The middle class has long been the backbone of the U.S. economy and an engine of economic growth. Yet, a strict definition of what exactly it means to be “middle class” is somewhat elusive.
In relative terms, the American middle class is a group that lies between the working class and the upper class on the socioeconomic spectrum. Broadly speaking, middle class households typically have some disposable income for some luxuries like vacations and eating at restaurants and are able to put away money for savings and retirement. However, for larger expenses, like buying a house, a car, or a college education, middle class households generally rely on loans. (Here is a look at 20 cities where the middle class can no longer afford housing.)
While these benchmarks can be useful in determining middle class status, they are not necessarily hard and fast rules – and such broad guidelines become less useful across large populations. In contrast, income – while perhaps a less comprehensive measure – is a more quantifiable and definitive indicator of middle class status.
Using household income data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the income it takes to be considered middle class in every state by looking at the middle quintile – or middle 20% – of earners. For each state, we list the range of household incomes for the middle income bracket by adjusting the national middle quintile to each state’s cost of living.
More broadly defined, many members of the middle class may have incomes that fall slightly outside of the ranges presented on this list. Still, most households with earnings within these ranges comprise the core of the middle class in each state.
Depending on the state, the lower limit of what is considered middle class, or middle income, ranges from about $48,000 up to $61,000 annually, while the upper limit ranges from about $76,000 to $97,500. (Here is a look at the 18 states where Americans make the least money.)
Click here to see the income it takes to be middle class in every state.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.
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Alabama
> Middle household-income range $48,590 – $77,682
> Median household income: $53,913 (5th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.3% (9th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.5% (22nd highest)
> Cost of living: 10.7% less than U.S. avg. (4th lowest)
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Alaska
> Middle household-income range $56,204 – $89,856
> Median household income: $77,845 (12th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.7% (2nd highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 18.9% (the lowest)
> Cost of living: 3.2% more than U.S. avg. (10th highest)
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Arizona
> Middle household-income range $53,935 – $86,228
> Median household income: $69,056 (20th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.8% (23rd highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.3% (23rd lowest)
> Cost of living: 0.9% less than U.S. avg. (19th highest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Arkansas
> Middle household-income range $48,551 – $77,620
> Median household income: $52,528 (4th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.5% (18th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.5% (21st highest)
> Cost of living: 10.8% less than U.S. avg. (3rd lowest)
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California
> Middle household-income range $60,092 – $96,071
> Median household income: $84,907 (5th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.2% (5th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 23.6% (5th highest)
> Cost of living: 10.4% more than U.S. avg. (3rd highest)
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Colorado
> Middle household-income range $56,001 – $89,531
> Median household income: $82,254 (9th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.9% (19th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.0% (17th lowest)
> Cost of living: 2.9% more than U.S. avg. (11th highest)
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Connecticut
> Middle household-income range $56,313 – $90,030
> Median household income: $83,771 (8th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.0% (3rd lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 24.9% (2nd highest)
> Cost of living: 3.4% more than U.S. avg. (9th highest)
Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
Delaware
> Middle household-income range $53,283 – $85,185
> Median household income: $71,091 (19th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.0% (17th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 21.2% (7th lowest)
> Cost of living: 2.1% less than U.S. avg. (21st highest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Florida
> Middle household-income range $54,828 – $87,656
> Median household income: $63,062 (15th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.1% (4th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 24.4% (3rd highest)
> Cost of living: 0.7% more than U.S. avg. (15th highest)
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Georgia
> Middle household-income range $51,469 – $82,286
> Median household income: $66,559 (25th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.5% (16th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.9% (13th highest)
> Cost of living: 5.5% less than U.S. avg. (25th lowest)
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Hawaii
> Middle household-income range $60,966 – $97,468
> Median household income: $84,857 (6th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.2% (9th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 20.8% (3rd lowest)
> Cost of living: 12.0% more than U.S. avg. (the highest)
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Idaho
> Middle household-income range $49,648 – $79,374
> Median household income: $66,474 (24th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.9% (20th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 23.3% (7th highest)
> Cost of living: 8.8% less than U.S. avg. (7th lowest)
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Illinois
> Middle household-income range $54,700 – $87,451
> Median household income: $72,205 (17th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.5% (15th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 23.1% (9th highest)
> Cost of living: 0.5% more than U.S. avg. (16th highest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Indiana
> Middle household-income range $50,359 – $80,510
> Median household income: $62,743 (14th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.3% (7th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 20.9% (4th lowest)
