What Income Level Is Considered Middle Class in Your State?

What Income Level Is Considered Middle Class in Your State?

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What is considered middle class? It might take more money than you think to reach this income tier. The Pew Research Center defines middle class, or middle-income households, as those with incomes that are two-thirds to double the U.S. median household income.

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However, because the cost of living and average income varies so widely from state to state, the income needed to be "middle class" in one state could be much more or less than what it takes to be middle class in another. Using Pew's definition of middle class, GOBankingRates analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2018 American Community Survey to determine how much two-, three- and four-person families need to earn in every state to qualify for this classification.

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Find out the states where it's easiest to be middle class.

Last updated: June 17, 2021

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Alabama

2-person family middle-class income range: $37,172.94 to $110,964

3-person family middle-class income range: $42,604.63 to $127,178

4-person family middle-class income range: $52,438.89 to $156,534

See: States Where It's Easiest To Go From Middle Class to Upper Class

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Alaska

2-person family middle-class income range: $56,330.92 to $168,152

3-person family middle-class income range: $60,428.64 to $180,384

4-person family middle-class income range: $69,665.26 to $207,956

Billionaires vs. Middle-Class America: Who Pays More in Taxes?

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Arizona

2-person family middle-class income range: $42,284.37 to $126,222

3-person family middle-class income range: $45,197.53 to $134,918

4-person family middle-class income range: $53,119.61 to $158,566

Read: 21 Tips To Climb the Career Ladder

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Arkansas

2-person family middle-class income range: $35,087.23 to $104,738

3-person family middle-class income range: $38,855.31 to $115,986

4-person family middle-class income range: $46,507.38 to $138,828

Read: 17 Biggest Budgeting Mistakes You’re Making

California

San Francisco Bay Area

‘Leaving the Bay Area has given me the freedom to be happy’: I ditched my $2K-a month ‘hovel’ and 12-hour-a-day job for a 3-bedroom home in a small town in Washington.

From mortgage rates to cost of living, here’s what to consider if you’re thinking about moving, too.

Not long ago, Krissy Eliot, 32, was living a pricier life in San Francisco. She needed money, a lot of it, for her basic survival. Rent for a 600-square-foot apartment — Eliot calls it a “hovel” — in Richmond, a city 18 miles north of San Francisco, was $2,000 a month. The daily commute from that apartment to San Francisco, where she worked at a tech company, cost $80 a week. If she decided to forgo public transportation — Eliot recalls that Bay Area Rapid Transit, known as BART, sometimes smelled like feces or feet, and some days she just didn’t want to deal — and instead drive, tolls totaled $14 roundtrip. Either way, the commute ate up two hours every day. Plenty of other things were pricey there, too, like doing her laundry at a laundromat and paying tolls whenever she drove somewhere. Within a few months of the start of the pandemic, Eliot realized she wanted to get out. She was burned out from working sometimes 12-hour days in communications at a tech company. “I didn’t have time to do basically anything that fulfilled me on a personal level,” she says. “I was like, you know what, f— it, I’m getting out of here.” She continued: “There are tons of opportunities for creative pursuits in San Francisco, but no time to pursue them,” Eliot, who is currently working as a freelance writer, notes. “In order to survive there, you have to be working all of these jobs that are less than creative.” The only jobs that paid livable wages for the region, she says, were in the tech industry.

When she started to think about leaving, she realized she doesn’t need that much money to be happy. “I have pretty simple desires,” she says. “I just want to eat and write.” She left the Bay Area in fall 2020.

Eliot and her then-boyfriend found a 1,000-square-foot house in Clark County, Wash., about 20 miles outside Portland, Ore. The house, which has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a backyard and a washer and dryer, costs them about $1,500 a month. Eliot turned to full-time freelance writing to make an income and is currently contributing journalism and copywriting to various publications and clients. Even when her now ex-boyfriend moved out, Eliot could still pay for her rent, health insurance ($500 a month) and utilities ($300 a month) from her income. She is even able to save each month, and hopes to purchase her own house. “I’m putting money away to do it and could feasibly accomplish that in the next five years,” she says. “What a dream.”

Dreaming of moving to a less pricey city too?

Here are some resources to help you make that decision

Housing: See what kind of a mortgage you can qualify for here, and look up what you might pay in rent here.

Cost of living and other lifestyle factors: Compare the cost of living in a new city with your current city here, as well as things like taxes, crime and more.

Healthcare: Look up how U.S. News ranks your the new state ranks in terms of healthcare here.

