How much income do you need to enjoy a middle-class life in your city?

ungvar // Shutterstock As a middle-class American, there is some expectation for living a lifestyle of relative comfort. But as costs have increased significantly over the last few years, the middle class is now feeling a squeeze in their finances. Accordingly, the income limits that define the middle class have also increased as a reflection of what most Americans are currently earning.  Using Pew Research’s definition of middle income of two-thirds to double the median income in an area, SmartAsset determined the income ranges for a household to be considered middle class in 345 of the largest U.S. cities, as well as each state. Key findings In a large U.S. city, a middle-class income averages between $52,000 and $155,000. The median household income across all 345 cities is $77,345, making middle-class income limits fall between $51,558 and $154,590. On a state level, it takes the most money to be middle class in New Jersey. A household making between $64,224 and $192,692 would be considered middle class on a state level. Maryland ($63,321 to $189,982) and Massachusetts ($62,986 to $188,976) follow closely behind. You can be making over $300,000 and still be middle class in six U.S. cities. Households have the highest middle class income limits in Sunnyvale, CA, at $339,562. Fremont, CA ($324,672); San Mateo, CA ($318,550); Santa Clara, CA ($317,228); Bellevue, WA ($307,558); and Highlands Ranch, CO ($304,076) also have the top-earning middle class thresholds. New York City’s middle class doesn’t earn much compared to the cost of living. Despite Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens having a significantly higher cost of living than most U.S. cities, the limits on the middle class are relatively low, ranging from $49,791 to $149,388. It takes less than $25,000 to be considered middle class in Detroit. The Motor City has the lowest median income of large U.S. cities at $36,453. Based on Pew Research’s definition, a household in Detroit making $24,299 would still be considered middle class at the lower threshold. The upper limit would be $72,906. Mississippi has the lowest-earning middle class at the state level. Mississippi residents making between $35,142 and $105,438 would be considered middle class. West Virginia ($36,216 to $108,658) and Louisiana ($36,940 to $110,832) also have among the top three lowest-earning middle class limits. Top 10 cities with the highest middle class thresholds SmartAsset Sunnyvale, California Median household income: $169,781 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $113,176 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $339,562 Fremont, California Median household income: $162,336 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $108,213 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $324,672 San Mateo, California Median household income: $159,275 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $106,173 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $318,550 Santa Clara, California Median household income: $158,614 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $105,732 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $317,228 Bellevue, Washington Median household income: $153,779 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $102,509 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $307,558 Highlands Ranch, Colorado Median household income: $152,038 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $101,349 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $304,076 Carlsbad, California Median household income: $146,596 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $97,721 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $293,192 Frisco, Texas Median household income: $145,914 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $97,266 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $291,828 Naperville, Illinois Median household income: $140,831 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $93,878 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $281,662 The Woodlands, Texas Median household income: $137,335 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $91,548 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $274,670 Top 10 cities with the lowest middle class thresholds Detroit, Michigan Median household income: $36,453 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $24,300 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $72,906 Cleveland, Ohio Median household income: $37,351 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $24,898 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $74,702 Birmingham, Alabama Median household income: $39,326 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $26,215 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $78,652 Jackson, Mississippi Median household income: $40,631 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $27,085 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $81,262 Hartford, Connecticut Median household income: $41,529 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $27,683 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $83,058 Gainesville, Florida Median household income: $42,453 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $28,299 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $84,906 Rochester, New York Median household income: $43,631 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $29,084 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $87,262 Shreveport, Louisiana Median household income: $43,643 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $29,092 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $87,286 Dayton, Ohio Median household income: $43,780 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $29,184 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $87,560 Springfield, Massachusetts Median household income: $44,286 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $29,521 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $88,572 Top 10 states with the highest middle class thresholds SmartAsset New Jersey Median household income: $96,346 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $64,224 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $192,692 Maryland Median household income: $94,991 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $63,321 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $189,982 Massachusetts Median household income: $94,488 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $62,986 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $188,976 Hawaii Median household income: $92,458 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $61,633 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $184,916 California Median household income: $91,551 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $61,028 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $183,102 Washington Median household income: $91,306 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $60,865 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $182,612 New Hampshire Median household income: $89,992 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $59,989 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $179,984 Colorado Median household income: $89,302 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $59,529 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $178,604 Utah Median household income: $89,168 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $59,439 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $178,336 Connecticut Median household income: $88,429 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $58,947 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $176,85 Top 10 states with the lowest middle class thresholds Mississippi Median household income: $52,719 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $35,142 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $105,438 West Virginia Median household income: $54,329 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $36,216 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $108,658 Louisiana Median household income: $55,416 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $36,940 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $110,832 Arkansas Median household income: $55,432 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $36,951 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $110,864 Kentucky Median household income: $59,341 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $39,557 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $118,682 Oklahoma Median household income: $59,673 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $39,778 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $119,346 Alabama Median household income: $59,674 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $39,779 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $119,348 New Mexico Median household income: $59,726 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $39,813 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $119,452 South Carolina Median household income: $64,115 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $42,739 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $128,230 Missouri Median household income: $64,811 Lower bounds on middle class income range: $43,203 Upper bounds on middle class income range: $129,622 Data and methodology To determine the income limits to be in the middle class, SmartAsset analyzed U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 1-year American Community Survey data for the median household income in all 345 of the largest U.S. cities, as well as all 50 states. We relied on a variation of the Pew Research definition of middle-income households, which defines a middle class salary range by two-thirds to double the median U.S. salary.    This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.