The cost of living continues to rise, meaning that the "middle class" also becomes less attainable, but what is the middle class? And what is considered middle class in a state like California?
Pew Research Center defines the middle class as households earning between two-thirds and twice the national median household income.
Because different states have varying cost of living and minimum wages, the middle class varies by state as well.
SmartAsset, a financial advisor site, analyzed income data to determine what it takes to be considered middle class in each state and the 100 largest U.S. cities. The study used 2024 U.S. Census Bureau data and Pew Research Center's definition of middle-class income.
The site also put the upper and lower bounds
of what is considered middle class as well as the median household income.
What is it like in California?
What does it take to be middle class in California?
SmartAsset listed each state from highest to lowest upper and lower bounds for middle-class and median household incomes, with California ranking fifth on the list.
California's lower bound was $66,766 while the upper bound was $200,298, according to SmartAsset. The median household income is $100,149.
Along with ranking each state, the financial site also ranked 100 of the biggest U.S. cities, and some of the Golden State's major cities ranked near the top.
What does it take to be middle class in some of California's biggest cities?
Two California cities had the highest hurdle for the middle class, according to SmartAsset. There were eight cities in total that made the list of the 20 highest middle-class ranges.
San Jose and Irvine are the cities with the highest range to meet to be considered middle class.
Here are SmartAssest's highest middle-class ranges:
- No. 1-San Jose, California: upper $296,452; lower-$98,817; median-$148,226
- No. 2- Irvine, California: upper-$291,462; lower- $97,154; median- $145,731
- No. 3 Frisco, Texas: upper- $290,888; lower-$96,963; median-$145,444
- No. 4- San Francisco, California: upper $279,602; lower $93,201; median $139,801
- No. 5- Arlington, Virginia: upper-$267,164; lower-$89,055; median-$133,582
- No. 6- Gilbert, Arizona: upper-$249,936; lower-$83,312; median-$124,968
- No. 7- Seattle, Washington: upper-$237,490; lower-$79,163; median-$118,745
- No. 8- Plano, Texas: upper-$231,802; lower-$77,267; median-$115,901
- No. 9- Enterprise, Nevada; upper-$222,256; lower-$74,085; median-$111,128
- No.10- San Diego, California: upper-$222,064; lower-$74,021; median-$111,032
- No. 11- Chandler, Arizona: upper-$220,568; lower-$73,523; median-$110,284
- No. 12- Washington, DC: upper-$219,414; lower-$73,138; median-$109,707
- No. 13- Anchorage, Alaska: upper-$210,712; lower-$70,237; median-$105,356
- No. 14- Chula Vista, California: upper-$210,202; lower-$70,067; median-$105,101
- No. 15- Scottsdale, Arizona: upper-$209,786; lower-$69,929; median$104,893
- No. 16- Oakland, California: upper-$204,470; lower-$68,157; median-$102,235
- No. 17- Anaheim, California: upper-$202,290; lower-$67,430; median-$101,145
- No. 18- Jersey City, New Jersey: upper-$201,502; lower-$67,167; median-$100,751
- No. 19- Boston, Massachusetts: upper-$195,582; lower-$65,194; median-$97,791
- No. 20- Henderson, Nevada: upper-$190,830; lower-$63,610; median-$95,415
How did SmartAsset define middle class?
SmartAsset analyzed 2024 one-year American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau to determine median household incomes in all 50 states and the 100 largest U.S. cities.
The company then applied Pew Research Center's definition of middle-class households, which uses a range of two-thirds to twice the median household income.
That means the income needed to be considered middle class can vary significantly from one location to another, reflecting differences in household incomes and local economic conditions.
Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com, 805-437-0224 or @ecentenoaraujo on Instagram and X.
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: How much do Californians have to make to be considered middle class?
