Examining the Income Inequality of Cities and Metro Areas

A recent study from the Brookings Institution examines income inequality at the city and metropolitan area level around the country. The major findings of the study, explained by a post sharing the new study:

• Among big cities, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. exhibited the highest rates of income inequality in 2016.
• Levels of inequality in cities reflect broader income disparities in metropolitan areas.
• More cities experienced declines in income inequality from 2014 to 2016 than saw increases. 
• In contrast to the city pattern, increases in metropolitan income inequality outnumbered declines.
• Some cities posted stunning increases in top incomes from 2014 to 2016.
• Income trends at the top of the distribution in cities and metro areas had little relationship to trends at the bottom of the distribution from 2014 to 2016. I

As a follow up to the article presenting the findings of the new report, an article by Axios  presents the report's findings in a graphic format. Caitlin Owens writes the post and Chris Canipe creates a helpful pair of infographics to help illustrate the cities with the largest and smallest income gaps.