The Top 25 Cities Where Black Women Are Thriving Financially

When considering where Black women will have financial success and do the best economically, there are some crucial factors to consider: local income levels, poverty rates, crime and potential for homeownership, to name a few.

MoneyGeek used that criteria to narrow down the best cities for Black women, examining data from 200 cities with total populations ranging from 30,000 to 1,000,000. The result? A list that reveals where Black women may feel more economically empowered and are better able to take meaningful steps towards financial independence — from the waterfront suburb of New Rochelle, New York, where Black women are earning 24% above the median wage of $37,402, to Missouri City, Texas, where 98% of Black women live above the poverty level.

Cities were scored in each category and were combined to determine a ranking for each area. High scores are good indicators that it is a city where Black women tend to prosper more. Some places scored much higher in some areas, such as higher income in big cities, but ranked low in the cost of crime.

Black Women's Equal Pay Day this year is Aug. 3, 2021, and according to Equal Pay Today, it marks “the approximate day a Black woman must work into the new year to make what a white, non-Hispanic man made at the end of the previous year.” Equal Pay Day is different in cities across the country.

25. Miramar, FL

^{Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 70.3
• Black Population: 66,435
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $32,282
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $563
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 92%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 5/23/2021

24. Chesapeake, VA

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• Final MoneyGeek Score: 70.7
• Black Population: 73,569
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $39,438
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $1,021
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 88%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 8/17/2021

23. Riverside, CA

^{Matt Gush / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 70.8
• Black Population: 17,525
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $51,879
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $1,304
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 92%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: Equal or better

22. Elk Grove, CA

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• Final MoneyGeek Score: 70.8
• Black Population: 16,212
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $49,482
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $327
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 86%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 7/20/2021

21. Norwalk, CT

^{Miro Vrlik Photography / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 71.3
• Black Population: 15,040
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $41,902
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $440
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 85%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 11/14/2021

20. Tyler, TX

^{LM Photos / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 71.3
• Black Population: 26,827
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $34,010
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $691
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 83%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 8/10/2021

19. Hawthorne, CA

^{TierneyMJ / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 72.3
• Black Population: 18,505
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $40,371
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $1,288
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 93%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 4/2/2021

18. Springfield, MA

^{Sean Pavone / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 72.8
• Black Population: 29,399
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $40,855
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $2,558
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 81%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 6/22/2021

17. Palmdale, CA

^{Clayton Harrison / Shutterstock.com}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 73.2
• Black Population: 24,708
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $33,442
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $1,113
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 86%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 7/6/2021

16. Hampton, VA

^{Sherry V Smith / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 73.2
• Black Population: 67,315
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $39,697
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $1,682
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 85%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 6/28/2021

15. Aurora, IL

^{Nejdet Duzen / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 77.7
• Black Population: 21,403
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $40,493
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $1,020
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 92%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 8/16/2021

14. Virginia Beach, VA

^{Main Focus Media / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 77.7
• Black Population: 85,176
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $40,522
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $946
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 91%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 7/24/2021

13. Compton, CA

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• Final MoneyGeek Score: 78.2
• Black Population: 21,659
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $46,691
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $3,298
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 88%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 1/30/2021

12. Moreno Valley, CA

^{Ollyy / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 79.4
• Black Population: 40,111
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $46,699
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $1,329
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 81%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 1/21/2021

11. Irving, TX

^{Tallmaple / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 80.8
• Black Population: 33,906
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $41,484
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $612
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 85%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 3/7/2021

10. Grand Prairie, TX

^{Trong Nguyen / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 80.8
• Black Population: 40,009
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $43,383
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $642
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 96%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 4/27/2021

9. Rancho Cucamonga, CA

^{Tim Gray / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 82.2
• Black Population: 14,331
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $61,193
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $680
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 87%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 3/4/2021

8. Sandy Springs, GA

^{Jeffery L Willis / Shutterstock.com}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 82.4
• Black Population: 24,523
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $47,552
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $342
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 95%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 12/31/2021

7. Fairfield, CA

^{Eugenio Marongiu / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 85.2
• Black Population: 16,993
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $43,394
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $1,063
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 88%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 3/18/2021

6. Inglewood, CA

^{mimagephotography / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 85.4
• Black Population: 43,590
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $45,883
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $939
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 85%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 2/6/2021

5. Pembroke Pines, FL

^{Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock.com}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 85.6
• Black Population: 40,152
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $41,490
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $775
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 88%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 1/10/2021

4. Alexandria, VA

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• Final MoneyGeek Score: 86.6
• Black Population: 33,266
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $55,713
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $422
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 92%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 6/26/2021

3. Missouri City, TX

^{mimagephotography / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 90.6
• Black Population: 31,765
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $46,594
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $373
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 98%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 6/25/2021

2. New Rochelle, NY

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• Final MoneyGeek Score: 97.4
• Black Population: 13,510
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $58,563
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $187
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 82%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 3/28/2021

1. Southfield, MI

^{SNEHIT PHOTO / Shutterstock}

• Final MoneyGeek Score: 100.0
• Black Population: 45,167
• Median Adjusted Income for Black Women: $52,601
• Cost of Crime per Capita: $643
• Percentage of Black Women Above Poverty Level: 89%
• Local Black Women's Equal Pay Day: 3/31/2021

About the Author

Erin Perkins is a longtime writer and editor who lives in charming North Carolina. She loves simplifying complex issues into easy-to-read stories that empower readers.

Sources

• The Status of Women in the United States. “The Status of Black Women in the United States.” Accessed January 12, 2021.
• Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman. “Black women best: Why putting Black women first may save us from economic disaster.” Accessed January 15, 2020.
• Brentin Mock. “What ‘Livability’ Looks Like for Black Women.” Accessed January 12, 2021.
• Center for American Progress. “Ensuring an Economy That Works for Black Women.” Accessed January 21, 2021.
• National Partnership for Women and Families. “Black Women and the Wage Gap.” Accessed January 22, 2021.
• Catalyst. “Buying Power: Quick Take.” Accessed January 22, 2021.
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey.” Accessed January 20, 2021.
• AAUW. “Black Women and the Pay Gap.” Accessed January 22, 2021.
• Equal Pay Day. "Black Women’s Equal Pay Day.” Accessed January 21, 2021.
• SCORE. “State of African-American Business.” Accessed January 18, 2021.