Jobs: If your current job won’t let you work remotely, you can hunt for jobs via sites like Indeed and Glassdoor.

Crime, education and other lifestyle factors: Look these up on Niche.

Even better, she has way more time. Along with pursuing topics that interest her, as opposed to those that merely make money — Eliot is carving a niche for herself in the field of paranormal and cryptozoology journalism — she can do so at a much slower pace, and still make enough money to survive. “I’m making probably half of what I was making in the Bay Area,” she says. “But my lifestyle is dramatically better. I can wake up and work a normal eight-hour day without losing sleep from stress.”

Though the cost of living in her new town is lower than that in Richmond, Calif., moving is about more than money: “Time and space are wealth,” Eliot says. “Living in a three-bedroom house with the luxury of having time to make art is freedom to me.” In the future, Eliot imagines working on a video game script or writing a choose-your-own-adventure book. If she had stayed in the Bay Area, she says, she would have been too tired from working and commuting to even consider such a project, she says. “Leaving the Bay Area has given me the freedom to be happy and creatively fulfilled,” she says.

The move has come with downsides, though: She misses the different kinds of people she met in San Francisco, for example. But in Washington, she can get a dog. “I’ve wanted a dog for the last decade or so,” she says. “It’s finally the right time.”

2-person family middle-class income range: $50,117.34 to $149,604

3-person family middle-class income range: $54,870.99 to $163,794

4-person family middle-class income range: $62,647.68 to $187,008

Helpful: 19 Effective Ways To Tackle Your Budget

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Colorado

2-person family middle-class income range: $51,695.19 to $154,314

3-person family middle-class income range: $57,772.76 to $172,456

4-person family middle-class income range: $67,509.20 to $201,520

Check Out: Best Cities To Retire on a Budget of $1,500 a Month

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Connecticut

2-person family middle-class income range: $56,695.40 to $169,240

3-person family middle-class income range: $66,263 to $197,800

4-person family middle-class income range: $80,839.52 to $241,312

Read: Tips To Keep Your Finances in Order Without Sacrificing What You Want

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Delaware

2-person family middle-class income range: $47,450.07 to $141,642

3-person family middle-class income range: $55,792.91 to $166,546

4-person family middle-class income range: $67,502.50 to $201,500

Related: 17 Dumb Home-Buying Mistakes That Hurt Your Wallet

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Florida

2-person family middle-class income range: $39,789.96 to $118,776

3-person family middle-class income range: $43,393.89 to $129,534

4-person family middle-class income range: $51,789.66 to $154,596

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Georgia

2-person family middle-class income range: $40,845.21 to $121,926

3-person family middle-class income range: $46,002.20 to $137,320

4-person family middle-class income range: $53,740.03 to $160,418

Try: 50 Easy Things You Should Do To Save Money

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Hawaii

2-person family middle-class income range: $51,397.71 to $153,426

3-person family middle-class income range: $61,821.57 to $184,542

4-person family middle-class income range: $69,842.14 to $208,484

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Idaho

2-person family middle-class income range: $39,885.10 to $119,060

3-person family middle-class income range: $43,232.42 to $129,052

4-person family middle-class income range: $50,060.39 to $149,434

Find Out: Things To Cut Out Right Now To Save Money During the Health Crisis

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Illinois

2-person family middle-class income range: $47,116.41 to $140,646

3-person family middle-class income range: $54,310.87 to $162,122

4-person family middle-class income range: $65,412.77 to $195,262

Read: The Upper Class Has Taken Over These 50 Cities

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Indiana

2-person family middle-class income range: $40,695.80 to $121,480

3-person family middle-class income range: $47,411.21 to $141,526

4-person family middle-class income range: $55,750.03 to $166,418

Options: 16 Ways To Save Money on Food

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Iowa

2-person family middle-class income range: $44,792.18 to $133,708

3-person family middle-class income range: $51,367.56 to $153,336

4-person family middle-class income range: $61,254.08 to $182,848

Read: 25 Tips for Saving Money With Your Spouse

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Kansas

2-person family middle-class income range: $44,103.42 to $131,652

3-person family middle-class income range: $50,075.80 to $149,480

4-person family middle-class income range: $58,316.13 to $174,078

Helpful: 16 Effective Ways To Trick Yourself Into Saving Money

