How might an America with income equality look? Maybe a little like Romeoville, Illinois, or Spring Hill, Tennessee. When it comes to income distribution, these places are among the most equal in the country, according to a NerdWallet study.
Of course, income inequality still exists among households in these communities, but the disparity between the rich and poor is much less than elsewhere in the U.S., where the gap has been widening.
In 2007, the average household in the top 5% had an income 26 times higher than the average household in the bottom 20%, and by 2013, that difference had increased to almost 30 times, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Measuring inequality
Economic inequality can be measured in many ways, such as through the distribution of wealth or consumption. For this study, we’ve chosen to focus on the distribution of household income in over 1,500 U.S. cities. To determine where the greatest income parity and the most inequality exist, we used the Gini index, which is also known as the Gini coefficient. This index measures the extent to which income distribution differs from perfect equality.
What the numbers mean
A Gini index of zero, indicating perfect equality, would mean that every household in the U.S. had the same income. On the opposite end of the spectrum, an index of 100 would mean that a single household received the entire income of the country. The Gini index for the U.S. is 48 before the redistributive effects of taxes and transfers, such as Social Security and welfare. U.S. cities span a broad range on the index — from 27 to 63.
This relative measure of income distribution doesn’t tell the whole story, however. By itself, the Gini index can indicate an city’s income equality, but not the community’s economic health. To get a sense of that picture, the index can be paired with a city’s median income data.
Below are the U.S. cities that are the most and least equal in income. We’ve included data on the median income for the top 20% and bottom 20% of households in each city to present an estimate of the absolute level of wealth in each area.
By the numbers
59: The Gini index for Harrison, New York, which is among the highest in the U.S. and indicates that the economic differences between rich and poor residents are some of the biggest.
$936,926: The difference in Newport Beach, California, between the average income for the bottom 20% of households and the top 5%.
$108,032: The difference, one of the smallest in the nation, in Romeoville, Illinois, between the average income for the bottom 20% of households and top 20%.
31 times: The difference in New Orleans, Louisiana, between the average income of the top 20% and the bottom 20% of households.
America’s most equal cities by income
| Rank | City and state | Gini index | Mean household income for bottom 20% |
Mean household income for middle 20% |
Mean household income for top 20% |
Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Romeoville, Illinois | 30.36 | $24,315 | $67,645 | $132,347 | $66,034 |
| 2 | Spring Hill, Tennessee | 30.96 | $26,735 | $74,214 | $157,191 | $75,390 |
