The gap between the rich and poor in big cities in the United States is widening , according to a new report . Atlanta is the most unequal city with the wealthy taking home nearly 20 times more than low-income households , data from the Brookings Institution revealed . The analysis compared 2013 census data for the top five per cent of earners with the bottom 20 per cent to work out the difference in wages . Scroll down for video . The gap between the rich and poor in big cities in the United States is still widening . The map above shows the most equal and unequal cities , according to a new report by the Brookings Institution . Nationwide the rich took home around 9.3 times more money - approximately $ 200,234 in comparison to $ 21,433 . But in big cities it was up to 11.6 times more with top earners pocketing $ 221,700 and lower income households only taking home $ 19,143 . The data showed the average wage for top earners in Atlanta was $ 288,159 - nearly $ 274,000 more than the bottom fifth 's earnings . The income gap was also large in San Francisco , Boston and Miami , with San Francisco boasting the highest earnings for the wealthy at $ 423,171 . Rich households in Washington were the only others to top $ 300,000 . The nation 's most equal city is Virginia Beach , where the rich only take home around six times more . Colorado Springs , Mesa and Oklahoma City are also fairly equal . In total 31 of the 50 largest cities had lower incomes in 2013 than they did in 2007 before the recession . President Obama called on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage , which has been at $ 7.25 since July 2009 , to $ 10.10 in his State of the Union address last year . He is pictured ( above ) at the Cleveland Convention Center and Global Center for Health Innovation yesterday . But only one city - Albuquerque , New Mexico - saw incomes for the wealthy decline between 2012 and 2013 . The report was released amid discussions about minimum wage increases . President Obama called on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage , which has been at $ 7.25 since July 2009 , to $ 10.10 in his State of the Union address last year . Many states - such as Washington , Massachusetts and Florida - have already put increases in place with more promised in the next two years . But the report concluded : 'These findings confirm that income inequality remains a salient issue in many big cities today . 'While the minimum wage is a potentially important means for helping low-earner households living in high-cost places , local policy-makers should not ignore other tools they have at hand - from education to economic development to housing and zoning policies - that are essential for improving social mobility and sustaining income diversity in big cities today . '
Analysis by the Brookings Institution shows Atlanta is most unequal city . It compared top five per cent of earners with bottom 20 per cent . 31 cities had lower incomes in 2007 than they did in 2013 before recession .