50 Cities With the Most Income Inequality in America

The average income of the top 20% residing in certain U.S. cities is within a comfortable six-figure range whereas the bottom 20%, for many cities, exists in the poverty threshold. 

Which cities have the greatest income inequality? To find out, GOBankingRates looked at U.S. cities with 100,000 or more in their total population and utilized the Gini index for measuring income inequality into a single statistic. The Gini coefficient ranges from 0, indicating perfect equality (where everyone receives an equal share), to 1, perfect inequality (where only one recipient or group of recipients receives all the income). Additional factors found include each city’s bottom 20% of earner’s average income, top 20% of earner’s average income, bottom 20% of earner’s share of wealth, top 20% of earner’s share of wealth and median household income to determine rankings.

Key Findings

• Atlanta ranked in first place as the U.S. city with the most income inequality. The bottom 20% in Atlanta earned an average income of $11,221 compared to $384,230 among the top 20%.
• Six Florida cities were among those with the most income inequality. These include Miami (#6), Tampa (#8), Fort Lauderdale (#15), Gainesville (#22), Tallahassee (#26) and West Palm Beach (#47).
• Five California cities also ranked in the top 50: Berkeley (#20), Los Angeles (#23), San Francisco (#33), Pasadena (#42) and Oakland (#44).
• No city in the top 10 has a median household income greater than $100,000. Only five cities — Berkeley; San Francisco; Washington, D.C.; Stamford and Scottsdale — have a $100,000-plus median household income.

Ranked in order from cities with the highest to lowest Gini coefficient, see which American cities experience the most income inequality.

• Gini index: 0.5677
• Bottom 20% average income: $11,221
• Top 20% average income: $384,230
• Top 5% average income: $763,851
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 1.74%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 59.59%
• Median household income: $77,655

• Gini index: 0.5607
• Bottom 20% average income: $10,510
• Top 20% average income: $386,410
• Top 5% average income: $727,416
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 1.58%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 58.14%
• Median household income: $80,243

• Gini index: 0.5601
• Bottom 20% average income: $7,420
• Top 20% average income: $245,568
• Top 5% average income: $468,766
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 1.77%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 58.36%
• Median household income: $51,116

• Gini index: 0.5572
• Bottom 20% average income: $7,762
• Top 20% average income: $257,842
• Top 5% average income: $507,603
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 1.77%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 58.52%
• Median household income: $54,095

• Gini index: 0.5546
• Bottom 20% average income: $10,093
• Top 20% average income: $263,749
• Top 5% average income: $524,714
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.24%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 58.50%
• Median household income: $54,858

• Gini index: 0.5526
• Bottom 20% average income: $8,836
• Top 20% average income: $241,067
• Top 5% average income: $474,648
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.13%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 58.07%
• Median household income: $50,155

• Gini index: 0.5488
• Bottom 20% average income: $12,087
• Top 20% average income: $351,944
• Top 5% average income: $694,605
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 1.97%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 57.38%
• Median household income: $76,607

• Gini index: 0.5433
• Bottom 20% average income: $12,331
• Top 20% average income: $314,166
• Top 5% average income: $605,027
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.26%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 57.55%
• Median household income: $66,802

• Gini index: 0.5427
• Bottom 20% average income: $8,171
• Top 20% average income: $227,585
• Top 5% average income: $428,293
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.05%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 56.92%
• Median household income: $49,191

• Gini index: 0.5408
• Bottom 20% average income: $7,555
• Top 20% average income: $218,483
• Top 5% average income: $404,881
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 1.95%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 56.25%
• Median household income: $47,257

• Gini index: 0.5408
• Bottom 20% average income: $9,408
• Top 20% average income: $215,691
• Top 5% average income: $427,029
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.50%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 57.15%
• Median household income: $45,967

• Gini index: 0.5387
• Bottom 20% average income: $7,112
• Top 20% average income: $231,026
• Top 5% average income: $407,393
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 1.72%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 55.93%
• Median household income: $52,397

• Gini index: 0.5382
• Bottom 20% average income: $12,719
• Top 20% average income: $278,580
• Top 5% average income: $543,504
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.63%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 57.53%
• Median household income: $58,697