| 3 | Oswego, Illinois | 31.69 | $30,326 | $92,716 | $191,082 | $92,142 |
| 4 | Kyle, Texas | 32.12 | $23,274 | $75,966 | $151,363 | $76,141 |
| 5 | Wylie, Texas | 32.43 | $27,443 | $82,046 | $170,856 | $82,036 |
| 6 | Riverton, Utah | 32.54 | $31,771 | $84,042 | $190,321 | $82,373 |
| 7 | Andover, Minnesota | 32.65 | $30,091 | $92,015 | $188,847 | $92,399 |
| 8 | Cottage Grove, Minnesota | 32.67 | $27,358 | $79,672 | $172,203 | $79,137 |
| 9 | West Jordan, Utah | 32.8 | $21,750 | $66,668 | $141,025 | $66,263 |
| 10 | South Jordan, Utah | 32.96 | $32,932 | $87,577 | $199,260 | $86,775 |
| 11 | Independence, Kentucky | 33.01 | $18,155 | $65,413 | $133,275 | $64,297 |
| 12 | Plainfield, Illinois | 33.08 | $36,265 | $107,304 | $228,633 | $107,932 |
| 13 | Roy, Utah | 33.18 | $18,860 | $59,779 | $126,575 | $59,468 |
| 14 | Horn Lake, Mississippi | 33.59 | $14,756 | $47,200 | $100,597 | $46,935 |
| 15 | Little Elm, Texas | 33.61 | $25,371 | $78,936 | $168,719 | $77,612 |
| 16 | Derby, Kansas | 33.62 | $20,758 | $64,844 | $142,393 | $65,412 |
| 17 | Maricopa, Arizona | 33.64 | $23,831 | $66,029 | $150,381 | $64,705 |
| 18 | Ramsey, Minnesota | 33.74 | $30,860 | $83,443 | $191,655 | $82,099 |
| 19 | La Vergne, Tennessee | 33.77 | $21,755 | $54,987 | $132,820 | $53,498 |
| 20 | New Lenox, Illinois | 33.78 | $27,914 | $90,567 | $192,568 | $90,950 |
| 21 | Corinth, Texas | 33.84 | $26,634 | $90,093 | $193,627 | $88,713 |
| 22 | Syracuse, Utah | 33.85 | $30,813 | $84,617 | $194,438 | $83,963 |
| 23 | Flower Mound, Texas | 34.15 | $41,879 | $121,737 | $280,414 | $121,605 |
| 24 | Spanish Fork, Utah | 34.16 | $20,809 | $61,258 | $138,464 | $62,073 |
| 25 | Rosemount, Minnesota | 34.27 | $27,864 | $90,630 | $197,690 | $90,012 |
| 26 | South Elgin, Illinois | 34.45 | $24,609 | $82,677 | $177,675 | $81,566 |
| 27 | Apex, North Carolina | 34.63 | $27,594 | $91,980 | $199,557 | $89,269 |
| 28 | Champlin, Minnesota | 34.71 | $27,639 | $81,569 | $187,463 | $82,270 |
| 29 | Rowlett, Texas | 34.73 | $25,143 | $83,074 | $184,714 | $83,002 |
| 30 | Homer Glen, Illinois | 34.77 | $27,417 | $92,148 | $206,443 | $92,841 |
| 31 | Watauga, Texas | 34.92 | $16,601 | $61,217 | $134,471 | $60,138 |
| 31 | Lake in the Hills, Illinois | 34.92 | $25,289 | $83,836 | $188,002 | $82,987 |
| 33 | La Puente, California | 35.24 | $17,654 | $54,656 | $127,825 | $54,510 |
| 34 | Bowie, Maryland | 35.31 | $31,217 | $103,878 | $235,727 | $103,618 |
| 34 | Lehi, Utah | 35.31 | $26,478 | $74,949 | $181,527 | $74,566 |
| 36 | Elk River, Minnesota | 35.39 | $23,080 | $75,747 | $170,762 | $73,586 |
| 37 | O’Fallon, Missouri | 35.52 | $22,735 | $76,263 | $173,021 | $76,691 |
| 38 | Parker, Colorado | 35.54 | $26,964 | $95,328 | $215,081 | $96,429 |
| 38 | Surprise, Arizona | 35.54 | $16,792 | $57,024 | $131,680 | $56,741 |
| 40 | Bartlett, Illinois | 35.78 | $27,126 | $96,839 | $217,977 | $97,590 |
| 41 | Bartlett, Tennessee | 35.84 | $27,070 | $78,413 | $191,021 | $79,116 |
| 42 | St. Peters, Missouri | 35.94 | $20,912 | $68,576 | $160,988 | $68,329 |
