On average, America's top 20 percent of earners make at least $4.61 for every $1 that the bottom 20 percent earn — but in some parts of the country, the income gap is far greater.

Using data from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps for 2024, SmartAsset ranked 96 of the largest US cities based on the percentage increase in income equality between 2023 and 2024.

Madison, Wisconsin, saw the largest increase in income inequality, with the gap between the city's highest and lowers earners growing by 4.56 percent in just a year.

Income inequality also grew significantly in Chesapeake, Virginia (4.41 percent), Oakland, California (3.24 percent), and Fremont, California (3.24 percent).

The biggest decrease in income inequality was seen in Richmond, Virginia, where the income spread between the highest- and lowest-earning quintiles reduced by around 11.2 percent over the year studied.

New Orleans, Louisiana, had the highest income inequality in 2024, with the top 20 percent of earners bringing home almost eight times more than the lowest 20 percent.

The lowest income inequality, on the other hand, was found in Boise, Idaho. Last year, the city's top-earning quintile only made around $3.90 for every dollar made by the lowest-earning quintile.

Via SmartAsset.

[Image credit: Alek Olson]