The Gini coefficient quantifies income inequality within a population.
Scale
- 0 = perfect equality
- 1 = perfect inequality
Most real-world markets fall between those extremes.
Why It Matters for Livability
High inequality can coexist with high median income. That means "high-paying" does not always mean broadly affordable or financially stable for most households.
Complementary Metrics
Use Gini alongside median income, poverty rate, and housing burden to avoid over-reading a single headline statistic.
Relocation Lens
Workers evaluating long-term fit may prefer metros with strong wage levels and moderate inequality, especially when planning for family stability.