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Kentucky

2-person family middle-class income range: $36,106.97 to $107,782

3-person family middle-class income range: $42,429.09 to $126,654

4-person family middle-class income range: $52,059 to $155,400

Good To Know: 16 Splurges That Save You Money in the Long Run

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Louisiana

2-person family middle-class income range: $36,315.34 to $108,404

3-person family middle-class income range: $42,047.19 to $125,514

4-person family middle-class income range: $53,242.89 to $158,934

Keep Reading: 25 Ways To Save 20% More of Your Paycheck Without Even Trying

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Maine

2-person family middle-class income range: $42,119.55 to $125,730

3-person family middle-class income range: $50,917.32 to $151,992

4-person family middle-class income range: $60,412.56 to $180,336

Try: Cutting Out These 25 Expenses Will Save You $16,142.08 a Year

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Maryland

2-person family middle-class income range: $58,147.96 to $173,576

3-person family middle-class income range: $68,045.87 to $203,122

4-person family middle-class income range: $80,429.48 to $240,088

Learn More: Surprising Ways Gen Z and Millennials Are Worlds Apart Financially

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Massachusetts

2-person family middle-class income range: $54,438.17 to $162,502

3-person family middle-class income range: $68,368.81 to $204,086

4-person family middle-class income range: $83,974.45 to $250,670

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Michigan

2-person family middle-class income range: $41,073.68 to $122,608

3-person family middle-class income range: $49,233.61 to $146,966

4-person family middle-class income range: $60,088.28 to $179,368

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Minnesota

2-person family middle-class income range: $50,252.01 to $150,006

3-person family middle-class income range: $60,824.61 to $181,566

4-person family middle-class income range: $72,837.71 to $217,426

Read: 35 Cities Where You Can Afford To Live on Less Than $50,000

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Mississippi

2-person family middle-class income range: $33,585.09 to $100,254

3-person family middle-class income range: $36,874.79 to $110,074

4-person family middle-class income range: $44,646.79 to $133,274

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Missouri

2-person family middle-class income range: $40,137.02 to $119,812

3-person family middle-class income range: $47,224.28 to $140,968

4-person family middle-class income range: $56,973.45 to $170,070

Read: 20 Hobbies of the Rich Only They Can Afford

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Montana

2-person family middle-class income range: $41,358.43 to $123,458

3-person family middle-class income range: $47,905.67 to $143,002

4-person family middle-class income range: $57,155.02 to $170,612

Find Out: 31 Dumb Things That Are Keeping You From Being Wealthy

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Nebraska

2-person family middle-class income range: $45,617.62 to $136,172

3-person family middle-class income range: $51,282.47 to $153,082

4-person family middle-class income range: $60,474.87 to $180,522

See: Do You Think the Minimum Wage Should Be $15? Take Our Poll

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Nevada

2-person family middle-class income range: $42,436.46 to $126,676

3-person family middle-class income range: $46,585.10 to $139,060

4-person family middle-class income range: $52,754.46 to $157,476

Check Out: The Living Wage You Need in All 50 States

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New Hampshire

2-person family middle-class income range: $51,969.89 to $155,134

3-person family middle-class income range: $63,278.82 to $188,892

4-person family middle-class income range: $77,816.48 to $232,288

See: 42 Easy Ways To Save For Retirement

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New Jersey

2-person family middle-class income range: $54,144.71 to $161,626

3-person family middle-class income range: $67,765.81 to $202,286

4-person family middle-class income range: $82,698.10 to $246,860

Take Action: Do These 13 Things To Boost Your Retirement Savings Now

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New Mexico

2-person family middle-class income range: $38,553.14 to $115,084

3-person family middle-class income range: $38,622.15 to $115,290

4-person family middle-class income range: $43,667.92 to $130,352

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New York

2-person family middle-class income range: $46,597.83 to $139,098

3-person family middle-class income range: $55,155.74 to $164,644

4-person family middle-class income range: $67,252.59 to $200,754

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North Carolina

2-person family middle-class income range: $39,766.51 to $118,706

3-person family middle-class income range: $44,938.24 to $134,144

4-person family middle-class income range: $54,094.46 to $161,476

Learn: What Is a Savings Bond and How Does It Work?

