What the Lower Middle Class Makes in Different US Cities
Across U.S. cities, middle-class earnings vary greatly. The national average is $30,001 to $58,020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but it can still be confusing to accurately figure out where you are in the middle-class chain. Even though your status is determined by the income you earn, your location can impact how the values work for you.
Economic circumstances have made the class dynamics even more complex. As a result of lifestyle inflation, U.S. workers need to expand their lifestyle with any rise in income, leaving them with less and less disposable income.
Here’s a look at what the lower middle class makes across different U.S. cities.
Arlington, Virginia
Median household income: $137,387
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $91,591
High end of lower-middle-class income: $152,652
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San Francisco
Median household income: $136,689
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $91,126
High end of lower-middle-class income: $151,877
San Jose, California
Median household income: $136,010
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $90,673
High end of lower-middle-class income: $151,122
Irvine, California
Median household income: $122,948
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $81,965
High end of lower-middle-class income: $136,609
Seattle
Median household income: $116,068
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $77,379
High end of lower-middle-class income: $128,964
Gilbert, Arizona
Median household income: $115,179
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $76,786
High end of lower-middle-class income: $127,977
Plano, Texas
Median household income: $105,679
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $70,453
High end of lower-middle-class income: $117,421
Scottsdale, Arizona
Median household income: $104,197
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $69,465
High end of lower-middle-class income: $115,774
Washington, D.C.
Median household income: $101,722
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $67,815
High end of lower-middle-class income: $113,024
Chandler, Arizona
Median household income: $99,374
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $66,249
High end of lower-middle-class income: $110,416
San Diego
Median household income: $98,657
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $65,771
High end of lower-middle-class income: $109,619
Anchorage, Alaska
Median household income: $95,731
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $63,821
High end of lower-middle-class income: $106,368
Oakland, California
Median household income: $94,389
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $62,926
High end of lower-middle-class income: $104,877
Chesapeake, Virginia
Median household income: $92,703
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $61,802
High end of lower-middle-class income: $103,003
Jersey City, New Jersey
Median household income: $91,151
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $60,767
High end of lower-middle-class income: $101,279
Boston
Median household income: $89,212
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $59,475
High end of lower-middle-class income: $99,124
Anaheim, California
Median household income: $88,538
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $59,025
High end of lower-middle-class income: $98,376
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Median household income: $87,544
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $58,363
High end of lower-middle-class income: $97,271
Austin, Texas
Median household income: $86,556
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $57,704
High end of lower-middle-class income: $96,173
Portland, Oregon
Median household income: $85,876
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $57,251
High end of lower-middle-class income: $95,418
Denver
Median household income: $85,853
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $57,235
High end of lower-middle-class income: $95,392
Henderson, Nevada
Median household income: $85,311
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $56,874
High end of lower-middle-class income: $94,790
Riverside, California
Median household income: $83,448
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $55,632
High end of lower-middle-class income: $92,720
Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
Median household income: $82,772
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $55,181
High end of lower-middle-class income: $91,969
Tacoma, Washington
Median household income: $78,085
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $52,723
High end of lower-middle-class income: $87,872
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Median household income: $79,026
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $52,684
High end of lower-middle-class income: $87,807
Long Beach, California
Median household income: $78,995
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $52,663
High end of lower-middle-class income: $87,772
Sacramento, California
Median household income: $78,954
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $52,636
High end of lower-middle-class income: $87,727
Aurora, Colorado
Median household income: $78,685
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $52,457
High end of lower-middle-class income: $87,428
Raleigh, North Carolina
Median household income: $78,631
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $52,421
High end of lower-middle-class income: $87,368
Atlanta
Median household income: $77,655
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $51,770
High end of lower-middle-class income: $86,283
Irving, Texas
Median household income: $76,686
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $51,124
High end of lower-middle-class income: $85,207
New York
Median household income: $76,607
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $51,071
High end of lower-middle-class income: $85,119
Boise City, Idaho
Median household income: $76,402
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $50,935
High end of lower-middle-class income: $84,891
Minneapolis
Median household income: $76,332
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $50,888
High end of lower-middle-class income: $84,813
Los Angeles
Median household income: $76,244
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $50,829
High end of lower-middle-class income: $84,716
Madison, Wisconsin
Median household income: $74,895
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $49,930
High end of lower-middle-class income: $83,217
Durham, North Carolina
Median household income: $74,710
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $49,807
High end of lower-middle-class income: $83,011
Charlotte, North Carolina
Median household income: $74,070
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $49,380
High end of lower-middle-class income: $82,300
Bakersfield, California
Median household income: $73,827
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $49,218
High end of lower-middle-class income: $82,030
Mesa, Arizona
Median household income: $73,766
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $49,177
High end of lower-middle-class income: $81,962
Reno, Nevada
Median household income: $73,073
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $48,715
High end of lower-middle-class income: $81,192
Fort Worth, Texas
Median household income: $72,726
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $48,484
High end of lower-middle-class income: $80,807
Salt Lake City
Median household income: $72,357
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $48,238
High end of lower-middle-class income: $80,397
Phoenix
Median household income: $72,092
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $48,061
High end of lower-middle-class income: $80,102
Arlington, Texas
Median household income: $71,736
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $47,824
High end of lower-middle-class income: $79,707
Chicago
Median household income: $71,673
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $47,782
High end of lower-middle-class income: $79,637
Stockton, California
Median household income: $71,612
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $47,741
High end of lower-middle-class income: $79,569
Nashville, Tennessee
Median household income: $71,328
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $47,552
High end of lower-middle-class income: $79,253
St. Petersburg, Florida
Median household income: $70,333
