The cost of living has risen sharply over the past few years, reshaping what level of income is now considered middle class.
As the economy keeps shifting and living costs climb, the definition of the middle class is changing as well. A six-figure household income no longer carries the same weight it once did. Based on a SmartAsset analysis of 2023 income data, the upper limit of what qualifies as middle class now exceeds $100,000 in every state.
The report follows the Pew Research Center’s definition of the middle class as earning between two-thirds and twice the median household income. While inflation-adjusted wages have increased since 2022, expenses have continued to rise as well. Housing and food, in particular, have become more expensive.
In a 2024 survey by the National True Cost of Living Coalition, two-thirds of middle-class Americans said they were facing financial hardship. Data from the Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index showed that housing prices jumped 52% from January 2020 to December 2024, while food prices increased by 30%.
Here’s a comprehensive look at what’s considered middle-class in each state, as reported by CNBC Make It:
Alabama
- Low end of middle class: $41,471
- High end of middle class: $124,424
- Median household income: $62,212
Alaska
- Low end of middle class: $57,748
- High end of middle class: $173,262
- Median household income: $86,631
Arizona
- Low end of middle class: $51,538
- High end of middle class: $154,630
- Median household income: $77,315
Arkansas
- Low end of middle class: $39,129
- High end of middle class: $117,400
- Median household income: $58,700
California
- Low end of middle class: $63,674
- High end of middle class: $191,042
- Median household income: $95,521
Colorado
- Low end of middle class: $61,934
- High end of middle class: $185,822
- Median household income: $92,911
Connecticut
- Low end of middle class: $61,104
- High end of middle class: $183,330
- Median household income: $91,665
Delaware
- Low end of middle class: $54,235
- High end of middle class: $162,722
- Median household income: $81,361
Florida
- Low end of middle class: $48,869
- High end of middle class: $146,622
- Median household income: $73,311
Georgia
- Low end of middle class: $49,750
- High end of middle class: $149,264
- Median household income: $74,632
Hawaii
- Low end of middle class: $63,542
- High end of middle class: $190,644
- Median household income: $95,322
Idaho
- Low end of middle class: $49,956
- High end of middle class: $149,884
- Median household income: $74,942
Illinois
- Low end of middle class: $53,532
- High end of middle class: $160,612
- Median household income: $80,306
Indiana
- Low end of middle class: $46,313
- High end of middle class: $138,954
- Median household income: $69,477
Iowa
- Low end of middle class: $47,617
- High end of middle class: $142,866
- Median household income: $71,433
Kansas
- Low end of middle class: $46,884
- High end of middle class: $140,666
- Median household income: $70,333
Kentucky
- Low end of middle class: $40,741
- High end of middle class: $122,236
- Median household income: $61,118
Louisiana
- Low end of middle class: $38,815
- High end of middle class: $116,458
- Median household income: $58,229
Maine
- Low end of middle class: $49,150
- High end of middle class: $147,466
- Median household income: $73,733
Maryland
- Low end of middle class: $65,779
- High end of middle class: $197,356
- Median household income: $98,678
Massachusetts
- Low end of middle class: $66,565
- High end of middle class: $199,716
- Median household income: $99,858
Michigan
- Low end of middle class: $46,117
- High end of middle class: $138,366
- Median household income: $69,183
Minnesota
- Low end of middle class: $56,718
- High end of middle class: $170,172
- Median household income: $85,086
Mississippi
- Low end of middle class: $36,132
- High end of middle class: $108,406
- Median household income: $54,203
Missouri
- Low end of middle class: $45,692
- High end of middle class: $137,090
- Median household income: $68,545
Montana
- Low end of middle class: $47,198
- High end of middle class: $141,608
- Median household income: $70,804
Nebraska
- Low end of middle class: $49,722
- High end of middle class: $149,180
- Median household income: $74,590
Nevada
- Low end of middle class: $50,904
- High end of middle class: $152,728
- Median household income: $76,364
New Hampshire
- Low end of middle class: $64,552
- High end of middle class: $193,676
- Median household income: $96,838
New Jersey
Low end of middle class: $66,514
High end of middle class: $199,562
Median household income: $99,781
New Mexico
Low end of middle class: $41,508
High end of middle class: $124,536
Median household income: $62,268
New York
Low end of middle class: $54,725
High end of middle class: $164,190
Median household income: $82,095
North Carolina
Low end of middle class: $47,198
High end of middle class: $141,608
Median household income: $70,804
North Dakota
Low end of middle class: $51,012
High end of middle class: $153,050
Median household income: $76,525
Ohio
Low end of middle class: $45,175
High end of middle class: $135,538
Median household income: $67,769
Oklahoma
Low end of middle class: $41,421
High end of middle class: $124,276
Median household income: $62,138
Oregon
Low end of middle class: $53,435
High end of middle class: $160,320
Median household income: $80,160
Pennsylvania
Low end of middle class: $49,211
High end of middle class: $147,648
Median household income: $73,824
Rhode Island
Low end of middle class: $56,642
High end of middle class: $169,944
Median household income: $84,972
South Carolina
Low end of middle class: $45,198
High end of middle class: $135,608
Median household income: $67,804
South Dakota
Low end of middle class: $47,869
High end of middle class: $143,620
Median household income: $71,810
Tennessee
Low end of middle class: $45,083
High end of middle class: $135,262
Median household income: $67,631
Texas
Low end of middle class: $50,515
High end of middle class: $151,560
Median household income: $75,780
Utah
Low end of middle class: $62,274
High end of middle class: $186,842
Median household income: $93,421
Vermont
Low end of middle class: $54,135
High end of middle class: $162,422
Median household income: $81,211
Virginia
Low end of middle class: $59,948
High end of middle class: $179,862
Median household income: $89,931
Washington
Low end of middle class: $63,064
High end of middle class: $189,210
Median household income: $94,605
West Virginia
Low end of middle class: $37,295
High end of middle class: $111,896
Median household income: $55,948
Wisconsin
Low end of middle class: $49,749
High end of middle class: $149,262
Median household income: $74,631
Wyoming
Low end of middle class: $48,272
High end of middle class: $144,830
Median household income: $72,415
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