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 to reflect what most Americans are currently earning.
Using Pew Research’s definition of middle income as 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.
See Also
Gen Z doesn't agree $74K is middle classHow Much House Can I Afford with a $70K Salary?Average American Income | 25 U.S. Salary Statistics [2023] - ZippiaHere's how much income it takes to be considered rich in your stateTop 10 Cities With the Highest Middle Class Thresholds
- 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 States With the Highest Middle Class Thresholds
- 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: $176,858
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 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.
Questions about our study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com
Photo credit: ©iStock.com/PixelsEffect