> Cost of living: 7.5% less than U.S. avg. (20th lowest)
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Iowa
> Middle household-income range $49,567 – $79,245
> Median household income: $65,600 (21st lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.3% (8th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 21.5% (14th lowest)
> Cost of living: 9.0% less than U.S. avg. (6th lowest)
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Kansas
> Middle household-income range $50,284 – $80,391
> Median household income: $64,124 (18th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.9% (22nd highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.1% (20th lowest)
> Cost of living: 7.6% less than U.S. avg. (17th lowest)
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Kentucky
> Middle household-income range $48,876 – $78,140
> Median household income: $55,573 (7th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.7% (23rd lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.4% (24th highest)
> Cost of living: 10.2% less than U.S. avg. (5th lowest)
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Louisiana
> Middle household-income range $50,476 – $80,697
> Median household income: $52,087 (3rd lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.0% (2nd lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 23.2% (8th highest)
> Cost of living: 7.3% less than U.S. avg. (21st lowest)
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Maine
> Middle household-income range $52,686 – $84,231
> Median household income: $64,767 (19th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.9% (18th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.9% (17th highest)
> Cost of living: 3.2% less than U.S. avg. (24th highest)
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Maryland
> Middle household-income range $57,964 – $92,670
> Median household income: $90,203 (the highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.1% (14th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 21.4% (12th lowest)
> Cost of living: 6.5% more than U.S. avg. (7th highest)
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Massachusetts
> Middle household-income range $58,492 – $93,514
> Median household income: $89,645 (2nd highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.5% (14th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.7% (20th highest)
> Cost of living: 7.4% more than U.S. avg. (5th highest)
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Michigan
> Middle household-income range $51,199 – $81,854
> Median household income: $63,498 (17th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.8% (24th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.1% (19th lowest)
> Cost of living: 6.0% less than U.S. avg. (24th lowest)
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Minnesota
> Middle household-income range $53,692 – $85,840
> Median household income: $77,720 (13th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.2% (11th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 21.3% (10th lowest)
> Cost of living: 1.4% less than U.S. avg. (20th highest)
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Mississippi
> Middle household-income range $47,786 – $76,397
> Median household income: $48,716 (the lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.4% (13th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.1% (21st lowest)
> Cost of living: 12.2% less than U.S. avg. (the lowest)
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Missouri
> Middle household-income range $50,355 – $80,504
> Median household income: $61,847 (11th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.6% (20th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.9% (14th highest)
> Cost of living: 7.5% less than U.S. avg. (19th lowest)
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Montana
> Middle household-income range $50,327 – $80,460
> Median household income: $63,249 (16th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.5% (17th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.9% (12th highest)
> Cost of living: 7.6% less than U.S. avg. (18th lowest)
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Nebraska
> Middle household-income range $50,570 – $80,849
> Median household income: $66,817 (24th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.1% (13th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 21.9% (16th lowest)
> Cost of living: 7.1% less than U.S. avg. (22nd lowest)
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Nevada
> Middle household-income range $52,838 – $84,475
> Median household income: $66,274 (23rd lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.8% (25th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.4% (23rd highest)
> Cost of living: 2.9% less than U.S. avg. (23rd highest)
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New Hampshire
> Middle household-income range $56,462 – $90,269
> Median household income: $88,465 (4th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.8% (the highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 20.2% (2nd lowest)
> Cost of living: 3.7% more than U.S. avg. (8th highest)
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New Jersey
> Middle household-income range $60,518 – $96,753
> Median household income: $89,296 (3rd highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.4% (11th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.9% (16th highest)
> Cost of living: 11.2% more than U.S. avg. (2nd highest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
New Mexico
> Middle household-income range $49,850 – $79,697
> Median household income: $53,992 (6th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.3% (6th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.3% (25th lowest)
> Cost of living: 8.4% less than U.S. avg. (10th lowest)
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New York
> Middle household-income range $60,000 – $95,925
> Median household income: $74,314 (14th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 13.6% (the lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 25.3% (the highest)
> Cost of living: 10.2% more than U.S. avg. (4th highest)
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North Carolina
> Middle household-income range $49,999 – $79,935
> Median household income: $61,972 (12th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.4% (10th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 23.1% (10th highest)
> Cost of living: 8.2% less than U.S. avg. (13th lowest)
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North Dakota
> Middle household-income range $50,108 – $80,110
