30 Cities Where the Middle Class Is Thriving (2024)

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.

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.

• Median household income 2022: $76,402
• Five-year median income growth: 40.1%
• Middle-class income range: $50,935 to $152,804

• Median household income 2022: $85,853
• Five-year median income growth: 42.9%
• Middle-class income range: $57,235 to $171,706

• Median household income 2022: $75,376
• Five-year median income growth: 44.1%
• Middle-class income range: $50,251 to $150,752

• Median household income 2022: $61,634
• Five-year median income growth: 38.9%
• Middle-class income range: $41,089 to $123,268

• Median household income 2022: $78,414
• Five-year median income growth: 38.3%
• Middle-class income range: $52,276 to $156,828

• Median household income 2022: $63,011
• Five-year median income growth: 37.4%
• Middle-class income range: $42,007 to $126,022

• Median household income 2022: $73,766
• Five-year median income growth: 41.4%
• Middle-class income range: $49,177 to $147,532

• Median household income 2022: $46,460
• Five-year median income growth: 33.4%
• Middle-class income range: $30,973 to $92,920

• Median household income 2022: $84,210
• Five-year median income growth: 47.3%
• Middle-class income range: $56,140 to $168,420

• Median household income 2022: $101,984
• Five-year median income growth: 45.3%
• Middle-class income range: $67,989 to $203,968

• Median household income 2022: $57,703
• Five-year median income growth: 37.7%
• Middle-class income range: $38,469 to $115,406

• 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

• Median household income 2022: $75,040
• Five-year median income growth: 38.8%
• Middle-class income range: $50,027 to $150,080

• Median household income 2022: $63,316
• Five-year median income growth: 41.4%
• Middle-class income range: $42,211 to $126,632

• Median household income 2022: $78,954
• Five-year median income growth: 44.6%
• Middle-class income range: $52,636 to $157,908

• Median household income 2022: $116,068
• Five-year median income growth: 45.9%
• Middle-class income range: $77,379 to $232,136

• Median household income 2022: $91,151
• Five-year median income growth: 45.3%
• Middle-class income range: $60,767 to $182,302

• Median household income 2022: $66,292
• Five-year median income growth: 45.9%
• Middle-class income range: $44,195 to $132,584

• Median household income 2022: $87,756
• Five-year median income growth: 39.5%
• Middle-class income range: $58,504 to $175,512

• Median household income 2022: $94,389
• Five-year median income growth: 49.2%
• Middle-class income range: $62,926 to $188,778

• Median household income 2022: $79,085
• Five-year median income growth: 42.5%
• Middle-class income range: $52,723 to $158,170

• Median household income 2022: $60,928
• Five-year median income growth: 47.5%
• Middle-class income range: $40,619 to $121,856

• 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

• Median household income 2022: $77,655
• Five-year median income growth: 50.2%
• Middle-class income range: $51,770 to $155,310

• Median household income 2022: $71,612
• Five-year median income growth: 48.0%
• Middle-class income range: $47,741 to $143,224

• Median household income 2022: $84,250
• Five-year median income growth: 53.6%
• Middle-class income range: $56,167 to $168,500

• Median household income 2022: $61,323
• Five-year median income growth: 49.5%
• Middle-class income range: $40,882 to $122,646

• Median household income 2022: $61,365
• Five-year median income growth: 52%
• Middle-class income range: $40,910 to $122,730

• Median household income 2022: $54,858
• Five-year median income growth: 61.4%
• Middle-class income range: $36,572 to $109,716

• 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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