Since 1977 Florida's perÊcapitaÊincome has been steadily approaching that of the nation. This is largely because of increase in per capita income in counties outside of the Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). In 1990 Florida's non-MSA counties had an average per capita income higher than the national average for non-MSA counties, whereas in the 1970s Florida's non-MSA per capita income was well below the national average. Part of the increase comes from the fact that a number of Florida's non-MSA counties are attracting wealthy retirees. Per capita income in Florida's MSA counties has not improved compared with MSA counties for the nation as a whole.
Florida's wealthiest cities are mainly found along the lower east coast, historically famous for affluent communities such as Palm Beach. More recently Naples on the southwest coast has emerged as a city with many wealthy inhabitants. Florida's poorest cities are mainly found on the peninsula. The economies of a number of these communities are based on agriculture.