> Median household income: $66,519 (25th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.4% (3rd highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 21.3% (11th lowest)
> Cost of living: 8.0% less than U.S. avg. (14th lowest)
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Ohio
> Middle household-income range $49,917 – $79,804
> Median household income: $62,262 (13th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.8% (25th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.3% (24th lowest)
> Cost of living: 8.3% less than U.S. avg. (12th lowest)
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Oklahoma
> Middle household-income range $49,717 – $79,484
> Median household income: $55,826 (8th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.9% (21st highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 21.2% (8th lowest)
> Cost of living: 8.7% less than U.S. avg. (8th lowest)
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Oregon
> Middle household-income range $55,868 – $89,319
> Median household income: $71,562 (18th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.0% (16th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 21.4% (13th lowest)
> Cost of living: 2.6% more than U.S. avg. (12th highest)
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Pennsylvania
> Middle household-income range $53,115 – $84,917
> Median household income: $68,957 (21st highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.7% (24th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.2% (22nd lowest)
> Cost of living: 2.4% less than U.S. avg. (22nd highest)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Rhode Island
> Middle household-income range $55,445 – $88,643
> Median household income: $74,008 (15th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.0% (15th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 21.2% (9th lowest)
> Cost of living: 1.8% more than U.S. avg. (13th highest)
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South Carolina
> Middle household-income range $49,894 – $79,767
> Median household income: $59,318 (9th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.6% (19th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.8% (18th highest)
> Cost of living: 8.4% less than U.S. avg. (11th lowest)
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South Dakota
> Middle household-income range $49,823 – $79,655
> Median household income: $66,143 (22nd lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.3% (5th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 23.0% (11th highest)
> Cost of living: 8.5% less than U.S. avg. (9th lowest)
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Tennessee
> Middle household-income range $50,167 – $80,205
> Median household income: $59,695 (10th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.3% (8th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 23.9% (4th highest)
> Cost of living: 7.8% less than U.S. avg. (15th lowest)
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Texas
> Middle household-income range $54,192 – $86,638
> Median household income: $66,963 (23rd highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.4% (12th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.8% (19th highest)
> Cost of living: 0.5% less than U.S. avg. (17th highest)
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Utah
> Middle household-income range $51,894 – $82,965
> Median household income: $79,449 (11th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.2% (10th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.0% (18th lowest)
> Cost of living: 4.7% less than U.S. avg. (25th highest)
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Vermont
> Middle household-income range $54,086 – $86,469
> Median household income: $72,431 (16th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.3% (4th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 21.0% (5th lowest)
> Cost of living: 0.7% less than U.S. avg. (18th highest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Virginia
> Middle household-income range $54,973 – $87,888
> Median household income: $80,963 (10th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.7% (22nd lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 21.7% (15th lowest)
> Cost of living: 1.0% more than U.S. avg. (14th highest)
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Washington
> Middle household-income range $58,447 – $93,442
> Median household income: $84,247 (7th highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.6% (21st lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.4% (25th highest)
> Cost of living: 7.4% more than U.S. avg. (6th highest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
West Virginia
> Middle household-income range $47,886 – $76,557
> Median household income: $51,248 (2nd lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.3% (7th lowest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 23.4% (6th highest)
> Cost of living: 12.0% less than U.S. avg. (2nd lowest)
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Wisconsin
> Middle household-income range $50,733 – $81,108
> Median household income: $67,125 (22nd highest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.3% (6th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 21.2% (6th lowest)
> Cost of living: 6.8% less than U.S. avg. (23rd lowest)
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Wyoming
> Middle household-income range $50,226 – $80,298
> Median household income: $65,204 (20th lowest)
> Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 15.1% (12th highest)
> Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.9% (15th highest)
> Cost of living: 7.7% less than U.S. avg. (16th lowest)
Methodology
To determine what it takes to be considered middle class in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed income data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey. For the purposes of this story, a middle class income is defined as the middle 20% of all household income. For each state, we list the range of household incomes for the middle income bracket by adjusting the national middle quintile to each state’s cost of living.
Data on median household income and the share of income earned by households in the third quintile of earnings and in the top 5% of earning are also from the ACS. Data on cost of living by state, or regional price parity, is from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and is current as of 2020.
Editor’s note: In a previous version of this story, we did not state that middle income quintiles were determined by adjusting the national middle quintile to each state’s cost of living. The error has been corrected.
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