#1

Missing Middle

what it is · what it means

Opticos principal Daniel Parolek coined the phrase in 2010, but almost a decade later, many of us still have no idea what it means.

According to Optics, the “missing middle” is a “range of multi-unit or clustered housing types compatible in scale with single-family homes that help meet the growing demand for walkable urban living.” Examples of this type of housing include:

• Stacked Duplexes
• Side-by-Side Duplexes
• Townhouses
• Mixed Use
• Courtyard Apartments
• Carriage Homes

#2

shrinking middle class

the stats · the effects

People also use “missing middle” to describe America’s shrinking Middle Class. This is causing a domino effect in housing.

The number of middle-income households dropped by 12% from 1970 to 2016¹. Only lower-income and upper-income households grew. A number of middle-income households simply are not able to save or qualify to buy their own home.

These changes have lead to:

• Higher demand for rentals
• “highest & lowest price points” demand
• Lower demand for median-priced homes

#3

Class Calculator

am i middle class · comparison

Pew Research updated its Class Calculator in 2018. about half of American adults lived in middle income households in 2016.

The numbers for adults break down like this:

• 52% lived in middle-income households
• 29% lived in lower-income households
• 19% lived in upper-income households

What group are you in? Check out the class calculator to find out.