• Gini index: 0.5354
• Bottom 20% average income: $11,000
• Top 20% average income: $366,452
• Top 5% average income: $677,288
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 1.66%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 55.31%
• Median household income: $89,212

• Gini index: 0.5353
• Bottom 20% average income: $15,980
• Top 20% average income: $347,283
• Top 5% average income: $714,722
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.62%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 56.82%
• Median household income: $75,376

• Gini index: 0.5326
• Bottom 20% average income: $8,881
• Top 20% average income: $231,665
• Top 5% average income: $431,282
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.14%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 55.91%
• Median household income: $54,305

• Gini index: 0.5310
• Bottom 20% average income: $12,912
• Top 20% average income: $276,765
• Top 5% average income: $537,750
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.66%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 56.79%
• Median household income: $60,440

• Gini index: 0.5302
• Bottom 20% average income: $13,651
• Top 20% average income: $290,200
• Top 5% average income: $571,512
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.68%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 56.89%
• Median household income: $63,985

• Gini index: 0.5299
• Bottom 20% average income: $10,098
• Top 20% average income: $247,347
• Top 5% average income: $470,494
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.28%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 55.95%
• Median household income: $58,068

• Gini index: 0.5290
• Bottom 20% average income: $14,355
• Top 20% average income: $438,225
• Top 5% average income: $747,952
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 1.80%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 54.72%
• Median household income: $104,716

• Gini index: 0.5276
• Bottom 20% average income: $11,844
• Top 20% average income: $299,962
• Top 5% average income: $564,032
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.19%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 55.37%
• Median household income: $71,673

• Gini index: 0.5267
• Bottom 20% average income: $6,386
• Top 20% average income: $183,132
• Top 5% average income: $334,179
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 1.93%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 55.18%
• Median household income: $43,783

• Gini index: 0.5266
• Bottom 20% average income: $13,772
• Top 20% average income: $324,962
• Top 5% average income: $621,555
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.36%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 55.57%
• Median household income: $76,244

• Gini index: 0.5257
• Bottom 20% average income: $23,060
• Top 20% average income: $449,693
• Top 5% average income: $861,260
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.93%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 57.21%
• Median household income: $93,303

• Gini index: 0.5253
• Bottom 20% average income: $9,992
• Top 20% average income: $319,824
• Top 5% average income: $571,330
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 1.71%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 54.71%
• Median household income: $78,546

• Gini index: 0.5235
• Bottom 20% average income: $9,240
• Top 20% average income: $220,679
• Top 5% average income: $423,234
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.32%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 55.38%
• Median household income: $52,899

• Gini index: 0.5232
• Bottom 20% average income: $9,186
• Top 20% average income: $205,876
• Top 5% average income: $401,590
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.48%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 55.51%
• Median household income: $48,090

• Gini index: 0.5228
• Bottom 20% average income: $11,542
• Top 20% average income: $254,946
• Top 5% average income: $498,647
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.52%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 55.62%
• Median household income: $58,908

• Gini index: 0.5219
• Bottom 20% average income: $11,130
• Top 20% average income: $250,966
• Top 5% average income: $472,996
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.46%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 55.44%
• Median household income: $59,606

• Gini index: 0.5196
• Bottom 20% average income: $8,117
• Top 20% average income: $202,311
• Top 5% average income: $371,468
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.18%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 54.36%
• Median household income: $48,897

• Gini index: 0.5187
• Bottom 20% average income: $8,491
• Top 20% average income: $179,238
• Top 5% average income: $336,813
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.61%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 55.04%
• Median household income: $42,464

• Gini index: 0.5178
• Bottom 20% average income: $9,404
• Top 20% average income: $229,214
• Top 5% average income: $418,544
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.23%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 54.29%
• Median household income: $57,537

• Gini index: 0.5172
• Bottom 20% average income: $18,948
• Top 20% average income: $532,010
• Top 5% average income: $937,518
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 1.92%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 53.90%
• Median household income: $136,689

• Gini index: 0.5171
• Bottom 20% average income: $14,374
• Top 20% average income: $405,867
• Top 5% average income: $719,253
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 1.91%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 54.01%
• Median household income: $101,722

• Gini index: 0.5153
• Bottom 20% average income: $9,304
• Top 20% average income: $232,360
• Top 5% average income: $418,213
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.17%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 54.13%
• Median household income: $58,349

