The gap widens. If incomes are rising for everyone in the city, digging into the numbers we have confirmation of a two-speed city: those who are “rich” see their incomes grow more strongly, while the suburbs go at a slower pace. This is revealed by new data from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, reworked by the data intelligence company InTwig, which sifted through the tax returns relating to 2022 divided on the basis of the 9 city postal codes. The ranking of the neighborhoods remains unchanged, but two elements are striking: in the “richest” districts, the average income is more than double compared to the “poorest” ones (47,683 euros per year versus 23,112 euros, looking at the extremes). Furthermore, the growth rate of incomes is more than double, thus widening the gap.
Three income brackets
Numbers in hand, the neighborhoods seem stratified into three different income groups. Let’s start from the top: Postcode 24121 (the “east” area of the centre, between Viale Papa Giovanni and Pignolo) rises to 47,683 euros on average with an annual growth of 7.2% (+3,217 euros), consolidating the city’s lead. In second place is Postcode 24129, essentially the large area between Longuelo, the Colli and Città Alta, where the average income rises to 40,790 euros (+6.5%, i.e. +2,502 euros); further away, but still on the podium, is Postcode 24128, between Loreto, Santa Lucia and San Paolo, with an average income of 36,608 euros (+6.4% i.e. +2,207 euros). Then there is a more central band, with very similar incomesn the. Postcode 24122, which includes the “west” area of the center (Sant’Alessandro), is at 32,524 euros (+3.7%, i.e. +1,174 euros); the Postcode 24124 (Redona, Santa Caterina) rises to 30,029 euros (+5.6%, i.e. + 1,592 euros); the Postcode 24123 (Conca Fiorita, Monterosso, Valtesse-San Colombano, Valtesse-Sant’Antonio) reaches 29,639 euros (+4.8%, i.e. +1,362 euros).
«The social fabric is aging and will be increasingly composed of single-family households, a scenario that will increasingly involve social services and institutions as a whole»
Finally we go down to the lowest range, with three other areas characterized by similar and medium-low values. Postcode 24127 (Grumello, Malpensata, San Tomaso, Villaggio degli Sposi) has an average income of 24,456 euros and reports a slightly faster pace (+4.9%, i.e. +1,145 euros), unlike two other areas which they are growing yes, but very little: postal code 24125 (Boccaleone, Borgo Palazzo, Celadina) in fact sees its income increase by only 2.3% (rising to 23,678 euros, 528 more than in 2021), postcode 24126 (Campagnola, Carnovali , Colognola) improves by just 2.8% and remains at the bottom (average income of 23,112, 637 more than 2021).
Social and demographic challenge
«The data from Bergamo are consistent with the national scenario, starting from the fracture between the center and the suburbs – notes Aldo Cristadoro, CEO of InTwig –, with challenges also for those who are trying to govern the city. The social fabric is aging and will be increasingly composed of single-family households, a scenario that will increasingly involve social services and institutions as a whole.” The challenge, even before being social, is demographic: «Bergamo is however the third capital with the highest incomes in Italy – recalls Cristadoro –: pockets of difficulty exist, but fortunately they are limited. In the face of ageing, the answer lies in competitiveness, because the way is to make the city increasingly attractive for couples and young people of working age who can contribute to welfare. At the same time, we must prevent the gap from widening by reflecting on how we can keep the most dynamic and European part of the city together with the part that is struggling the most.”