| 43 | Moorpark, California | 35.96 | $29,300 | $100,975 | $237,894 | $100,477 |
| 44 | Mount Juliet, Tennessee | 36.04 | $19,433 | $69,121 | $159,724 | $68,986 |
| 44 | North Ridgeville, Ohio | 36.04 | $19,764 | $65,274 | $152,610 | $65,255 |
| 46 | Ankeny, Iowa | 36.06 | $18,834 | $72,236 | $163,028 | $71,469 |
| 46 | Wentzville, Missouri | 36.06 | $23,238 | $70,779 | $176,097 | $68,765 |
| 48 | Oviedo, Florida | 36.07 | $22,638 | $82,221 | $189,178 | $82,143 |
| 48 | Pelham, Alabama | 36.07 | $21,129 | $68,651 | $161,315 | $68,347 |
| 50 | Villa Park, Illinois | 36.08 | $18,461 | $72,735 | $159,942 | $72,831 |
America’s least equal cities by income
| Rank | City and state | Gini index | Mean household income for bottom 20% | Mean household income for middle 20% | Mean household income for top 20% | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cookeville, Tennessee | 63.48 | $2,666 | $27,389 | $176,180 | $27,090 |
| 1 | Beverly Hills, California | 63.48 | $14,055 | $91,971 | $662,761 | $89,225 |
| 3 | Miami Beach, Florida | 61.07 | $8,840 | $42,209 | $276,750 | $42,295 |
| 4 | East Lansing, Michigan | 60.78 | $4,178 | $32,919 | $202,562 | $32,644 |
| 4 | Naples, Florida | 60.78 | $13,217 | $79,251 | $499,784 | $77,294 |
| 6 | Athens, Ohio | 60.74 | $2,520 | $17,566 | $123,872 | $17,774 |
| 7 | Carbondale, Illinois | 59.95 | $1,483 | $17,801 | $111,250 | $17,236 |
| 8 | Blacksburg, Virginia | 59.69 | $2,889 | $31,627 | $179,237 | $30,883 |
| 9 | Ithaca, New York | 59.31 | $600 | $28,179 | $144,947 | $28,208 |
| 10 | Harrison, New York | 58.62 | $21,857 | $108,302 | $632,220 | $104,340 |
| 10 | State College, Pennsylvania | 58.62 | $2,451 | $27,146 | $141,020 | $26,529 |
| 12 | Atlanta, Georgia | 58.59 | $6,865 | $47,022 | $254,085 | $46,783 |
| 13 | Monroe, Louisiana | 58.23 | $5,863 | $27,247 | $161,512 | $26,630 |
| 14 | West Lafayette, Indiana | 57.34 | $3,437 | $29,875 | $154,217 | $29,901 |
| 14 | Bloomington, Indiana | 57.34 | $3,009 | $28,232 | $142,916 | $27,393 |
| 16 | Sandy Springs, Georgia | 57.13 | $12,634 | $61,267 | $347,238 | $60,777 |
| 17 | Harvey, Illinois | 56.91 | $669 | $19,500 | $91,816 | $19,531 |
| 18 | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | 56.89 | $4,926 | $26,432 | $136,075 | $25,991 |
| 19 | Winter Park, Florida | 56.79 | $13,274 | $60,685 | $340,382 | $60,434 |
| 20 | College Station, Texas | 56.4 | $3,763 | $31,476 | $159,595 | $30,947 |
| 21 | Statesboro, Georgia | 56.36 | $2,309 | $21,681 | $98,797 | $21,375 |
| 22 | New Orleans, Louisiana | 56.24 | $5,784 | $36,099 | $177,840 | $35,837 |
| 23 | Miami, Florida | 56.11 | $6,218 | $30,223 | $155,335 | $30,126 |
| 24 | Urbana, Illinois | 56.07 | $3,214 | $28,628 | $137,229 | $28,085 |
| 25 | Oxford, Ohio | 55.55 | $3,001 | $33,478 | $154,086 | $34,159 |
| 26 | Cincinnati, Ohio | 55.22 | $4,943 | $32,733 | $151,700 | $32,316 |
| 27 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | 55.09 | $7,635 | $65,732 | $298,119 | $63,757 |
| 28 | Greenville, South Carolina | 55.05 | $7,018 | $39,860 | $192,954 | $39,591 |
| 29 | Galveston, Texas | 55.04 | $6,352 | $38,690 | $176,812 | $38,218 |
