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50 Cities Where the Upper-Middle Class Is Growing the Most

May 5, 2025

9 min Read

Written by Heather Taylor

Edited by Chris Cluff

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The upper-middle class is experiencing substantial wealth growth. Key findings from a new GOBankingRates study indicate that the percentage change in high-earning households between 2018 and 2023 increased by more than 50% across 50 major U.S. cities.

GOBankingRates was able to find the 50 cities where the upper-middle class is growing the most by first analyzing cities with at least 40,000 households. Those that earned between $100,000 and $149,000 were selected and kept for the study, as they are considered to be upper-middle class. From there, the percentage change in upper-middle class households from 2018 to 2023 was calculated, and the cities were sorted in order of the largest to smallest increase in upper-middle class households.

Key Findings

The upper-middle class is growing the fastest in North Charleston, South Carolina. Data reveals that households’ earnings have skyrocketed by 125% between 2018 to 2023.
Only four cities — one in South Carolina and three in Florida — had earnings increase by more than 100% between 2018 and 2023. North Charleston aside, the three Florida cities include Port Saint Lucie (122%), Hialeah (114%) and Spring Hill (100%).
The upper-middle class is growing the fastest in 11 Florida cities. These cities are Port Saint Lucie, Hialeah, Spring Hill, Palm Bay, Pompano Beach, Miami, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Lakeland, Cape Coral and The Villages.

As shown in order from largest to smallest household earnings growth, the upper-middle class is growing substantially in these 50 cities.

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1. North Charleston, South Carolina

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 3,463
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 7,795
Percentage change in high-earning households: 125.1%
Household median income: $62,789

2. Port Saint Lucie, Florida

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 7,410
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 16,463
Percentage change in high-earning households: 122.2%
Household median income: $78,137

3. Hialeah, Florida

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 4,912
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 10,525
Percentage change in high-earning households: 114.3%
Household median income: $53,079

4. Spring Hill, Florida

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 3,997
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 8,020
Percentage change in high-earning households: 100.7%
Household median income: $66,557

5. Palm Bay, Florida

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 3,678
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 7,314
Percentage change in high-earning households: 98.9%
Household median income: $67,521

6. Knoxville, Tennessee

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 5,676
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 11,079
Percentage change in high-earning households: 95.2%
Household median income: $50,994

7. Meridian, Idaho

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 5,421
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 10,487
Percentage change in high-earning households: 93.5%
Household median income: $98,686

8. Providence, Rhode Island

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 5,766
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 11,107
Percentage change in high-earning households: 92.6%
Household median income: $66,772

9. Pompano Beach, Florida

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 4,150
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 7,953
Percentage change in high-earning households: 91.6%
Household median income: $63,832

10. Miami

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 13,364
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 24,922
Percentage change in high-earning households: 86.5%
Household median income: $59,390

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11. Orlando, Florida

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 11,127
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 20,638
Percentage change in high-earning households: 85.5%
Household median income: $69,268

12. West Palm Beach, Florida

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 4,786
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 8,647
Percentage change in high-earning households: 80.7%
Household median income: $69,261

13. San Bernardino, California

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 6,005
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 10,734
Percentage change in high-earning households: 78.8%
Household median income: $63,988

14. Evansville, Indiana

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 3,577
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 6,378
Percentage change in high-earning households: 78.3%
Household median income: $52,251

15. Bellingham, Washington

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 3,785
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 6,745
Percentage change in high-earning households: 78.2%
Household median income: $65,821

16. Clarksville, Tennessee

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 6,556
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 11,536
Percentage change in high earning households: 76%
Household median income: $66,786

17. Newark, New Jersey

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 7,921
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 13,905
Percentage change in high-earning households: 75.5%
Household median income: $48,416

18. Allentown, Pennsylvania

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 3,172
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 5,564
Percentage change in high earning households: 75.4%
Household median income: $53,403

19. Lakeland, Florida

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 3,858
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 6,754
Percentage change in high earning households: 75.1%
Household median income: $60,947

20. Salinas, California

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 5,616
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 9,802
Percentage change in high-earning households: 74.5%
Household median income: $89,150

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21. Grand Rapids, Michigan

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 8,158
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 13,987
Percentage change in high-earning households: 71.5%
Household median income: $65,526

22. South Bend, Indiana

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 3,182
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 5,446
Percentage change in high-earning households: 71.2%
Household median income: $52,512

