Median household income in the Tampa Bay area ($45,880.) ranks dead last among the nation’s 25 largest metropolitan areas, according to a recent study conducted by financial advisor website interest.com. Following Tampa Bay for lowest income metro areas are: Miami – $49,946; Pittsburg – $51,291; San Antonio – $51,716 and Phoenix – $51,647.

Highest income metro areas are: Washington, DC at $90,149; San Francisco at $79,624; Boston at $72,907; Baltimore at $68,455 and Seattle at $67,479.

Affordability, however, isn’t the problem. The area’s median home price is $156,000 – making it the 4^th most affordable area according to the study. The median income is what leaves middle class families 3-percent short of the money needed to buy even the most average of homes.

The interest.com study follows a sobering report released by the United Way which found that about 600,000 households in Tampa Bay struggle to afford basic needs. Nevertheless, there is a hint of good news – each year since 2012 the median household income has risen, albeit slowly.