10 Cities Where the American Dream Is Still Alive

Of the largest cities in America, these 10 give you the best chances of starring in your own rags-to-riches tale.

By Max Nisen

Shutterstock

This story originally appeared on Business Insider

In many ways, the American dream is in trouble. Increasing inequality means that it's harder than ever to break into the top income brackets from the bottom. 

A new study from some of the most prominent academic economists around, including John Bates Clark winner Raj Chetty and Emmanuel Saez, that was featured in The New York Times finds that there's massive regional variation in how many people crawl out of poverty. 

The key lesson? It's better to be born in the Northeast or on the West Coast than the South and Midwest. Atlanta, Charlotte, Indianapolis, and Detroit are the least upwardly mobile large cities in the country. 

In Atlanta, a child born in the poorest 20% only has a 4% chance of moving to the top 20%. 

Among the things common to upwardly mobile cities were mixed communities of poor and middle income people, rather than intense concentrations; more two-person households; better schools; and higher civic engagement. 

Here are the 10 cities out of the largest 50 in America where somebody born in the poorest fifth of the income distribution has the best chance to make it to the top fifth. 

Shutterstock

New York City, N.Y.

9.7% chance of reaching the top fifth from the bottom.
 

Boston, Mass.

A 9.8% chance.

Manchester, N.H.

A 9.9% chance.

See also: New Study Has Great News For People Who Were Unpopular In High School

Sacramento, Calif.

A 10.3% chance.

Wikimedia Commons

Pittsburgh, Pa.

A 10.3% chance.
 

San Diego, Calif.

A 10.4% chance.

See also: The 25 Best Companies For Having A Life Outside Of Work

Seattle, Wash.

A 10.4% chance.

San Francisco, Calif.

An 11.2% chance.
 

Ed Schipul via flcikr

San Jose, Calif.

An 11.2% chance.

See more: 17 Ways Successful People Keep Work From Destroying Their Lives

Salt Lake City, Utah

An 11.5% chance.
 

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

Everyone Wants to Get Close to Their Favorite Artist. Here's the Technology Making It a Reality — But Better.
The Highest-Paid, Highest-Profile People in Every Field Know This Communication Strategy
After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.
Having Trouble Speaking Up in Meetings? Try This Strategy.
He Names Brands for Amazon, Meta and Forever 21, and Says This Is the Big Blank Space in the Naming Game
Business News

American Airlines Sued After Teen Dies of Heart Attack Onboard Flight to Miami

Kevin Greenridge was traveling from Honduras to Miami on June 4, 2022, on AA Flight 614 when he went into cardiac arrest and became unconscious mid-flight.

Leadership

How to Detect a Liar in Seconds Using Nonverbal Communication

There are many ways to understand if someone is not honest with you. The following signs do not even require words and are all nonverbal queues.

Business News

Mark Zuckerberg Has Promised More Transparency Amid Meta Layoffs — 5 Reasons That's a Smart Strategy

For decades, transparency hasn't been particularly popular among business leaders who manage teams. The times are changing though, and transparency is now gaining traction.

Business News

Would You Buy Maggie Murdaugh's Monogrammed Snake Print Pillows? Items From the Murdaugh Family Home Are Going Up for Auction

The sale comes just weeks after Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to two consecutive life terms for the June 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son Paul Murdaugh.

Living

The Dark Side of Pay Transparency — And What to Do If You Find Out You're Being Underpaid

There are many reasons employers and workers advocate for pay transparency — it can build trust, lead to fair compensation for historically underpaid individuals and eliminate the stigma surrounding money talk. But as the practice becomes normalized, honesty can backfire.