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2000 Census

Key Facts - Income - Metro Area Comparisons

Highlights

• Key measures of Twin Cities income ranked in the very top tier among the 25 largest metro areas and surpassed national levels by a wide margin in 1999.
• Among the 25 largest metro areas, the 13-county metro area ranked higher in median household income, median family income and per capita income in 1999 than in 1989.
• Robust income growth characterized the 13-county metro area. Compared to the other 24 largest metro areas, the Twin Cites ranked very high in income growth from 1989 to 1999. (Please note that definitions changed for some metro areas between 1990 and 2000, so the percentage changes are not a perfect measure of income growth for those areas.)
• The exceptionally long economic expansion of the 1990s, combined with the tight labor market and healthy productivity gains prevalent in the last half of the decade, boosted Twin Cities income between 1989 and 1999. An educated work force and a high percentage of people working also contributed.

Household Income

In 1999, median household income reached $54,304 in the Twin Cities and ranked third highest among the 25 largest metro areas. Median household income in the 13-county area climbed from a sixth-place ranking in 1989. San Francisco, California and Washington, D.C. metro areas topped the rankings in 1999.

Median household income in the Twin Cities metro area was nearly 30 percent higher than the nation's in 1999.

From 1989 to 1999, median household income in the 13-county area grew by 14.4 percent after adjustment for inflation, the third-strongest growth rate among the 25 largest metro areas. Only the Denver, Colorado and San Francisco, California metro areas grew faster. (Please note that definitions changed for some metro areas between 1990 and 2000, so the percentage changes are not a perfect measure of income growth for those areas.)

The Twin Cities' 14.4 percent rise in median household income from 1989 to 1999 far exceeded the nation's gain of 7.7 percent after adjustment for inflation.

Family Income

Median family income climbed to $65,450 in the Twin Cities during 1999. The 13-county metro area ranked third in median family income among the largest 25 metro areas. The Twin Cities ranked fifth in median family income during 1989.

In 1999, median family income in the 13-county metro area was slightly more than 30 percent above the nation's.

Median family income in the 13-county area increased fastest among the 25 largest metro areas between 1989 and 1999. In the Twin Cities, median family income grew by 16.6 percent over the decade after adjustment for inflation. (Please note that definitions changed for some metro areas between 1990 and 2000, so the percentage changes are not a perfect measure of income growth for those areas.)

The Twin Cities' 16.6 percent rise in median family income from 1989 to 1999 easily surpassed the nation's gain of 9.5 percent after adjustment for inflation.

Per Capita Income

In 1999, per capita income rose to $26,219 in the Twin Cities. Per capita income in the 13-county metro area ranked fourth highest among the 25 largest metro areas, up from seventh place a decade earlier.

Per capita income in the 13-county area was more than 20 percent above the nation's in 1999.

From 1989 to 1999, per capita income in the 13-county area grew by 19.9 percent after adjustment for inflation, the fourth-highest growth rate among the 25 largest metro areas. (Please note that definitions changed for some metro areas between 1990 and 2000, so the percentage changes are not a perfect measure of income growth for those areas.)

The Twin Cities' 19.9 percent growth in per capita income from 1989 to 1999 exceeded the nation's rate of 15.3 percent after adjustment for inflation.

Metropolitan Area Income Rankings

Metropolitan Area Income Rankings of Median Household, Family Income and Per Capita Income.

• Excel File
• pdf file

Notes

The information above comes from 2000 and 1990 Census data produced by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The 25 largest metro areas are those with the highest population reported in the 2000 Census.