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<p>True that, but most of the nation’s population now lives in urbanized areas, so people in those areas are going to dominate the income distribution tables. </p>
<p>And just as important as the urban/rural split, there are also big differences among metropolitan regions. A family living comfortably in suburban Detroit on $100,000/yr would need to make twice that to maintain the same lifestyle in New York City. In fact, the cost-of-living calculator I’m look at says the cost of living in the Detroit metro is about 10% lower than in Lynchburg, VA. Not that I’m suggesting you relocate . . . .</p>