The definition of middle-class income varies dramatically depending on where you live in the U.S. While the concept of being middle class might feel universal, the actual income required to achieve that status can differ by tens of thousands of dollars from one state to another. Understanding these differences is crucial for anyone planning their financial future, considering a move, or simply trying to assess their economic standing.
The most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, released in September 2025, provides the clearest picture of what middle-class income looks like across all 50 states. This data calculates the middle-class range as two-thirds to double the median household income, with the midpoint average representing the typical middle-class income for each state.
| State | 2024 Median Household Income | Middle-Class Range (Low to High) | Midpoint Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $66,659 | $44,439 – $133,318 | $88,879 |
| Alaska | $95,665 | $63,777 – $191,330 | $127,553 |
| Arizona | $81,486 | $54,324 – $162,972 | $108,648 |
| Arkansas | $62,106 | $41,404 – $124,212 | $82,808 |
| California | $100,149 | $66,766 – $200,298 | $133,532 |
| Colorado | $97,113 | $64,742 – $194,226 | $129,484 |
| Connecticut | $96,049 | $64,033 – $192,098 | $128,065 |
| Delaware | $87,534 | $58,356 – $175,068 | $116,712 |
| Florida | $77,735 | $51,823 – $155,470 | $103,647 |
| Georgia | $79,991 | $53,327 – $159,982 | $106,655 |
| Hawaii | $100,745 | $67,163 – $201,490 | $134,327 |
| Idaho | $81,166 | $54,111 – $162,332 | $108,221 |
| Illinois | $83,211 | $55,474 – $166,422 | $110,948 |
| Indiana | $71,959 | $47,973 – $143,918 | $95,945 |
| Iowa | $75,501 | $50,334 – $151,002 | $100,668 |
| Kansas | $75,514 | $50,343 – $151,028 | $100,685 |
| Kentucky | $64,526 | $43,017 – $129,052 | $86,034 |
| Louisiana | $60,986 | $40,657 – $121,972 | $81,315 |
| Maine | $76,442 | $50,961 – $152,884 | $101,923 |
| Maryland | $102,905 | $68,603 – $205,810 | $137,207 |
| Massachusetts | $104,828 | $69,885 – $209,656 | $139,771 |
| Michigan | $72,389 | $48,259 – $144,778 | $96,519 |
| Minnesota | $87,117 | $58,078 – $174,234 | $116,156 |
| Mississippi | $59,127 | $39,418 – $118,254 | $78,836 |
| Missouri | $71,589 | $47,726 – $143,178 | $95,452 |
| Montana | $75,340 | $50,227 – $150,680 | $100,453 |
| Nebraska | $76,376 | $50,917 – $152,752 | $101,835 |
| Nevada | $81,134 | $54,089 – $162,268 | $108,179 |
| New Hampshire | $99,782 | $66,521 – $199,564 | $133,043 |
| New Jersey | $104,294 | $69,529 – $208,588 | $139,059 |
| New Mexico | $67,816 | $45,211 – $135,632 | $90,421 |
| New York | $85,820 | $57,213 – $171,640 | $114,427 |
| North Carolina | $73,958 | $49,305 – $147,916 | $98,611 |
| North Dakota | $77,871 | $51,914 – $155,742 | $103,828 |
| Ohio | $72,212 | $48,141 – $144,424 | $96,283 |
| Oklahoma | $66,148 | $44,099 – $132,296 | $88,197 |
| Oregon | $85,220 | $56,813 – $170,440 | $113,627 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,545 | $51,697 – $155,090 | $103,393 |
| Rhode Island | $83,504 | $55,669 – $167,008 | $111,339 |
| South Carolina | $72,350 | $48,233 – $144,700 | $96,467 |
| South Dakota | $76,881 | $51,254 – $153,762 | $102,508 |
| Tennessee | $71,997 | $47,998 – $143,994 | $95,996 |
| Texas | $79,721 | $53,147 – $159,442 | $106,295 |
| Utah | $96,658 | $64,439 – $193,316 | $128,877 |
| Vermont | $82,730 | $55,153 – $165,460 | $110,307 |
| Virginia | $92,090 | $61,393 – $184,180 | $122,787 |
| Washington | $99,389 | $66,259 – $198,778 | $132,519 |
| West Virginia | $60,798 | $40,532 – $121,596 | $81,064 |
| Wisconsin | $77,488 | $51,659 – $154,976 | $103,317 |
| Wyoming | $75,532 | $50,355 – $151,064 | $100,709 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey (1-year estimates). Data from www2.census.gov.
1. Understanding Middle-Class Income Definitions
The middle-class income range isn’t arbitrary. Economists and researchers typically define the middle class as households earning between two-thirds and double their state’s median household income. This formula creates a range that captures the vast majority of families who identify as middle class while excluding both the working poor and the genuinely wealthy.
