How much income do you need to enjoy a middle-class life in your city?
SmartAsset determined the income ranges for a household to be considered middle class in 345 of the largest U.S. cities, as well as each state.
Jaclyn DeJohn
Posted 5/15/24
SmartAsset determined the income ranges for a household to be considered middle class in 345 of the largest U.S. cities, as well as each state.
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How much income do you need to enjoy a middle-class life in your city?
SmartAsset determined the income ranges for a household to be considered middle class in 345 of the largest U.S. cities, as well as each state.
Posted
Jaclyn DeJohn
ungvar // Shutterstock
As a middle-class American, there is some expectation for living a lifestyle of relative comfort. But as costs have increased significantly over the last few years, the middle class is now feeling a squeeze in their finances. Accordingly, the income limits that define the middle class have also increased as a reflection of what most Americans are currently earning.
Using Pew Research's definition of middle income of two-thirds to double the median income in an area, SmartAsset determined the income ranges for a household to be considered middle class in 345 of the largest U.S. cities, as well as each state.
Key findings
In a large U.S. city, a middle-class income averages between $52,000 and $155,000. The median household income across all 345 cities is $77,345, making middle-class income limits fall between $51,558 and $154,590.
On a state level, it takes the most money to be middle class in New Jersey. A household making between $64,224 and $192,692 would be considered middle class on a state level. Maryland ($63,321 to $189,982) and Massachusetts ($62,986 to $188,976) follow closely behind.
You can be making over $300,000 and still be middle class in six U.S. cities. Households have the highest middle class income limits in Sunnyvale, CA, at $339,562. Fremont, CA ($324,672); San Mateo, CA ($318,550); Santa Clara, CA ($317,228); Bellevue, WA ($307,558); and Highlands Ranch, CO ($304,076) also have the top-earning middle class thresholds.
New York City's middle class doesn't earn much compared to the cost of living. Despite Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens having a significantly higher cost of living than most U.S. cities, the limits on the middle class are relatively low, ranging from $49,791 to $149,388.
It takes less than $25,000 to be considered middle class in Detroit. The Motor City has the lowest median income of large U.S. cities at $36,453. Based on Pew Research's definition, a household in Detroit making $24,299 would still be considered middle class at the lower threshold. The upper limit would be $72,906.
Mississippi has the lowest-earning middle class at the state level. Mississippi residents making between $35,142 and $105,438 would be considered middle class. West Virginia ($36,216 to $108,658) and Louisiana ($36,940 to $110,832) also have among the top three lowest-earning middle class limits.
Top 10 cities with the highest middle class thresholds
SmartAsset
Sunnyvale, California
Median household income: $169,781
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $113,176
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $339,562
Fremont, California
Median household income: $162,336
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $108,213
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $324,672
San Mateo, California
Median household income: $159,275
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $106,173
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $318,550
Santa Clara, California
Median household income: $158,614
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $105,732
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $317,228
Bellevue, Washington
Median household income: $153,779
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $102,509
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $307,558
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Median household income: $152,038
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $101,349
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $304,076
Carlsbad, California
Median household income: $146,596
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $97,721
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $293,192
Frisco, Texas
Median household income: $145,914
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $97,266
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $291,828
Naperville, Illinois
Median household income: $140,831
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $93,878
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $281,662
The Woodlands, Texas
Median household income: $137,335
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $91,548
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $274,670
Top 10 cities with the lowest middle class thresholds
Detroit, Michigan
Median household income: $36,453
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $24,300
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $72,906
Cleveland, Ohio
Median household income: $37,351
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $24,898
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $74,702
Birmingham, Alabama
Median household income: $39,326
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $26,215
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $78,652
Jackson, Mississippi
Median household income: $40,631
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $27,085
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $81,262
Hartford, Connecticut
Median household income: $41,529
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $27,683
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $83,058
Gainesville, Florida
Median household income: $42,453
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $28,299
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $84,906
Rochester, New York
Median household income: $43,631
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $29,084
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $87,262
Shreveport, Louisiana
Median household income: $43,643
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $29,092
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $87,286
Dayton, Ohio
Median household income: $43,780
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $29,184
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $87,560
Springfield, Massachusetts
Median household income: $44,286
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $29,521
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $88,572
Top 10 states with the highest middle class thresholds
SmartAsset
New Jersey
Median household income: $96,346
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $64,224
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $192,692
Maryland
Median household income: $94,991
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $63,321
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $189,982
Massachusetts
Median household income: $94,488
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $62,986
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $188,976
Hawaii
Median household income: $92,458
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $61,633
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $184,916
California
Median household income: $91,551
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $61,028
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $183,102
Washington
Median household income: $91,306
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $60,865
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $182,612
New Hampshire
Median household income: $89,992
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $59,989
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $179,984
Colorado
Median household income: $89,302
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $59,529
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $178,604
Utah
Median household income: $89,168
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $59,439
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $178,336
Connecticut
Median household income: $88,429
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $58,947
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $176,85
Top 10 states with the lowest middle class thresholds
Mississippi
Median household income: $52,719
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $35,142
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $105,438
West Virginia
Median household income: $54,329
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $36,216
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $108,658
Louisiana
Median household income: $55,416
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $36,940
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $110,832
Arkansas
Median household income: $55,432
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $36,951
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $110,864
Kentucky
Median household income: $59,341
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $39,557
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $118,682
Oklahoma
Median household income: $59,673
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $39,778
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $119,346
Alabama
Median household income: $59,674
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $39,779
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $119,348
New Mexico
Median household income: $59,726
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $39,813
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $119,452
South Carolina
Median household income: $64,115
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $42,739
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $128,230
Missouri
Median household income: $64,811
Lower bounds on middle class income range: $43,203
Upper bounds on middle class income range: $129,622
Data and methodology
To determine the income limits to be in the middle class, SmartAsset analyzed U.S. Census Bureau's 2022 1-year American Community Survey data for the median household income in all 345 of the largest U.S. cities, as well as all 50 states. We relied on 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.
This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.