the 5-year change in the proportion of upper-class households from 2017 to 2022. All data was sourced from the 2017 and 2022 American Community Surveys conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. Additional information included the changes in households earning $50,000-$74,999, $75,000-$99,999, and $100,000-$149,999. The data is current as of Feb. 13, 2024.
