The aspiration for many middle-class Americans has always been a life of comfort and stability — a secure home, enough savings for retirement, and the occasional indulgence like family vacations or home renovations. However, with the costs of living on the rise in recent years, achieving this dream has become more costly. The most recent data reveals that the income required to uphold a middle-class lifestyle has increased, reflecting inflation and changes in wages nationwide.
Using Pew Research’s definition of middle income — ranging from two-thirds to double the median household income — SmartAsset has calculated the income brackets for the middle class in 100 major U.S. cities and all 50 states, based on the latest U.S. Census Bureau data.
Key Highlights
– Middle-class income in major cities varies from $49,478 to $71,359. This data is derived from the most recent Census Bureau statistics, with a median household income of $74,225 across the largest 100 U.S. cities. Last year, the income range for the middle class was $47,568 to $142,718, when the median income was $71,359.
– Massachusetts has surpassed New Jersey as the most expensive state for middle-class living. In Massachusetts, a household needs an income between $66,565 and $199,716 to be considered middle class, compared to the previous range of $62,986 to $188,976. Following closely behind are New Jersey ($66,514 to $199,562) and Maryland ($65,779 to $197,356) with the second and third highest middle-class income ranges this year.
– In certain cities, even an income of $280,000 may still fall within the middle-class bracket. Arlington, Virginia, sets the highest threshold for middle-class status at $93,470 to $280,438. Similarly, cities in California such as San Jose ($90,810 to $272,458), Irvine ($85,317 to $255,978), and San Francisco ($84,478 to $253,460) require substantial earnings to maintain middle-class status.
– Detroit remains the city with the lowest income range to be classified as a middle-class household, starting at $25,384 and peaking at $76,160. Following closely are three cities in Ohio: Cleveland ($26,025 to $78,082), Toledo ($30,865 to $92,604), and Cincinnati ($36,206 to $108,628).
– Mississippi continues to have the lowest middle-class earnings at the state level, with a range of $36,132 to $108,406, up from $35,142 to $105,438 in 2022, as the median income increased by 2.8% to $54,203. West Virginia ($37,295 to $111,896) and Louisiana ($38,815 to $116,458) follow suit, each experiencing
Incomes for 2023:
– Average income: $253,460
– Median income: $136,692
– Middle class income range (lower bound): $91,118
– Middle class income range (upper bound): $273,384
Gilbert, Arizona:
– Median income in 2023: $122,445
– Middle class income range (lower bound) in 2023: $81,622
– Middle class income range (upper bound) in 2023: $244,890
Seattle, Washington:
– Median income in 2023: $120,608
– Middle class income range (lower bound) in 2023: $80,397
– Middle class income range (upper bound) in 2023: $241,216
Plano, Texas:
– Median income in 2023: $108,594
– Middle class income range (lower bound) in 2023: $72,389
– Middle class income range (upper bound) in 2023: $217,188
Washington, District of Columbia:
– Median income in 2023: $108,210
– Middle class income range (lower bound) in 2023: $72,133
– Middle class income range (upper bound) in 2023: $216,420
Chula Vista, California:
– Median income in 2023: $106,623
– Middle class income range (lower bound) in 2023: $71,075
– Middle class income range (upper bound) in 2023: $213,246
Scottsdale, Arizona:
– Median income in 2023: $106,058
– Middle class income range (lower bound) in 2023: $70,698
– Middle class income range (upper bound) in 2023: $212,116
Top 10 Cities With the Lowest Middle Class Income Threshold:
Detroit, Michigan:
– Median income in 2023: $38,080
– Middle class income range (lower bound) in 2023: $25,384
– Middle class income range (upper bound) in 2023: $76,160
Cleveland, Ohio:
– Median income in 2023: $39,041
– Middle class income range (lower bound) in 2023: $26,025
– Middle class income range (upper bound) in 2023: $78,082
Toledo, Ohio:
– Median income in 2023: $46,302
– Middle class income range (lower bound) in 2023: $30,865
– Middle class income range (upper bound) in 2023: $92,604
Buffalo, New York:
– Median income in 2023: $46,458
– Middle class income range (lower bound) in 202
In 2022, the median income in Newark, New Jersey was $49,688, with lower bounds on middle-class income at $33,122 and upper bounds at $99,376. The median income for 2023 in Newark was $53,818, with lower bounds at $35,875 and upper bounds at $107,636.
