Income growth and inequality in gateway communities throughout the American west

This study examines income and inequality trends in Western U.S. gateway communities near national parks. Comparing these towns with similarly sized non-gateway communities from 2010 to 2019, the analysis reveals no statistically significant differences in median earnings or inequality. Regression analyses indicate that higher shares of leisure and hospitality jobs, greater in-migration, and higher educational attainment negatively influence median earnings in gateway communities, while population size positively impacts earnings. National park visitation showed no significant relationship with gateway community residents’ median earnings. These results suggest the socio-economic profiles of gateway communities may not be as distinct as commonly believed; there is a need to move beyond simple gateway–non-gateway dichotomies. The findings also highlight a need to refine definitions, improve statistical measures, and incorporate qualitative methods to inform sustainable economic development strategies.