How much income do you need to enjoy a middle-class life in your city?

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How much income do you need to enjoy a middle-class life in your city?

Aerial view roofs of river townhouses in East Brunswick, New Jersey.

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.

SmartAsset

Top 10 cities with the highest middle class thresholds

Table showing middle class income ranges in U.S. Cities.

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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

SmartAsset

Top 10 states with the highest middle class thresholds

Table showing “Middle Class Income Ranges in U.S. States.”

1. 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
2. Maryland
   • Median household income: $94,991
   • Lower bounds on middle class income range: $63,321
   • Upper bounds on middle class income range: $189,982
3. Massachusetts
   • Median household income: $94,488
   • Lower bounds on middle class income range: $62,986
   • Upper bounds on middle class income range: $188,976
4. Hawaii
   • Median household income: $92,458
   • Lower bounds on middle class income range: $61,633
   • Upper bounds on middle class income range: $184,916
5. California
   • Median household income: $91,551
   • Lower bounds on middle class income range: $61,028
   • Upper bounds on middle class income range: $183,102
6. Washington
   • Median household income: $91,306
   • Lower bounds on middle class income range: $60,865
   • Upper bounds on middle class income range: $182,612
7. 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
8. Colorado
   • Median household income: $89,302
   • Lower bounds on middle class income range: $59,529
   • Upper bounds on middle class income range: $178,604
9. Utah
   • Median household income: $89,168
   • Lower bounds on middle class income range: $59,439
   • Upper bounds on middle class income range: $178,336
10. 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

1. Mississippi
   • Median household income: $52,719
   • Lower bounds on middle class income range: $35,142
   • Upper bounds on middle class income range: $105,438
2. 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
3. Louisiana
   • Median household income: $55,416
   • Lower bounds on middle class income range: $36,940
   • Upper bounds on middle class income range: $110,832
4. Arkansas
   • Median household income: $55,432
   • Lower bounds on middle class income range: $36,951
   • Upper bounds on middle class income range: $110,864
5. Kentucky
   • Median household income: $59,341
   • Lower bounds on middle class income range: $39,557
   • Upper bounds on middle class income range: $118,682
6. Oklahoma
   • Median household income: $59,673
   • Lower bounds on middle class income range: $39,778
   • Upper bounds on middle class income range: $119,346
7. Alabama
   • Median household income: $59,674
   • Lower bounds on middle class income range: $39,779
   • Upper bounds on middle class income range: $119,348
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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.