For example, if a state’s median household income is $75,000, the middle-class range would span from $50,000 to $150,000. The midpoint of this range, calculated as four-thirds of the median, represents the average income of the middle class. This mathematical approach offers a more nuanced perspective than relying solely on median income, which only represents the exact middle point of all earners.
2. The Top-Earning States for Middle-Class Families
Massachusetts leads the nation with the highest middle-class midpoint average at $139,771, closely followed by Maryland at $137,207. These states demonstrate that being middle-class on the East Coast requires a substantially higher income than in most other regions. Massachusetts’ middle-class range spans from $69,885 to $209,656, reflecting both high costs of living and elevated wage levels.
California ranks third with a midpoint average of $133,532, while Hawaii comes in fourth at $134,327. New Jersey rounds out the top five at $139,059. What these states share is a combination of high housing costs, elevated taxes, and concentrated high-paying industries that push income requirements upward across all economic classes.
The gap between top and bottom states is staggering. Mississippi holds the lowest middle-class midpoint at $78,836, meaning the average middle-class family in Massachusetts earns roughly $60,000 more annually than their Mississippi counterpart. This represents a 77% income difference for families occupying the same economic class in their respective states.
3. The Most Affordable Middle-Class Markets
At the lower end of the spectrum, Mississippi’s middle-class range of $39,418 to $118,254 reflects both lower wages and significantly reduced cost of living. West Virginia ($81,064 midpoint) and Louisiana ($81,315 midpoint) follow closely behind, creating a cluster of Southern states where middle-class life can be achieved with substantially less income.
Arkansas, with a midpoint of $82,808, and Kentucky at $86,034, complete the bottom five states. These numbers don’t indicate poverty or lack of opportunity. Instead, they reflect regional economic structures where housing costs 50-70% less than coastal markets and where a dollar stretches considerably farther.
The practical implication is significant. A family earning $85,000 annually might struggle to maintain middle-class status in San Francisco or Boston, but could live quite comfortably within the middle-class range in Jackson, Mississippi, or Charleston, West Virginia. The same nominal income can create vastly different lifestyles, depending on the location.
4. Regional Patterns and Cost of Living Considerations
Clear regional patterns emerge from the data. West Coast states cluster at the higher end, with Washington at $132,519, California at $133,532, and Oregon at $113,627. These states share similar economic pressures, including tech industry concentration, housing scarcity, and progressive tax structures that push income requirements upward.
The Mountain West presents a mixed picture. Utah’s midpoint of $128,877 and Colorado’s $129,484 reflect the growth of tech hubs and the trend of lifestyle migration. Meanwhile, Montana, at $100,453, and Wyoming, at $100,709, show more moderate middle-class income requirements, despite being in similar geographic regions.
The Midwest demonstrates surprising consistency. States like Ohio ($96,283), Michigan ($96,519), and Wisconsin ($103,317) cluster around similar middle-class averages. This regional uniformity reflects shared industrial identical cost structures and comparable wage levels across the manufacturing belt.
The South shows the widest variation. Virginia’s $122,787 midpoint reflects the proximity of Northern Virginia to Washington, D.C., as well as its concentration of government contractors and tech workers. Meanwhile, neighboring states like Tennessee ($95,996) and Alabama ($88,879) maintain much lower middle-class income requirements.
5. What This Data Means for Your Financial Planning
These figures represent all household sizes and don’t adjust for whether you’re a single person, a couple, or a family with children. A household with two working adults will find it easier to reach middle-class status than a single earner supporting multiple dependents. This distinction is crucial when using this data for personal financial planning.
The variations in cost of living cannot be overstated. A middle-class income in Mississippi goes significantly farther than the same income in California, even accounting for the higher nominal earnings in California. Housing costs alone can consume 20-30% of revenue in affordable states but 40-50% or more in expensive coastal markets.
The data also reveals the opportunity costs of location decisions. Moving from a low-income-requirement state to a high-income-requirement state means you’ll need substantial salary increases to maintain the same economic class. A family earning $90,000 in Alabama (solidly middle class) would need to earn approximately $150,000 in Massachusetts to maintain equivalent purchasing power and middle-class status.
Geographic arbitrage becomes possible for remote workers or retirees. Earning a coastal salary while living in a lower-cost state can elevate you from middle class to upper middle class without changing jobs or income. This strategy has driven migration patterns over the past decade as remote work has become more prevalent.
Conclusion
The average middle-class income varies by more than $60,000 annually, depending on which state you call home. While Massachusetts requires nearly $140,000 for a typical middle-class lifestyle, Mississippi families achieve the same economic status with under $79,000. These aren’t just statistical curiosities but real financial realities that impact everything from home affordability to retirement planning.
Understanding where your income falls within your state’s middle-class range provides crucial context for economic decisions and long-term planning. The data makes one thing clear: middle-class status is as much about geography as it is about income.