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North Dakota

2-person family middle-class income range: $50,524.70 to $150,820

3-person family middle-class income range: $56,369.11 to $168,266

4-person family middle-class income range: $67,521.93 to $201,558

Avoid: 35 Retirement Planning Mistakes That Waste Your Money

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Ohio

2-person family middle-class income range: $41,263.96 to $123,176

3-person family middle-class income range: $48,556.91 to $144,946

4-person family middle-class income range: $58,955.98 to $175,988

Read: 19 Things You’ll Need To Sacrifice Now for a Healthy Retirement

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Oklahoma

2-person family middle-class income range: $39,604.37 to $118,222

3-person family middle-class income range: $43,061.57 to $128,542

4-person family middle-class income range: $49,231.60 to $146,960

Check Out: Here’s How To Retire Early and Quit the Daily Grind

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Oregon

2-person family middle-class income range: $44,341.27 to $132,362

3-person family middle-class income range: $50,984.32 to $152,192

4-person family middle-class income range: $59,710.40 to $178,240

Start Cutting Costs: How To Save Money on All Your Monthly Expenses and Bills

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Pennsylvania

2-person family middle-class income range: $43,328.90 to $129,340

3-person family middle-class income range: $53,888.10 to $160,860

4-person family middle-class income range: $64,841.26 to $193,556

Related: How Much You Need To Be in the Top 5% in Every State

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Rhode Island

2-person family middle-class income range: $48,213.20 to $143,920

3-person family middle-class income range: $55,043.85 to $164,310

4-person family middle-class income range: $69,286.71 to $206,826

More Tips: 20 Ways To Save Money Fast

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South Carolina

2-person family middle-class income range: $39,337.04 to $117,424

3-person family middle-class income range: $42,692.40 to $127,440

4-person family middle-class income range: $51,590 to $154,000

Read: Why It’s Harder To Save For Retirement Today Than 50 Years Ago

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South Dakota

2-person family middle-class income range: $44,333.90 to $132,340

3-person family middle-class income range: $49,529.08 to $147,848

4-person family middle-class income range: $57,928.87 to $172,922

See: 10 Signs You’re Not Saving Enough for Retirement

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Tennessee

2-person family middle-class income range: $38,167.22 to $113,932

3-person family middle-class income range: $43,790.53 to $130,718

4-person family middle-class income range: $51,220.83 to $152,898

Watch Out: 15 Retirement Mistakes and Why They’ll Shrink Your Nest Egg

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Texas

2-person family middle-class income range: $43,321.53 to $129,318

3-person family middle-class income range: $47,581.39 to $142,034

4-person family middle-class income range: $54,994.94 to $164,164

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Utah

2-person family middle-class income range: $44,442.44 to $132,664

3-person family middle-class income range: $51,330.71 to $153,226

4-person family middle-class income range: $57,409.62 to $171,372

Read More: Is Now a Good Time To Raid Your 401(k)?

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Vermont

2-person family middle-class income range: $46,184.44 to $137,864

3-person family middle-class income range: $54,231.14 to $161,884

4-person family middle-class income range: $63,166.26 to $188,556

Find Out: What Social Security Will Look Like in 2035

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Virginia

2-person family middle-class income range: $51,174.60 to $152,760

3-person family middle-class income range: $59,441.06 to $177,436

4-person family middle-class income range: $70,116.84 to $209,304

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Washington

2-person family middle-class income range: $51,331.38 to $153,228

3-person family middle-class income range: $58,312.78 to $174,068

4-person family middle-class income range: $68,185.23 to $203,538

Read: 10 Simple Habits of Money-Smart Individuals

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West Virginia

2-person family middle-class income range: $34,203.50 to $102,100

3-person family middle-class income range: $41,735.64 to $124,584

4-person family middle-class income range: $49,760.90 to $148,540

Take a Look: These Once-Hot Housing Markets Are Cooling Off

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Wisconsin

2-person family middle-class income range: $44,306.43 to $132,258

3-person family middle-class income range: $53,190.63 to $158,778

4-person family middle-class income range: $64,167.91 to $191,546

Discover: Most Affordable Places To Retire Near You

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Wyoming

2-person family middle-class income range: $47,764.30 to $142,580

3-person family middle-class income range: $53,187.95 to $158,770

4-person family middle-class income range: $61,159.61 to $182,566

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Cynthia Measom contributed to the reporting of this article.

Methodology: GOBankingRates found how much the middle class earns in every state by analyzing the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey data to determine how much a two-, three- and four-person middle-class family earns. Pew Research Center defines middle class as making two-thirds (67%) to double (200%) the national median income. For this study, GOBankingRates assumed that a middle-class family earns two-thirds to double the median income for a family of its size in its state. In order to find out how much a middle-class family is earning, GOBankingRates multiplied each median income by 0.67 for the lower limit and by 2 for the upper limit. Data is accurate as of June 22, 2020.