• Gini index: 0.5150
• Bottom 20% average income: $6,185
• Top 20% average income: $148,298
• Top 5% average income: $263,539
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.25%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 53.90%
• Median household income: $37,271

• Gini index: 0.5148
• Bottom 20% average income: $10,424
• Top 20% average income: $242,524
• Top 5% average income: $448,068
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.33%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 54.20%
• Median household income: $61,365

• Gini index: 0.5133
• Bottom 20% average income: $9,815
• Top 20% average income: $236,630
• Top 5% average income: $429,642
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.24%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 53.90%
• Median household income: $60,187

• Gini index: 0.5105
• Bottom 20% average income: $10,501
• Top 20% average income: $236,759
• Top 5% average income: $421,602
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.39%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 53.74%
• Median household income: $58,850

• Gini index: 0.5103
• Bottom 20% average income: $12,241
• Top 20% average income: $236,249
• Top 5% average income: $453,832
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.83%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 54.56%
• Median household income: $56,648

• Gini index: 0.5098
• Bottom 20% average income: $19,899
• Top 20% average income: $399,705
• Top 5% average income: $754,415
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.70%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 54.17%
• Median household income: $100,718

• Gini index: 0.5097
• Bottom 20% average income: $15,367
• Top 20% average income: $381,735
• Top 5% average income: $700,242
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.16%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 53.50%
• Median household income: $97,818

• Gini index: 0.5092
• Bottom 20% average income: $23,262
• Top 20% average income: $437,351
• Top 5% average income: $829,250
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.91%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 54.71%
• Median household income: $104,197

• Gini index: 0.5089
• Bottom 20% average income: $15,995
• Top 20% average income: $372,428
• Top 5% average income: $643,643
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.30%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 53.41%
• Median household income: $94,389

• Gini index: 0.5089
• Bottom 20% average income: $8,540
• Top 20% average income: $192,785
• Top 5% average income: $340,634
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.37%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 53.61%
• Median household income: $47,798

• Gini index: 0.5087
• Bottom 20% average income: $7,083
• Top 20% average income: $163,720
• Top 5% average income: $280,876
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.32%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 53.50%
• Median household income: $41,841

• Gini index: 0.5078
• Bottom 20% average income: $13,448
• Top 20% average income: $255,171
• Top 5% average income: $509,558
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.86%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 54.14%
• Median household income: $64,044

• Gini index: 0.5076
• Bottom 20% average income: $6,208
• Top 20% average income: $143,982
• Top 5% average income: $253,775
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.31%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 53.27%
• Median household income: $37,761

• Gini index: 0.5059
• Bottom 20% average income: $14,284
• Top 20% average income: $350,447
• Top 5% average income: $589,440
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.16%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 53.06%
• Median household income: $91,151

• Gini index: 0.5049
• Bottom 20% average income: $8,686
• Top 20% average income: $184,844
• Top 5% average income: $330,803
• Bottom 20% share of wealth: 2.50%
• Top 20% share of wealth: 53.15%
• Median household income: $47,421

Methodology: For this piece, GOBankingRates looked at all cities in the US with a total population of 100,000 or more. With these cities isolated, GOBankingRates found the following factors for each city: (1) Gini index measuring income inequality (definition below); (2) bottom 20% of earners average income; (3) top 20% of earners average income; (4) top 5% of earners average income; (5) bottom 20% of earners share of wealth; (6) top 20% of earners share of wealth; (7) top 5% of earners share of wealth; (8) median household income; and (9) average household income. For rankings only factor (1) was considered. All data was sourced from the 2022 American Community Survey as conducted by the US Census Bureau. All data was collected and up to date as of July 10, 2024.

Gini Index: The Gini Index is a summary measure of income inequality. The Gini coefficient incorporates the detailed shared data into a single statistic, which summarizes the dispersion of income across the entire income distribution. The Gini coefficient ranges from 0, indicating perfect equality (where everyone receives an equal share), to 1, perfect inequality (where only one recipient or group of recipients receives all the income). The Gini is based on the difference between the Lorenz curve (the observed cumulative income distribution) and the notion of a perfectly equal income distribution.