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Here’s how much money is needed to be considered middle class in every state

By Stephanie Weaver
Published  October 7, 2024 5:25pm EDT
Money
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The Brief

    • According to the data, the middle-class household income averages across the U.S. ranged between $52,000 and $98,000 in 2024.
    • Income levels required to be considered middle-class varied significantly depending on where a person lived.
    • The study found that Maryland required the most money – a median household income of $98,461 – to be considered middle class.

How much money does it take for a household to be considered middle class? It may take more money than a person realizes.

GOBankingRates analyzed data from the 2022 American Community Survey as conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, then found the middle-class income for every state.

The company followed the Pew Research Center’s definition of middle-class income — "two-thirds to double the U.S. median household income."

According to the data, the middle-class household income averages across the U.S. ranged between $52,000 and $98,500 in 2024.

FILE: Residential neighborhood in San Marcos, Texas. (Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar/Bloomberg via Getty Images

But the study also found that the income levels required to be considered middle-class varied significantly depending on where a person lived.

Maryland requires most money to be middle class

GOBankingRates found that Maryland required the most money – a median household income of $98,461 – to be considered middle class. 

RELATED: Study: Americans must make over $1 million per year to be in the top 1% in these states

Other states that topped the list included New Jersey, Massachusetts, Hawaii, California, New Hampshire, Washington and Connecticut.

In contrast, it cost $52,985 to be considered a middle class household in Mississippi. The bottom also included West Virginia, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Alabama.

See the full report here.

Inflation has surged in the past few years, peaking at 9% in June 2022. That means some families who were middle class in 2020 may no longer be in that category. 

RELATED: Here's how much money you need to feel 'rich' in 2024

According to an annual survey from financial investment firm Charles Schwab, Americans think it takes a net worth of $2.5 million on average to be considered wealthy, up slightly from 2023 when it was $2.2 million. 

The Source

  • The information for this study was provided by GOBankingRates, which found every state’s median household income as sourced from the 2022 American Community Survey as conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. Then, by following the Pew Research Center’s definition of middle-class income — "two-thirds to double the income of an area" — they found the middle-class income for every state. All data was collected and was up-to-date as of May 23, 2024.