| 30 | Coral Gables, Florida | 54.84 | $15,456 | $91,511 | $422,713 | $91,019 |
| 31 | Ruston, Louisiana | 54.83 | $2,017 | $26,328 | $115,477 | $25,315 |
| 32 | Newport Beach, California | 54.81 | $18,018 | $107,755 | $504,144 | $107,257 |
| 32 | Summit, New Jersey | 54.81 | $27,126 | $117,674 | $605,420 | $115,184 |
| 34 | Berkeley, California | 54.69 | $6,918 | $62,951 | $272,963 | $62,761 |
| 35 | Bonita Springs, Florida | 54.64 | $12,857 | $51,286 | $256,573 | $51,009 |
| 36 | Athens-Clarke County, Georgia | 54.6 | $3,726 | $32,010 | $139,988 | $31,884 |
| 37 | Texarkana, Texas | 54.51 | $7,669 | $38,530 | $170,701 | $38,826 |
| 38 | Providence, Rhode Island | 54.48 | $6,176 | $36,878 | $165,352 | $36,700 |
| 39 | Atlantic City, New Jersey | 54.42 | $5,636 | $26,813 | $124,957 | $26,511 |
| 40 | New York City, New York | 54.38 | $9,119 | $51,828 | $233,613 | $51,526 |
| 41 | Starkville, Mississippi | 54.27 | $4,175 | $29,563 | $134,256 | $30,220 |
| 42 | Lake Oswego, Oregon | 54.22 | $16,876 | $79,280 | $377,492 | $78,555 |
| 43 | Dallas, Texas | 54.19 | $9,237 | $42,537 | $202,654 | $42,026 |
| 44 | Auburn, Alabama | 54.17 | $4,301 | $39,613 | $168,316 | $39,378 |
| 45 | Kent, Ohio | 54.03 | $5,123 | $34,262 | $151,147 | $33,280 |
| 46 | Tampa, Florida | 54.02 | $8,450 | $42,259 | $196,934 | $41,927 |
| 47 | West Hollywood, California | 54 | $9,444 | $54,428 | $244,730 | $52,829 |
| 48 | Statesville, North Carolina | 53.97 | $7,302 | $31,845 | $148,760 | $31,546 |
| 49 | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | 53.96 | $9,627 | $35,965 | $177,810 | $34,621 |
| 50 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | 53.81 | $5,261 | $37,285 | $165,035 | $36,619 |
Cities where income inequality decreased the most from 2007 to 2013
| Rank | City and state | Gini index in 2007 | Mean household income for bottom 20% in 2007 | Mean household income for middle 20% in 2007 | Mean household income for top 20% in 2007 | Median household income in 2007 | Gini index in 2013 | Mean household income for bottom 20% in 2013 | Mean household income for middle 20% in 2013 | Mean household income for top 20% in 2013 | Median household income in 2013 | Reduction in Gini index 2007- 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laguna Hills, California | 54.6 | $22,039 | $102,043 | $487,580 | $100,869 | 45.8 | $23,145 | $92,650 | $311,930 | $92,294 | 8.78 |
| 2 | Tupelo, Mississippi | 54.1 | $8,253 | $45,320 | $201,640 | $44,113 | 47.2 | $9,214 | $41,831 | $142,068 | $41,465 | 6.94 |
| 3 | Portsmouth, Ohio | 54.8 | $5,236 | $23,456 | $116,502 | $23,301 | 48.2 | $7,436 | $29,256 | $109,214 | $28,956 | 6.59 |
| 4 | South Pasadena, California | 51.7 | $18,283 | $86,035 | $352,968 | $85,878 | 45.3 | $21,522 | $81,494 | $280,208 | $81,398 | 6.4 |
| 4 | Alexandria, Louisiana | 56.7 | $7,222 | $32,762 | $173,529 | $32,721 | 50.3 | $7,959 | $34,338 | $139,827 | $34,197 | 6.4 |
| 6 | New Braunfels, Texas | 44.2 | $13,799 | $60,543 | $182,613 | $60,075 | 37.8 | $15,876 | $56,597 | $138,802 | $56,391 | 6.36 |
