What Is Middle Class These Days?
Middle class used to be an attainable goal for many Americans. But with the rising cost of living, inflation, and other socioeconomic factors, the middle feels like its getting farther and farther away—and in some states more than others.
Using data from the US Census Bureau, and using Pew Research’s definition of middle class (two-thirds to double the median household income), SmartAsset determined the middle class income range for all 50 states.
Based on the "highest incomes needed by households to maintain a middle-class standing" this is the ranking of all 50 states. Where does your state rank? Is middle class still feasible?
50: Mississippi
Middle Class Income (Low End): $36,132
Middle Class Income (High End): $108,406
Median Household Income: $54,203
49: West Virginia
Middle Class Income (Low End): $37,295
Middle Class Income (High End): $111,896
Median Household Income: $55,948
Photo By: Kaboompics.com, Pexels
48: Louisiana
Middle Class Income (Low End): $38,815
Middle Class Income (High End): $116,458
Median Household Income: $58,229
47: Arkansas
Middle Class Income (Low End): $39,129
Middle Class Income (High End): $117,400
Median Household Income: $58,700
46: Kentucky
Middle Class Income (Low End): $40,741
Middle Class Income (High End): $122,236
Median Household Income: $61,118
45: Oklahoma
Middle Class Income (Low End): $41,421
Middle Class Income (High End): $124,276
Median Household Income: $62,138
44: Alabama
Middle Class Income (Low End): $41,471
Middle Class Income (High End): $124,424
Median Household Income: $62,212
43: New Mexico
Middle Class Income (Low End): $41,508
Middle Class Income (High End): $124,536
Median Household Income: $62,268
MARELBU, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
42: Tennessee
Middle Class Income (Low End): $45,083
Middle Class Income (High End): $135,262
Median Household Income: $67,631
41: Ohio
Middle Class Income (Low End): $45,175
Middle Class Income (High End): $135,538
Median Household Income: $67,769
Paul Wasneski, Wikimedia Commons
40: South Carolina
Middle Class Income (Low End): $45,198
Middle Class Income (High End): $135,608
Median Household Income: $67,804
Akhenaton06, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
39: Missouri
Middle Class Income (Low End): $45,692
Middle Class Income (High End): $137,090
Median Household Income: $68,545
38: Michigan
Middle Class Income (Low End): $46,117
Middle Class Income (High End): $138,366
Median Household Income: $69,183
Paul Brady Photography, Shutterstock
37: Indiana
Middle Class Income (Low End): $46,313
Middle Class Income (High End): $138,954
Median Household Income: $69,477
Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
36: Kansas
Middle Class Income (Low End): $46,884
Middle Class Income (High End): $140,666
Median Household Income: $70,333
35: North Carolina
Middle Class Income (Low End): $47,198
Middle Class Income (High End): $141,608
Median Household Income: $70,804
34: Montana
Middle Class Income (Low End): $47,198
Middle Class Income (High End): $141,608
Median household income: $70,804
5of7, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
33: Iowa
Middle Class Income (Low End): $47,617
Middle Class Income (High End): $142,866
Median Household Income: $71,433
Phil Roeder, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
32: South Dakota
Middle Class Income (Low End): $47,869
Middle Class Income (High End): $143,620
Median Household Income: $71,810
WeaponizingArchitecture, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
31: Wyoming
Middle Class Income (Low End): $48,272
Middle Class Income (High End): $144,830
Median Household Income: $72,415
Postdlf, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
30: Florida
Middle Class Income (Low End): $48,869
Middle Class Income (High End): $146,622
Median Household Income: $73,311
Felix Mizioznikov, Shutterstock
29: Maine
Middle Class Income (Low End): $49,150
Middle Class Income (High End): $147,466
Median Household Income: $73,733
Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
28: Pennsylvania
Middle Class Income (Low End): $49,211
Middle Class Income (High End): $147,648
Median Household Income: $73,824
27: Nebraska
Middle Class Income (Low End): $49,722
Middle Class Income (High End): $149,180
Median Household Income: $74,590
Hanyou23, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
26: Wisconsin
Middle Class Income (Low End): $49,749
Middle Class Income (High End): $149,262
Median Household Income: $74,631
Richard Hurd, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
25: Georgia
Middle Class Income (Low End): $49,750
Middle Class Income (High End): $149,264
Median Household Income: $74,632
Allenman12, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
24: Idaho
Middle Class Income (Low End): $49,956
Middle Class Income (High End): $149,884
Median Household Income: $74,942
Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
23: Texas
Middle Class Income (Low End): $50,515
Middle Class Income (High End): $151,560
Median Household Income: $75,780
Daydreamer Creative Studios, Pexels
22: Nevada
Middle Class Income (Low End): $50,904
Middle Class Income (High End): $152,728
Median Household Income: $76,364.
