Research · ACS 2015-2019 and 2020-2024
Where household incomes really rose: 2015-2019 vs 2020-2024
After inflation, the median household income rose by more than the survey's margins in 186 of the 340 places of 100,000 or more residents between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024, and fell in 17. Across all 23,511 places with both figures, 83% show no change the margins can confirm.
How many places saw a real change in household income?
The larger the place, the more often the change is clear: big cities have large samples and tight margins, so a rise of a few thousand dollars shows; in a town of 2,000 people the same rise sits inside the margin of error.
| Size (2020 Census) | Places | Rose | Fell | No clear change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100,000+ | 340 | 186 55% | 17 5% | 137 40% |
| 10,000-99,999 | 3,759 | 708 19% | 193 5% | 2,858 76% |
| 1,000-9,999 | 10,501 | 1,076 10% | 586 6% | 8,839 84% |
| under 1,000 | 8,911 | 769 9% | 527 6% | 7,615 85% |
Source: ACS 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 5-year estimates (DP03); 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS (BLS) · Census guidance on comparing ACS data
Which cities saw the largest real rises and falls?
Places of 50,000 or more residents whose change the margins confirm, ranked by percentage change.
| Place | 2015-2019 | 2020-2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | $48,057 | $62,462 | +30.0% |
| Florin, CA | $54,911 | $71,111 | +29.5% |
| Hialeah, FL | $43,158 | $55,594 | +28.8% |
| Cathedral City, CA | $57,253 | $73,572 | +28.5% |
| San Jacinto, CA | $64,007 | $80,647 | +26.0% |
| Bozeman, MT | $68,388 | $85,747 | +25.4% |
| Delano, CA | $53,709 | $67,010 | +24.8% |
| Arden-Arcade, CA | $62,151 | $77,321 | +24.4% |
| Malden, MA | $81,195 | $100,606 | +23.9% |
| Plainfield, NJ | $69,336 | $85,908 | +23.9% |
| Nampa, ID | $60,114 | $74,279 | +23.6% |
| Lodi, CA | $72,319 | $88,530 | +22.4% |
| New Brunswick, NJ | $53,883 | $65,810 | +22.1% |
| Camden, NJ | $33,247 | $40,546 | +22.0% |
| St. Cloud, FL | $68,230 | $83,174 | +21.9% |
| Place | 2015-2019 | 2020-2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baytown, TX | $70,482 | $59,910 | −15.0% |
| Missouri City, TX | $108,196 | $94,390 | −12.8% |
| Jackson, MS | $47,859 | $42,071 | −12.1% |
| Diamond Bar, CA | $121,941 | $108,281 | −11.2% |
| Apple Valley, MN | $109,841 | $97,673 | −11.1% |
| Orland Park, IL | $111,187 | $98,910 | −11.0% |
| Draper, UT | $144,319 | $128,910 | −10.7% |
| Rowlett, TX | $124,405 | $112,081 | −9.9% |
| Bossier City, LA | $61,953 | $55,819 | −9.9% |
| League City, TX | $134,235 | $121,099 | −9.8% |
| College Station, TX | $56,390 | $50,900 | −9.7% |
| Ponce zona urbana, PR | $21,437 | $19,470 | −9.2% |
| Sugar Land, TX | $149,251 | $136,217 | −8.7% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $54,729 | $49,994 | −8.7% |
| Beaumont, TX | $62,312 | $56,997 | −8.5% |
Source: ACS 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 5-year estimates; PlainCities significance test at 90% · How changes are tested
How was this measured, and what are its limits?
Both periods are five-year American Community Survey estimates that do not overlap (2015-2019 and 2020-2024), the comparison the Census Bureau recommends. The 2015-2019 medians are converted to 2024 dollars with the BLS R-CPI-U-RS, the index the ACS itself uses. A change counts only when the difference exceeds 1.645 times the combined standard error (90% confidence); places whose estimate has a coefficient of variation above 40% in either period are left out. The test ignores the small correlation between periods, which makes it slightly conservative. Place boundaries can change between the two periods, which can move a median without anyone's income changing.
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections