With recent rising costs, it can be difficult to determine whether they are still ranked in the middle class. Depending on where you live, what you need to become middle-aged will vary greatly.
However, new analysis by personal finance site SmartAsset may help shed light on where you rank.
To be considered middle class, SmartAsset used the definition of Pew Research. To double the median household income within a given region, you must earn two-thirds.
Based on this definition, using the latest data from the US Census Bureau, SmartAsset was able to calculate the income ranges for middle class countries, all 50 states and 100 metropolitan cities.
The US could throw away the penny: What happened when Canada did it?
The median income is $74,225, and it costs around $49,500 to $148,500 to become middle class nationwide. Last year it increased from $49,271 to $147,828.
Of course, the scope varies by city and state.
You need the largest income to reach the middle class of Massachusetts. This replaced New Jersey as the most expensive place for mid-level living. To become one of the middle class in Massachusetts, you need to earn more than $66,565.
Are you still in the middle class? Use this calculator to find out
It may be expensive, but you need to earn more in the 12 largest cities in the country.
A median income of over $140,000 is enough to put you in the upper class nationwide, but it will be Arlington, Virginia, the most expensive city for the middle class. According to SmartAsset, household incomes of more than $93,400 are required to be ranked outside of the city’s low-level earners.
Is it too expensive for your home? You may prefer Midwest cities.
Detroit came at the bottom of the SmartAsset list. There, households need to earn over $25,300 to be considered middle class. Cleveland, Ohio, wasn’t too late at $26,000.
According to an analysis by SmartAsset, the following interactive table shows the household income range required to rank among the largest cities in the country and among the middle class of each city.
! function() {“strict”; window.addeventlistener(“message”,(function(a){if(void 0!== a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e = document.queryselectorall(“iframe”); for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r = 0; r[r].ContentWindow === A.Source){var i = a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"PX";e[r].style.height = i}}}})}();
However, looking at statewide statistics, a $26,000 household income is not sufficient among Michigan, Ohio or state midterm winners. To become the middle class in Mississippi, the most affordable state, you need to earn at least $10,000.
In only three other states, household incomes under $40,000 correspond to middle class status: Arkansas, Louisiana, and West Virginia.
The interactive map below shows the middle class ranges of each state as calculated by SmartAsset.
! function() {“strict”; window.addeventlistener(“message”,(function(a){if(void 0!== a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e = document.queryselectorall(“iframe”); for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r = 0; r[r].ContentWindow === A.Source){var i = a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"PX";e[r].style.height = i}}}})}();
You can find the complete report here.
Meanwhile, the continued inflation and the threat of additional tariffs appears to have caused uncertainty for consumers. The University of Michigan’s latest consumer sentiment index has plummeted about 10% in the past month.
Don’t expect a supplemental security revenue check next month: Here’s why
On Monday, President Donald Trump warned that tariffs targeting Canada and Mexico would begin in March. He argues that import taxes will ultimately reduce the federal government’s budget deficit and generate revenue to create new jobs for workers, but most economists say the tax costs can be primarily borne by consumers, retailers and manufacturers.
Earlier this week, a few Americans applied for unemployment benefits, but the layoffs have recently remained in healthy range. Meanwhile, at a meeting last month, Federal Reserve officials pointed to an increased risk that inflation could worsen.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source link