Patrick Nouhailler's, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
21: North Dakota
Middle Class Income (Low End): $51,012
Middle Class Income (High End): $153,050
Median Household Income: $76,525
20: Arizona
Middle Class Income (Low End): $51,538
Middle Class Income (High End): $154,630
Median Household Income: $77,315
19: Oregon
Middle Class Income (Low End): $53,435
Middle Class Income (High End): $160,320
Median Household Income: $80,160
18: Illinois
Middle Class Income (Low End): $53,532
Middle Class Income (High End): $160,612
Median Household Income: $80,306
Short Tomato, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
17: Vermont
Middle Class Income (Low End): $54,135
Middle Class Income (High End): $162,422
Median Household Income: $81,211
Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
16: Delaware
Middle Class Income (Low End): $54,235
Middle Class Income (High End): $162,722
Median Household Income: $81,361
Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
15: New York
Middle Class Income (Low End): $54,725
Middle Class Income (High End): $164,190
Median Household Income: $82,095
Timberwolf62, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
14: Rhode Island
Middle Class Income (Low End): $56,642
Middle Class Income (High End): $169,944
Median Household Income: $84,972
Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
13: Minnesota
Middle Class Income (Low End): $56,718
Middle Class Income (High End): $170,172
Median Household Income: $85,086
Hardyplants, Wikimedia Commons
12: Alaska
Middle Class Income (Low End): $57,748
Middle Class Income (High End): $173,262
Median Household Income: $86,631
Gillfoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
11: Virginia
Middle Class Income (Low End): $59,948
Middle Class Income (High End): $179,862
Median Household Income: $89,931
10: Connecticut
Middle Class Income (Low End): $61,104
Middle Class Income (High End): $183,330
Median Household Income: $91,665
9: Colorado
Middle Class Income (Low End): $61,934
Middle Class Income (High End): $185,822
Median Household Income: $92,911
Isaac Kim, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
8: Utah
Middle Class Income (Low End): $62,274
Middle Class Income (High End): $186,842
Median Household Income: $93,421
UofUHealthCare, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
7: Washington
Middle Class Income (Low End): $63,064
Middle Class Income (High End): $189,210
Median Household Income: $94,605
6: Hawaii
Middle Class Income (Low End): $63,542
Middle Class Income (High End): $190,644
Median Household Income: $95,322
5: California
Middle Class Income (Low End): $63,674
Middle Class Income (High End): $191,042
Median Household Income: $95,521
4: New Hampshire
Middle Class Income (Low End): $64,552
Middle Class Income (High End): $193,676
Median Household Income: $96,838
Jon Platek, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
3: Maryland
Middle Class Income (Low End): $65,779
Middle Class Income (High End): $197,356
Median Household Income: $98,678
2: New Jersey
Middle Class Income (Low End): $66,514
Middle Class Income (High End): $199,562
Median Household Income: $99,781
1: Massachusetts
Middle Class Income (Low End): $66,565
Middle Class Income (High End): $199,716
Median Household Income: $99,858
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Ajay Suresh, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
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