CALIFORNIA – A recent study by SmartAsset found that over 20 cities in Southern California had income declines.
Many cities in the region have experienced rising poverty rates and a shrinking middle class due to factors like high living costs and uneven economic recovery post-pandemic.
“According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, household income changes can vary widely across cities, and while some cities see incomes outpace inflation, others may experience sharp declines that exacerbate rising costs,” said the SmartAsset study.
Palmdale had the highest decline in SoCal
Southern California cities that had the highest declines from 2022 to 2023 are Palmdale (−12.83%), Hawthorne (−11.36%), Carlsbad (−10.46%) Hesperia (−8.77%) and Rialto (−6.15%).
Marysville, WA, a suburb of Seattle, had the largest income decline nationwide. The median household income dropped from $104,433 to $85,708 – a 17.93% decrease over just one year.
SmartAsset analyzed data from 630 cities to rank them based on the percentage decline in median household income over one year, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
| Rank | City | One-year change in median income | Median income 2023 | Median income 2022 |
| 16 | Palmdale | -12.83% | $78,743 | $90,330 |
| 24 | Hawthorne | -11.36% | $65,166 | $73,515 |
| 30 | Carlsbad | −10.46% | $131,257 | $146,596 |
| 43 | Hesperia | -8.77% | $67,348 | $73,821 |
| 68 | Rialto | -6.15% | $80,321 | $85,585 |
| 78 | Jurupa Valley | −5.46% | $87,809 | $92,883 |
| 81 | Lancaster | −5.21% | $74,991 | $79,113 |
| 93 | Rancho Cucamonga | −4.60% | $103,358 | $108,345 |
| 96 | Westminster | −4.44% | $81,443 | $85,229 |
| 97 | Menifee | −4.41% | $82,402 | $86,206 |
| 108 | Santa Barbara | −3.81% | $100,041 | $104,001 |
| 110 | Perris | −3.58% | $77,365 | $80,234 |
| 112 | Victorville | −3.55% | $67,099 | $69,569 |
| 115 | Mission Viejo | −3.43% | $122,135 | $126,469 |
| 126 | Yorba Linda | −3.04% | $146,923 | $151,534 |
| 138 | Hemet | −2.46% | $52,824 | $54,156 |
| 145 | Costa Mesa | −2.37% | $101,433 | $103,891 |
| 151 | San Buenaventura | −2.10% | $97,970 | $100,073 |
| 165 | Lake Forest | −1.41% | $126,234 | $128,033 |
| 178 | Burbank | −0.71% | $91,926 | $92,581 |
| 179 | Santa Monica | −0.48% | $109,503 | $110,030 |
| 183 | Anaheim | −0.31% | $84,872 | $85,133 |
Apple Valley had the highest income increase
Although these 22 SoCal cities saw a decrease in incomes, over 50 had an increase.
Apple Valley (37.33%) had the highest increase in Southern California and second highest nationwide. From 2022 to 2023 the median income increased from $56,187 to $77,159.
Other Southern California cities with the highest income increases are Newport Beach (28.83%), Chino Hills (20.11%), Lake Elsinore (19.16%), Oceanside (19.02%) and Upland (16.69%).
Nationwide, Pine Hills, FL had the highest income increase – 65.09%. The median income increased from $43,452 to $71,735.
To read the full report visit https://smartasset.com/data-studies/income-decline-2024
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