How the American middle class has changed in the past five decades
The share of adults who live in middle-class households fell from 61% in 1971 to 50% in 2021, according to a new analysis.
COVID-19 Pandemic Pinches Finances of America’s Lower- and Middle-Income Families
Nearly one-in-five middle-income families report receiving unemployment benefits in 2020.
A growing share of Americans say affordable housing is a major problem where they live
49% of Americans say the availability of affordable housing in their local community is a major problem, up 10 points from early 2018.
Trust in America: How do Americans view economic inequality?
Amid rising inequality, many Americans feel that the U.S. economic system is unfair and generally favors powerful special interests.
How the political typology groups compare
Pew Research Center’s political typology sorts Americans into cohesive, like-minded groups based on their values, beliefs, and views about politics and the political system. Use this tool to compare the groups on some key topics and their demographics.
Despite the pandemic, wage growth held firm for most U.S. workers, with little effect on inequality
Earnings overall have held steady through the pandemic in part because lower-wage workers experienced steeper job losses.
As national eviction ban expires, a look at who rents and who owns in the U.S.
Renters headed 36% of U.S. households in 2019. Young people, racial and ethnic minorities, and those with lower incomes are more likely to rent.
Americans’ views about billionaires have grown somewhat more negative since 2020
A growing share of U.S. adults say it’s a bad thing for the country that some people have personal fortunes of a billion dollars or more.
Are you in the global middle class? Find out with our income calculator
17% of the global population could be considered middle income in 2020. Most people were either low income (51%) or poor (10%).
Digital divide persists even as Americans with lower incomes make gains in tech adoption
The shares of Americans in each income tier who have home broadband or a smartphone have not significantly changed from 2019 to 2021.
