Advertisement

Manhattan's rich get richer, poor get poorer, at widest gap in the U.S.

The wage gap between the top 5 percent of households and the bottom 20 percent in Manhattan is the largest in the country.

By Gabrielle Levy
It's not your imagination: the rich in Manhattan really are richer, and the poor are poorer. UPI/NASA/Robert Markowitz
It's not your imagination: the rich in Manhattan really are richer, and the poor are poorer. UPI/NASA/Robert Markowitz | License Photo

NEW YORK, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- It's not your imagination: the rich in Manhattan really are richer, and the poor are poorer.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau found the New York City borough has the largest wage gap of any county in the country, according to the American Community Survey released Thursday.

Advertisement

From 2012 to 2013, the top 5 percent of households increased their mean outcome by 9 percent, earning an average of $864,394. That's 88 times more than the average of the poorest 20 percent.

Overall, median household income for all of New York City rose from $51,640 to $52,223, still short of the $55,307 in 2008. But while the soaring stock market and flush financial industry have lined the pockets of the wealthiest New Yorkers, bringing up the average, others have fallen behind.

Citywide, the poverty rate is 21 percent -- about 1.7 million people -- and higher than in 2012. The federal poverty level is $11,170 for one person and $23,050 for a family of four.

Latest Headlines