New Poverty and Income Data Reveals a Tale of Two Types of Cities

While the country overall made progress, larger cities are making stronger gains against poverty.

1 minute read

September 19, 2017, 6:00 AM PDT

U.S. Department of Agriculture / Flickr

Alan Berube and Cecile Murray share new income and poverty data from the American Community Survey.

According to the article, the annual report "provided a lot of good news at the national level: from 2015 to 2016, median household income rose, and the poverty rate fell, finally returning to their levels from before the Great Recession."

There is reason to temper enthusiasm about the economy in some parts of the country, however: "the data on poverty trends in cities and metropolitan areas clearly show that some places are doing better, and making more progress, than others."

Berube and Murray reveal the key distinctions to be found in the data. For instance, in large metro areas, poverty dropped more in cities than suburbs.

FULL STORY: Three charts showing you poverty in U.S. cities and metro areas

Thursday, September 14, 2017 in Brookings

Community / Economic Development Social / Demographics United States Income Poverty U.S. Census American Community Survey Economy Cities Suburbs Suburban Poverty View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.