Where Did They Go? The Decline of Middle-Income Neighborhoods in Metropolitan America

Where Did They Go? The Decline of Middle-Income Neighborhoods in Metropolitan America: "Although middle-income families have declined considerably as a share of the overall family income distribution, it is noteworthy that middle-class neighborhoods have disappeared even faster in metropolitan areas, especially in cities. This trend suggests increased sorting of high- and low-income families into neighborhoods that reflect their own economic profiles, and increased vulnerability of middle-class neighborhoods 'tipping' towards higher- or lower-income status."

The full report is on the Brookings Institution's website in pdf form. An article in the SF Chronicle summarizes the results as they apply to the Bay Area. It points out that the decline of middle income neighborhoods in SF is a result of gentrification as opposed to urban decline in cities like Baltimore and Philly.