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 93 times more money   approximately $200,234 in comparison to $21,433 but in big cities it was up to 116 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 $725 since july 2009, to $1010 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 $725 since july 2009, to $1010 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'
20 per cent five per cent 2007 2013 the brookings institution atlanta
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 2013 than they did in 2007 before recession 