| 7 | Sarasota, Florida | 57.3 | $10,792 | $44,586 | $246,859 | $44,015 | 51.1 | $10,402 | $42,064 | $177,344 | $42,782 | 6.24 |
| 8 | Fitchburg, Massachusetts | 48.6 | $11,029 | $49,920 | $172,834 | $49,241 | 42.4 | $10,024 | $43,962 | $124,522 | $44,312 | 6.18 |
| 9 | Ruston, Louisiana | 60.9 | $3,712 | $29,384 | $168,404 | $27,808 | 54.8 | $2,017 | $26,328 | $115,477 | $25,315 | 6.07 |
| 10 | Ridgecrest, California | 46.0 | $10,763 | $56,990 | $178,352 | $57,209 | 40.0 | $12,556 | $58,449 | $145,634 | $57,708 | 6.05 |
| 11 | Moorpark, California | 41.5 | $26,607 | $102,920 | $290,865 | $101,237 | 36.0 | $29,300 | $100,975 | $237,894 | $100,477 | 5.54 |
| 11 | Carteret, New Jersey | 45.9 | $9,494 | $56,761 | $176,807 | $57,614 | 40.4 | $10,961 | $58,350 | $139,640 | $57,763 | 5.54 |
| 13 | Duncanville, Texas | 42.6 | $14,835 | $55,580 | $166,843 | $54,343 | 37.3 | $16,817 | $54,865 | $139,960 | $55,619 | 5.26 |
| 14 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 56.9 | $5,083 | $32,564 | $164,741 | $32,103 | 51.7 | $6,842 | $37,331 | $151,364 | $37,901 | 5.18 |
| 15 | Aiken, South Carolina | 51.8 | $9,389 | $54,418 | $226,576 | $53,934 | 46.7 | $10,374 | $52,488 | $175,070 | $51,627 | 5.1 |
| 16 | Quincy, Illinois | 48.0 | $9,746 | $39,491 | $141,745 | $39,517 | 42.9 | $9,999 | $39,001 | $117,108 | $38,805 | 5.06 |
| 17 | Pearl, Mississippi | 44.4 | $10,235 | $41,640 | $132,038 | $41,481 | 39.4 | $13,354 | $45,340 | $122,814 | $46,474 | 4.98 |
| 18 | Columbus, Nebraska | 42.3 | $13,546 | $49,915 | $146,483 | $50,423 | 37.3 | $15,724 | $47,877 | $123,789 | $47,265 | 4.97 |
| 19 | Madera, California | 45.5 | $13,191 | $44,846 | $152,779 | $45,476 | 40.7 | $10,449 | $41,130 | $113,102 | $40,975 | 4.77 |
| 20 | Saratoga, California | 49.6 | $28,176 | $156,584 | $576,900 | $154,223 | 44.9 | $33,323 | $175,597 | $535,514 | $170,373 | 4.73 |
| 21 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | 54.4 | $7,526 | $35,503 | $162,659 | $36,216 | 49.7 | $5,380 | $32,870 | $117,571 | $33,381 | 4.68 |
| 22 | Northport, Alabama | 45.0 | $7,308 | $47,930 | $135,345 | $48,414 | 40.3 | $11,632 | $50,395 | $128,354 | $50,617 | 4.68 |
| 23 | Dana Point, California | 51.3 | $19,521 | $91,643 | $366,963 | $91,751 | 46.6 | $19,693 | $82,738 | $289,429 | $81,584 | 4.67 |
| 24 | Bethel Park, Pennsylvania | 42.5 | $17,188 | $66,316 | $190,411 | $66,427 | 37.9 | $19,963 | $70,737 | $174,450 | $71,229 | 4.6 |
| 25 | Charleston, Illinois | 57.6 | $3,675 | $23,811 | $134,131 | $23,381 | 53.1 | $5,807 | $26,960 | $127,896 | $26,521 | 4.54 |
| 26 | Parkland, Florida | 43.9 | $30,296 | $117,590 | $364,832 | $116,726 | 39.6 | $37,604 | $125,865 | $344,270 | $126,105 | 4.34 |
| 27 | Wake Forest, North Carolina | 42.4 | $19,340 | $68,003 | $207,257 | $66,228 | 38.2 | $19,271 | $80,102 | $193,760 | $78,791 | 4.21 |
| 28 | Columbus, Indiana | 46.9 | $12,964 | $54,439 | $188,779 | $53,347 | 42.7 | $13,984 | $54,785 | $161,626 | $54,877 | 4.19 |
| 29 | Lake Forest, Illinois | 56.6 | $36,063 | $175,360 | $953,476 | $169,278 | 52.4 | $27,948 | $159,681 | $686,283 | $152,415 | 4.17 |