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $46,889
High end of lower-middle-class income: $78,148
Omaha, Nebraska
Median household income: $70,202
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $46,801
High end of lower-middle-class income: $78,002
St. Paul, Minnesota
Median household income: $69,919
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $46,613
High end of lower-middle-class income: $77,688
Spring Valley, Nevada
Median household income: $69,341
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $46,227
High end of lower-middle-class income: $77,046
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Huntsville, Alabama
Median household income: $67,874
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $45,249
High end of lower-middle-class income: $75,416
Lincoln, Nebraska
Median household income: $67,846
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $45,231
High end of lower-middle-class income: $75,384
Tampa, Florida
Median household income: $66,802
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $44,535
High end of lower-middle-class income: $74,224
Las Vegas
Median household income: $66,356
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $44,237
High end of lower-middle-class income: $73,729
Orlando, Florida
Median household income: $66,292
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $44,195
High end of lower-middle-class income: $73,658
Lexington, Kentucky
Median household income: $66,087
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $44,058
High end of lower-middle-class income: $73,430
Kansas City, Missouri
Median household income: $65,256
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $43,504
High end of lower-middle-class income: $72,507
Corpus Christi, Texas
Median household income: $64,449
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $42,966
High end of lower-middle-class income: $71,610
Oklahoma City
Median household income: $64,251
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $42,834
High end of lower-middle-class income: $71,390
Jacksonville, Florida
Median household income: $64,138
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $42,759
High end of lower-middle-class income: $71,264
Dallas
Median household income: $63,985
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $42,657
High end of lower-middle-class income: $71,094
Spokane, Washington
Median household income: $63,316
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $42,211
High end of lower-middle-class income: $70,351
Louisville, Kentucky
Median household income: $63,114
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $42,076
High end of lower-middle-class income: $70,127
Fresno, California
Median household income: $63,001
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $42,001
High end of lower-middle-class income: $70,001
Columbus, Ohio
Median household income: $62,994
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $41,996
High end of lower-middle-class income: $69,993
Des Moines, Iowa
Median household income: $62,378
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $41,585
High end of lower-middle-class income: $69,309
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Median household income: $61,503
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $41,002
High end of lower-middle-class income: $68,337
Norfolk, Virginia
Median household income: $60,998
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $40,665
High end of lower-middle-class income: $67,776
Wichita, Kansas
Median household income: $60,712
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $40,475
High end of lower-middle-class income: $67,458
Houston
Median household income: $60,440
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $40,293
High end of lower-middle-class income: $67,156
Pittsburgh
Median household income: $60,187
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $40,125
High end of lower-middle-class income: $66,874
Richmond, Virginia
Median household income: $59,606
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $39,737
High end of lower-middle-class income: $66,229
San Antonio
Median household income: $59,593
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $39,729
High end of lower-middle-class income: $66,214
Indianapolis
Median household income: $59,110
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $39,407
High end of lower-middle-class income: $65,678
Lubbock, Texas
Median household income: $58,734
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $39,156
High end of lower-middle-class income: $65,260
Little Rock, Arkansas
Median household income: $58,697
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $39,131
High end of lower-middle-class income: $65,219
Baltimore
Median household income: $58,349
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $38,899
High end of lower-middle-class income: $64,832
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Median household income: $58,233
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $38,822
High end of lower-middle-class income: $64,703
Philadelphia
Median household income: $57,537
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $38,358
High end of lower-middle-class income: $63,930
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Median household income: $56,648
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $37,765
High end of lower-middle-class income: $62,942
El Paso, Texas
Median household income: $55,710
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $37,140
High end of lower-middle-class income: $61,900
Greensboro, North Carolina
Median household income: $55,051
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $36,701
High end of lower-middle-class income: $61,168
Miami
Median household income: $54,858
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $36,572
High end of lower-middle-class income: $60,953
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Median household income: $54,416
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $36,277
High end of lower-middle-class income: $60,462
St. Louis
Median household income: $52,941
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $35,294
High end of lower-middle-class income: $58,823
Tucson, Arizona
Median household income: $52,049
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $34,699
High end of lower-middle-class income: $57,832
New Orleans
Median household income: $51,116
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $34,077
High end of lower-middle-class income: $56,796
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Median household income: $50,155
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $33,437
High end of lower-middle-class income: $55,728
Milwaukee
Median household income: $49,733
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $33,155
High end of lower-middle-class income: $55,259
Cincinnati
Median household income: $49,191
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $32,794
High end of lower-middle-class income: $54,657
Memphis, Tennessee
Median household income: $48,090
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $32,060
High end of lower-middle-class income: $53,433
Newark, New Jersey
Median household income: $46,460
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $30,973
High end of lower-middle-class income: $51,622
Buffalo, New York
Median household income: $46,184
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $30,789
High end of lower-middle-class income: $51,316
Toldeo, Ohio
Median household income: $45,405
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $30,270
High end of lower-middle-class income: $50,450
Rochester, New York
Median household income: $44,156
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $29,437
High end of lower-middle-class income: $49,062
Detroit
Median household income: $37,761
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $25,174
High end of lower-middle-class income: $41,957
Cleveland
Median household income: $37,271
Low end of lower-middle-class income: $24,847
High end of lower-middle-class income: $41,412
Gabrielle Olya contributed to the reporting for this article.
Methodology: For this piece, GOBankingRates looked at the 100 biggest cities in terms of total households as sourced from the 2022 American Community Survey. GOBankingRates determined the lower-middle-class low and high limits for each city, under the assumption that middle-class income is two-thirds to double the income of a given area. All data was collected and is up to date as of June 25, 2024.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What the Lower Middle Class Makes in Different US Cities