Determining whether one falls within the middle class can be a challenge, particularly as the value of paychecks diminishes over time. A report compiled by SmartAsset, a personal finance website, sought to shed light on this matter. Utilizing data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pew Research Center, the report established income thresholds for middle class status in each of the 50 states and 345 of the nation’s largest cities.
As per the Pew Research definition, middle class income is considered to be within a range of two-thirds to double the median salary for a given area. In 2022, the national median household income stood at $73,914, translating to a middle class range of roughly $49,271 to $147,828. Expanding the analysis to the nation’s largest cities reveals a broader range of $51,558 to $154,590, as reported by SmartAsset.
However, significant disparities exist across different regions. New Jersey stands out with the most drastic middle class range, with a staggering difference of $128,468 between the lower and upper bounds. To qualify as middle class in the Garden State, households must earn at least $64,224, while achieving upper class status requires an income exceeding $192,692.
New Jersey is not alone in setting a high threshold for middle class status. In fact, 17 states require annual household salaries of at least $50,000 to qualify: Oregon, Illinois, New York, Rhode Island, Delaware, Minnesota, Virginia, Alaska, Connecticut, Utah, Colorado, New Hampshire, Washington, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Maryland.
Conversely, the lowest middle class range is found in Mississippi, where incomes between $35,142 and $105,438 are considered middle class. This disparity highlights the significant regional variations in the cost of living and economic opportunities.
California cities dominate the upper end of the middle class range. Sunnyvale, situated in the Bay Area northwest of San Jose, boasts the highest threshold, with households requiring an income of at least $113,176 to be considered middle income. Those aspiring to upper class status in Sunnyvale must earn a minimum of $339,562 annually.
In six cities—Sunnyvale, Fremont, San Mateo, and Santa Clara in California; Bellevue in Washington; and Highlands Ranch in Colorado—a household salary exceeding $101,000 is necessary to qualify as a middle earner. On the other hand, a six-figure salary would elevate individuals to upper class status in the 10 cities with the lowest middle class ranges.
Detroit emerged as the most affordable city in the report, with an annual salary of just $24,300 sufficing for middle class status. Cleveland, Ohio, followed closely with a lower middle class benchmark of $24,898. Across the 10 cities with the lowest middle class ranges, a household salary of at least $30,000 would be sufficient to qualify as a middle income earner.
