The middle class in these Alabama cities is booming

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May 11, 2015

The Limestone County Courthouse in Athens, Alabama (courtesy of visitathensal.com)

ATHENS, Ala. — In contrast to most areas of the country, the middle class in several Alabama cities is booming, according to personal finance and economics website NerdWallet.

Middle class residents of Athens, Alabama have increased their share of income by 8.56 percent since 2007. The average middle class household income in the north Alabama town is now $51,046, while average housing costs are only $670 a month. All of that combined propelled Athens’ middle class the second highest ranking on NerdWallet’s list.

Three other Alabama cities made the top 100, with Enterprise at #17, Tuscaloosa at #57, and Northport at #77.

Cities were given their rankings based on weighting the middle-class share of total household income (25 percent of the score), the 2007-2013 change in middle-class share of total household income (25 percent of the score), the 2007-2013 change in average middle-class household income (25 percent of the scores, the average middle-class household income (12.5 percent of the score), and monthly housing costs (12.5 percent of the score).

Interestingly, the ranking notes that of the 100 cities where the middle class is the strongest, #43 Frisco, Texas is the largest with a population of 129,551.

“The numbers reveal a clear difference between the urban middle class and the middle class in the nation’s suburbs and small cities,” the report states. “The middle class in large cities, with populations of 200,000 or higher, owns 46% of total household income in those areas. Meanwhile, the middle class in small cities, places with populations under 75,000, has 49% of household income.

“In large cities, the average middle-class income of about $52,194 is 16% lower than the average household income of $62,150 earned by the middle class in smaller cities.

“These figures reflect a narrative that has long existed — that suburbia is a friendlier place for the middle class than large urban centers and the challenges of those locations, such as cost of living, safety and quality of schools.”

In fact, NerdWallet found, the only major urban center in the U.S. where the middle class has strengthened since 2007 is Fort Worth, Texas.