PEW SURVEY SHOWS NEAR-UNIVERSAL INCOME LOSSES

Households in all economic tiers experienced near-universal decreases in median incomes across U.S. metropolitan areas, according to the independent Pew Foundation’s Research Center. Middle-income households lost ground financially in 222 of 229 metropolitan areas from 1999 to 2014. Meanwhile, those in the lower-income tier saw their median income slip in 221 areas and those in the upper-income households took a financial hit in 215 areas.

Pew Research Center 2014 American Community Survey

MIDWEST HAS TOP 10 MIDDLE-CLASS AREAS

The 10 metropolitan areas with the greatest shares of middle-income adults are located mostly in the Midwest, according to the independent Pew Foundation’s Research Center. Metropolitan areas with the largest upper-income shares are mostly in the Northeast or on the California coast, while the 10 metropolitan areas with the biggest lower-income tiers are in the southwest, several on the border with Mexico.

Pew Research Center 2014 American Community Survey