A 2-tier economy is becoming standard; it isn't at all unique to your area. The middle class has been shrinking for a long time and even the working class seems to be closing off. Moving up is a thing of the past. It takes everything we've got just to maintain a precarious hold on what little we have.

Gender conflicts among rigidly cicgendered people, both within and between their polarized groupings, is also not unique and something that both bores and annoys me. I dream of a post-gender society. And also one without the concept of money. What you're descirbing is classic gentrification, though at a much higher scale than in most areas. And you're right, Social Darwinism plays a huge underlying role in defense of the practice.

The DSM5 changed it to autism spectrum disorder for a reason. There are no clear tiers, it's a wide range of overlapping traits that aren't at the same level for everyone. One person on the spectrum might have no trouble with humor or sarcasm but have ultra-high sensory sensitivities. Another might be almost nonverbal but handle change almost as well as an NT. It sounds like it's the nonverbal stuff you have trouble with if languages come with relative ease if you put effort but have no success with NT communication. People judge a lot more harshly on facial expression, tone, and body language than the words you speak. Writing frees people of those constraints.