Three Southern California cities ranked among the U.S. cities where median household income increased the most, a new report shows.
Anaheim, Irvine and Long Beach were among the top 10 cities with the largest income gains, according to a report from financial technology company SmartAsset.
To identify where incomes increased and decreased the most, SmartAsset analyzed U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data, using one-year estimates from 2023 and 2024 for 94 cities with populations of at least 250,000. To make a direct comparison, 2023 income figures were adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars. The company then ranked cities based on the percentage change in median household income.
Here's what to know about the report, including what it
found for California and the rest of the nation.
What report found for California
Here are the California cities where median household income saw the largest gains, according to SmartAsset's report.
No. 2: Anaheim
- 2024 median household income: $101,145
- 2023 median household income (inflation-adjusted): $87,365
- 2023 median household income (actual): $84,872
- Year-over-year change: 15.8%
No. 7: Irvine
- 2024 median household income: $145,731
- 2023 median household income (inflation-adjusted): $131,749
- 2023 median household income (actual): $127,989
- Year-over-year change: 10.6%
No. 10: Long Beach
- 2024 median household income: $91,318
- 2023 median household income (inflation-adjusted): $84,004
- 2023 median household income (actual): $81,606
- Year-over-year change: 8.7%
No. 14: Santa Ana
- 2024 median household income: $95,118
- 2023 median household income (inflation-adjusted): $88,438
- 2023 median household income (actual): $85,914
- Year-over-year change: 7.6%
No. 16: San Francisco
- 2024 median household income: $139,801
- 2023 median household income (inflation-adjusted): $130,453
- 2023 median household income (actual): $126,730
- Year-over-year change: 7.2%
No. 17: Fresno
- 2024 median household income: $74,491
- 2023 median household income (inflation-adjusted): $69,589
- 2023 median household income (actual): $67,603
- Year-over-year change: 7.0%
No. 20: San Jose
- 2024 median household income: $148,226
- 2023 median household income (inflation-adjusted): $140,231
- 2023 median household income (actual): $136,229
- Year-over-year change: 5.7%
No. 41: Sacramento
- 2024 median household income: $91,387
- 2023 median household income (inflation-adjusted): $88,452
- 2023 median household income (actual): $85,928
- Year-over-year change: 3.3%
No. 50: Oakland
- 2024 median household income: $102,235
- 2023 median household income (inflation-adjusted): $99,673
- 2023 median household income (actual): $96,828
- Year-over-year change: 2.6%
No. 54: San Diego
- 2024 median household income: $111,032
- 2023 median household income (inflation-adjusted): $108,888
- 2023 median household income (actual): $105,780
- Year-over-year change: 2.0%
Where income growth was weakest in California
Here are the California cities that saw the smallest increases or declines in median household income, according to the report from SmartAsset.
No. 61: Bakersfield
- 2024 median household income: $82,093
- 2023 median household income (inflation-adjusted): $81,686
- 2023 median household income (actual): $79,355
- Year-over-year change: 0.5%
No. 62: Los Angeles
- 2024 median household income: $82,263
- 2023 median household income (inflation-adjusted): $82,043
- 2023 median household income (actual): $79,701
- Year-over-year change: 0.3%
No. 63: Stockton
- 2024 median household income: $78,627
- 2023 median household income (inflation-adjusted): $78,429
- 2023 median household income (actual): $76,191
- Year-over-year change: 0.3%
No. 70: Riverside
- 2024 median household income: $90,004
- 2023 median household income (inflation-adjusted): $90,765
- 2023 median household income (actual): $88,175
- Year-over-year change: -0.8%
No. 85: Chula Vista
- 2024 median household income: $105,101
- 2023 median household income (inflation-adjusted): $109,755
- 2023 median household income (actual): $106,623
- Year-over-year change: -4.2%
Where incomes increased the most nationally
Here are the top 10 cities with the largest gains in median household income, according to SmartAsset. Three California cities cracked the top 10: Anaheim (No. 2), Irvine (No. 7) and Long Beach (No. 10).
- No. 1: Enterprise, Nevada | 18.3%
- No. 2: Anaheim, California | 15.8%
- No. 3: Henderson, Nevada | 12.4%
- No. 4: Tampa, Florida | 12.2%
- No. 5: Port St. Lucie, Florida | 11.8%
- No. 6: Lubbock, Texas | 11.3%
- No. 7: Irvine, California | 10.6%
- No. 8: Madison, Wisconsin | 9.2%
- No. 9: Buffalo, New York | 9.2%
- No. 10: Long Beach, California | 8.7%
Where incomes declined the most nationally
Here are the 10 cities with the greatest declines in median household income, according to SmartAsset. Chula Vista was the only California city in the group, ranking No. 85 overall.
- No. 94: St. Paul, Minnesota | -7.8%
- No. 93: St. Louis, Missouri | -7.8%
- No. 92: Minneapolis, Minnesota | -6.8%
- No. 91: Chesapeake, Virginia | -6.4%
- No. 90: Miami, Florida | -6.1%
- No. 89: Winston-Salem, North Carolina | -5.2%
- No. 88: Denver, Colorado | -4.6%
- No. 87: Seattle, Washington | -4.4%
- No. 86: Raleigh, North Carolina | -4.3%
- No. 85: Chula Vista, California | -4.2%
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 3 SoCal cities rank among top in nation for income growth, report finds