23. Savannah, Georgia

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 4,801
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 8,160
Percentage change in high-earning households: 70%
Household median income: $56,782

24. Cape Coral, Florida

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 9,011
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 15,309
Percentage change in high-earning households: 69.9%
Household median income: $76,062

25. Tucson, Arizona

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 18,682
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 31,711
Percentage change in high-earning households: 69.7%
Household median income: $54,546

26. Spring Valley, Nevada

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 9,034
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 15,285
Percentage change in high-earning households: 69.2%
Household median income: $72,364

27. Davenport, Iowa

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 4,489
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 7,580
Percentage change in high-earning households: 68.9%
Household median income: $64,497

28. Detroit

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 13,759
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 23,224
Percentage change in high-earning households: 68.8%
Household median income: $39,575

29. Lancaster, California

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 5,932
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 9,844
Percentage change in high-earning households: 65.9%
Household median income: $76,083

30. Tempe, Arizona

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 9,153
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 15,178
Percentage change in high-earning households: 65.8%
Household median income: $77,643

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31. Kansas City, Kansas

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 5,604
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 9,251
Percentage change in high-earning households: 65.1%
Household median income: $59,183

32. Spokane, Washington

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 9,592
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 15,796
Percentage change in high-earning households: 64.7%
Household median income: $65,745

33. Dayton, Ohio

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 3,310
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 5,450
Percentage change in high-earning households: 64.7%
Household median income: $43,454

34. Spokane Valley, Washington

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 4,808
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 7,914
Percentage change in high-earning households: 64.6%
Household median income: $70,722

35. Enterprise, Nevada

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 10,942
Households’ earnings $100-$150K In 2023: 18,007
Percentage change in high-earning households: 64.6%
Household median income: $93,980

36. North Las Vegas, Nevada

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 10,668
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 17,536
Percentage change in high-earning households: 64.4%
Household median income: $76,772

37. Green Bay, Wisconsin

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 4,376
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 7,150
Percentage change in high-earning households: 63.4%
Household median income: $62,546

38. Akron, Ohio

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 6,176
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 10,091
Percentage change in high-earning households: 63.4%
Household median income: $48,544

39. Lewisville, Texas

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 6,024
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 9,821
Percentage change in high-earning households: 63%
Household median income: $85,002

40. Salem, Oregon

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 7,826
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 12,728
Percentage change in high-earning households: 62.6%
Household median income: $71,900

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41. Pueblo, Colorado

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 3,461
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 5,626
Percentage change in high-earning households: 62.6%
Household median income: $55,305

42. The Villages, Florida

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 5,822
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 9,441
Percentage change in high-earning households: 62.2%
Household median income: $76,523

43. Lowell, Massachusetts

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 5,385
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 8,716
Percentage change in high-earning households: 61.9%
Household median income: $76,205

44. Fresno, California

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 18,483
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 29,913
Percentage change in high-earning households: 61.8%
Household median income: $66,804

45. Surprise, Arizona

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 8,399
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 13,571
Percentage change in high-earning households: 61.6%
Household median income: $93,371

46. Sparks, Nevada

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 5,916
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 9,520
Percentage change in high-earning households: 60.9%
Household median income: $86,979

47. Laredo, Texas

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 7,921
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 12,731
Percentage change in high-earning households: 60.7%
Household median income: $63,264

48. Killeen, Texas

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 5,464
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 8,777
Percentage change in high-earning households: 60.6%
Household median income: $58,339

49. Cleveland

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 9,315
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 14,959
Percentage change in high-earning households: 60.6%
Household median income: $39,187

50. Roanoke, Virginia

Households earning $100K to $150K in 2018: 3,339
Households earning $100K to $150K in 2023: 5,338
Percentage change in high-earning households: 59.9%
Household median income: $52,671

Gabrielle Olya and T. Woods contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities with at least 40,000 households, according to the U.S. Census American Community Survey, to find the cities where the upper-middle class has grown the most. Households that earn between $100,000 and $149,000 are considered upper-middle class. Using the American Community Survey, the total population, total households, household median income, households in 2018 that earned $100k to $149k, and households in 2023 that earned $100k to $149k were all sourced. The percent change in upper-middle-class households was calculated and the cities were sorted to show the largest increase in upper-middle-class households. All data was collected on and is up to date as of April 1, 2025.

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