| 30 | Ferguson, Missouri | 46.0 | $9,459 | $40,325 | $132,633 | $40,737 | 41.8 | $7,439 | $39,074 | $101,810 | $39,377 | 4.16 |
| 31 | Fredericksburg, Virginia | 52.4 | $12,030 | $49,027 | $213,400 | $48,208 | 48.3 | $10,250 | $48,869 | $178,601 | $47,945 | 4.11 |
| 32 | Rocky Mount, North Carolina | 48.3 | $6,866 | $40,607 | $142,041 | $40,454 | 44.2 | $8,931 | $36,086 | $113,190 | $36,308 | 4.08 |
| 32 | Sumter, South Carolina | 52.5 | $8,707 | $33,650 | $156,287 | $33,114 | 48.4 | $7,650 | $38,644 | $141,415 | $38,825 | 4.08 |
| 34 | Bessemer, Alabama | 50.6 | $7,133 | $31,578 | $130,098 | $31,582 | 46.6 | $5,398 | $28,838 | $96,060 | $28,991 | 4.01 |
| 35 | Ponca City, Oklahoma | 47.4 | $10,696 | $42,708 | $149,976 | $42,568 | 43.4 | $10,792 | $40,011 | $124,122 | $40,059 | 3.98 |
| 36 | Bartlesville, Oklahoma | 49.0 | $11,274 | $46,860 | $175,373 | $46,874 | 45.1 | $11,581 | $48,465 | $157,570 | $47,928 | 3.91 |
| 37 | Cornelius, North Carolina | 48.4 | $25,681 | $87,450 | $351,005 | $85,970 | 44.6 | $20,920 | $75,984 | $248,865 | $76,959 | 3.84 |
| 38 | Odessa, Texas | 46.9 | $11,033 | $47,554 | $162,088 | $47,102 | 43.1 | $13,968 | $54,427 | $164,470 | $54,009 | 3.82 |
| 39 | Eureka, California | 46.3 | $8,027 | $35,155 | $123,505 | $34,962 | 42.5 | $9,870 | $37,808 | $113,453 | $37,683 | 3.76 |
| 40 | Williamsport, Pennsylvania | 48.2 | $6,562 | $30,540 | $111,285 | $30,245 | 44.5 | $7,697 | $34,839 | $106,912 | $35,096 | 3.71 |
| 41 | Lake Havasu City, Arizona | 45.2 | $13,913 | $46,714 | $162,078 | $45,969 | 41.5 | $11,559 | $42,065 | $123,231 | $41,533 | 3.68 |
| 42 | Watertown, New York | 45.8 | $8,641 | $37,168 | $121,474 | $37,099 | 42.1 | $9,453 | $38,874 | $108,903 | $38,736 | 3.67 |
| 43 | Edinburg, Texas | 49.0 | $5,177 | $34,759 | $121,509 | $33,429 | 45.3 | $8,193 | $43,602 | $131,233 | $44,066 | 3.66 |
| 44 | Salisbury, North Carolina | 50.6 | $8,619 | $42,016 | $163,898 | $41,880 | 47.0 | $8,113 | $34,737 | $120,413 | $35,036 | 3.64 |
| 45 | New Bern, North Carolina | 49.0 | $7,350 | $37,341 | $133,262 | $36,624 | 45.4 | $7,390 | $42,551 | $125,555 | $42,691 | 3.63 |
| 46 | Villa Park, Illinois | 39.6 | $18,092 | $72,031 | $186,927 | $72,347 | 36.1 | $18,461 | $72,735 | $159,942 | $72,831 | 3.52 |
| 46 | Corsicana, Texas | 48.1 | $7,945 | $35,009 | $125,578 | $35,217 | 44.6 | $8,766 | $35,636 | $114,720 | $36,022 | 3.52 |
| 48 | Crown Point, Indiana | 43.4 | $18,073 | $62,285 | $193,186 | $60,465 | 39.9 | $16,127 | $61,219 | $161,425 | $61,574 | 3.46 |
| 48 | Big Spring, Texas | 46.1 | $7,694 | $33,527 | $114,075 | $32,641 | 42.6 | $10,230 | $44,584 | $130,506 | $43,993 | 3.46 |
| 50 | Marion, Iowa | 41.9 | $17,024 | $59,096 | $171,192 | $59,815 | 38.4 | $16,124 | $64,859 | $155,497 | $64,582 | 3.46 |
Methodology
To find the places where the nation’s incomes are the most and least equal, we ranked cities using the Gini index from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2013 American Community Survey.
To find the cities where income equality increased, we looked at the absolute change in the Gini index from 2007 to 2013.
Lehi, Utah, image via iStock.
