Richard Florida explores differing measures of inequality, considering both wage inequality and income inequality in American metropolitan cities.
The issues of wage and income inequality has never been more pressing during this political season. The rise in globalization, new technologies and productivity has resulted in a shrinking middle class and a critical divide between high-paying, knowledge-based, skilled jobs and lower-wage, unskilled jobs.
The measure of wage inequality for the metro areas in the US is based on the Theil Index which compares the wages of lower skill service and manufacturing jobs to higher skill knowledge and professional jobs. The most unequal metro cities are Huntsville, Silicon Valley, College Station-Bryan, Boulder and Durham.
Florida writes that, "While wage inequality considers the differences between salaries only, this measure of income inequality compares all income, including rents, royalties, and dividends." Based on the 2010 American Community Survey, the Gini coefficient was used to measure income inequality; the larger metros of Bridgeport-Stamford, Greater New York and Miami and smaller metros like Naples, Gainesville, Vero Beach, and College Station made the list.
When taken together, "There's only a modest association between these two measures of inequality. In fact, wage inequality accounts for just 15 percent of the variation in income equality across metros."
Florida will examine the deeper relevance and causes of this information in a future post.
FULL STORY: The Inequality of American Cities

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie