Intro
Lynne Dearborn, professor of architecture and urban planning, is featured in a USA Today report providing expert insights about the best U.S. cities for the middle class. The report, “2024 USA Today Homefront report: What cities are best for the middle class?” breaks down national data on cost of living and income in 349 of the largest cities in the country to determine which allow for middle-class families to live comfortably.
Professor Dearborn answered questions regarding common challenges for middle class families in urban areas vs suburban or rural settings, and shared some of the emerging trends we might see in the coming years with shifts in city preferences for those in the middle class.
Dearborn shared: “One major challenge facing middle-class families is that often the physical configuration of available housing options with the right related benefits do not fit that image of the single-family home or, if they do, they are not in the right price range.”
The report provides detailed ranges for cost of living and medium income in the cities and serves as a resource for anyone looking to make moving and living considerations based on data.