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The amount you need to earn to be middle-class in America’s biggest cities – UK Times

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The amount you need to earn to be middle-class in America’s biggest cities – UK Times

What counts as “middle class” in one city can feel downright rich in another.

A new report this week, from financial tech company SmartAsset, shows just how much your ZIP code can change the meaning of a paycheck.

When people hear “middle class,” they may typically think of owning a home, raising kids, having savings for emergencies or retirement and maybe splurging on a vacation now and then. But in economic terms, the Pew Research Center defines middle-class households as those earning between two-thirds and twice the median income.

With that in mind, the income needed to be considered middle class varies wildly depending on where you live in the U.S.

In Massachusetts, a household is considered middle class if they make $69,885 to $209,656 per year. That’s followed closely by New Jersey at $69,529 to $208,588, Maryland at $68,603 to $205,810, Hawaii at $67,163 to $201,490 and California at $66,766 to $200,298.

Three of the five cities where people need the highest income to be considered middle class are in California, with San Jose topping the list at $99,000 -$296,000 a year

Three of the five cities where people need the highest income to be considered middle class are in California, with San Jose topping the list at $99,000 -$296,000 a year (Getty Images)
Irvine, California, takes the No. 2 spot on the list of cities where it takes the most money to be considered middle class

Irvine, California, takes the No. 2 spot on the list of cities where it takes the most money to be considered middle class (Getty Images)

On the other end of the spectrum, Mississippi has the lowest middle-class range, from $39,418 to $118,254, with West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas and Kentucky also having low thresholds.

City-level differences are even more pronounced. Three of the five cities with the highest middle-class income range are in California. San Jose – home to many Silicon Valley tech workers – tops the list, with middle-class incomes ranging from $98,817 to $296,452, followed by Irvine ($97,154 to $291,462) and San Francisco ($93,201 to $279,602).

Meanwhile, some cities have middle-class thresholds under $35,000. Cleveland, Ohio, is at the bottom of the list with a range of $28,922 to $86,766, followed by Toledo, Ohio ($33,708 to $101,124), and Buffalo, New York ($34,807 to $104,422).

Also in the top 10 states with the highest upper range are New Hampshire, Washington, Colorado, Utah and Connecticut. These states generally have median household incomes above $95,000, reflecting higher living costs and stronger local economies.

Frisco, Texas, takes the No. 3 of the U.S. city with the highest threshold to be considered middle class

Frisco, Texas, takes the No. 3 of the U.S. city with the highest threshold to be considered middle class (Getty Images)
On the opposite end, Cleveland, Ohio, has the lowest salary threshold of any U.S. city to be considered middle class

On the opposite end, Cleveland, Ohio, has the lowest salary threshold of any U.S. city to be considered middle class (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the lowest ranges are found in Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Alabama, New Mexico, Missouri, and Indiana, where median household incomes range from about $59,000 to $72,000.

Alongside California’s high-ranking cities, Frisco, Texas ($96,963 to $290,888), Arlington, Virginia ($89,055 to $267,164), and Seattle, Washington ($79,163 to $237,490) also feature high middle-class thresholds.

Cities with the lowest ranges also include Memphis, Tennessee ($35,119 to $105,358), St. Louis, Missouri ($35,583 to $106,748) and Hialeah, Florida ($38,101 to $114,302).

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