For Cincinnati, Ohio, the median income in 2022 was $48,130, with lower bounds on middle-class income at $32,083 and upper bounds at $96,260. In 2023, the median income increased to $54,314, with lower bounds at $36,206 and upper bounds at $108,628.
In Lubbock, Texas, the median income was $56,910 in 2022, with lower bounds on middle-class income at $37,936 and upper bounds at $113,820. The median income for 2023 in Lubbock was $54,451, with lower bounds at $36,297 and upper bounds at $108,902.
New Orleans, Louisiana had a median income of $52,322 in 2022, with lower bounds on middle-class income at $34,878 and upper bounds at $104,644. In 2023, the median income was $55,580, with lower bounds at $37,050 and upper bounds at $111,160.
Among the top 10 states with the highest middle-class income threshold, Massachusetts had a median income of $94,488 in 2022, with lower bounds on middle-class income at $62,986 and upper bounds at $188,976. In 2023, the median income increased to $99,858, with lower bounds at $66,565 and upper bounds at $199,716.
New Jersey and Maryland also featured in the top 10 states, with New Jersey having a median income of $96,346 in 2022 and $99,781 in 2023, while Maryland had a median income of $94,991 in 2022 and $98,678 in 2023.
Other states in the top 10 include New Hampshire, California, Hawaii, Washington, Utah, and Colorado, each with varying median incomes and upper and lower bounds on middle-class income for 2022 and 2023.
Here is the revised text:
Incomes for 2023 are as follows:
– Class income: $61,934
– Upper bounds on middle-class income: $185,822
– Median income: $89,302
– Lower bounds on middle-class income: $59,529
– Upper bounds on middle-class income: $178,604
Connecticut’s income data for 2023:
– Median income: $91,665
– Lower bounds on middle-class income: $61,104
– Upper bounds on middle-class income: $183,330
Top 10 States With the Lowest Middle Income Threshold:
Mississippi:
– Median income (2023): $54,203
– Lower bounds on middle-class income: $36,132
– Upper bounds on middle-class income: $108,406
West Virginia:
– Median income (2023): $55,948
– Lower bounds on middle-class income: $37,295
– Upper bounds on middle-class income: $111,896
Louisiana:
– Median income (2023): $58,229
– Lower bounds on middle-class income: $38,815
– Upper bounds on middle-class income: $116,458
Arkansas:
– Median income (2023): $58,700
– Lower bounds on middle-class income: $39,129
– Upper bounds on middle-class income: $117,400
Kentucky:
– Median income (2023): $61,118
– Lower bounds on middle-class income: $40,741
– Upper bounds on middle-class income: $122,236
Oklahoma:
– Median income (2023): $62,138
– Lower bounds on middle-class income: $41,421
– Upper bounds on middle-class income: $124,276
Alabama:
– Median income (2023): $62,212
– Lower bounds on middle-class income: $41,471
– Upper bounds on middle-class income: $124,424
New Mexico:
– Median income (2023): $62,268
– Lower bounds on middle-class income: $41,508
– Upper bounds on middle-class income: $124,536
Tennessee:
– Median income (2023): $67,631
– Lower bounds on middle-class income: $45,083
– Upper bounds on middle-class income: $135,262
Ohio:
– Median income (2023): $67,769
– Lower bounds on middle-class income: $45,175
– Upper bounds on middle-class income: $135,538
Data and Methodology: SmartAsset analyzed the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 1-year American Community Survey data to determine the income limits for the middle class in 100 of the largest U.S. cities.
As well as all 50 states. We applied a variation of the Pew Research definition of middle-income households, which defines a middle-class salary range by two-thirds to double the median U.S. salary, to determine the middle-class income range. Questions about this study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com. Photo credit: iStock.com/akurtz. The post What It Takes to Be Middle Class in America – 2025 Study appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.
