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.
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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
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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
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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
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
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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
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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
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
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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
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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
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
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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
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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
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
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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
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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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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 50 Cities Where the Upper-Middle Class Is Growing the Most
