Mapped: How Much You Need To Earn To Be Considered Middle Class by State

Being classified as "middle class" in the United States today depends heavily on where you live—with the benchmark varying widely from one place to another.

Visual Capitalist recently analyzed data from SmartAsset, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Pew Research Center to pinpoint the minimum income needed to qualify as middle class in each U.S. state.

The results reveal significant differences, with some states requiring far higher incomes to be considered middle class than others.

Massachusetts ranks first, where households must earn roughly $69,900 to enter the middle-income range.

New Jersey and Maryland follow closely behind at $69,500 and $68,600, respectively.

Massachusetts has a median listing price of $716,225, followed by $529,000 in New Jersey and $400,000 in Maryland.

"In the top three states, a middle-class income would be able to afford a home priced between $315,000 and $320,000, assuming today's mortgage rate (6.11%) and a 10% down payment," says Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com®.

Jones notes that Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland each include or are adjacent to a high-priced metro area, namely Boston, New York, and Washington DC.

"It takes more to be middle class in these areas due to relatively highly costs of living," she says.

"In Massachusetts, the income needed to qualify as middle class reflects just how expensive it has become to live in the greater Boston area and surrounding suburbs," George Sarkis, of The Sarkis Team at Douglas Elliman based in Massachusetts, tells Realtor.com.

"The quality of life here is extremely high; we have top-ranked schools, world-class health care, strong job opportunities, and access to both city life and coastal communities, but those advantages come at a cost."

Sarkis notes that housing affordability is one of the biggest challenges, "especially for first-time buyers who are competing with high prices, limited inventory, and elevated interest rates at the same time," he explains

According to Sarkis, the biggest hurdle for many younger buyers isn’t qualifying for a mortgage; it’s saving enough for a down payment while keeping up with the cost of living.

"We’re seeing more people stay in rentals longer, buy farther outside the city, or rely on family support to enter the market," he says. "Massachusetts remains a very desirable place to live, but the definition of ‘middle class’ here has shifted significantly compared to most of the country.”

Thomas O'Shaughnessy, vice-president of Clever Offers, tells Realtor.com that affordability is also an issue in New Jersey and Maryland.

"In some cities there, housing costs have increased by more than 30% over the last five years," O'Shaughnessy says. "This has created problems for first-time homebuyers, as their salaries have not increased accordingly. In these states, individuals earning middle-class salaries may struggle with property taxes and other expenses."

Low-earning states

At the low end of middle-class earnings, Mississippi comes in last, with an income of only $39,400.

It's followed by West Virginia at $40,500 and Louisiana at $40,700. 

Median listing prices in these states are $294,700 in Mississippi, $242,000 in West Virginia, and $270,513 in Louisiana.

According to Jones, the bottom-three states would be able to afford a home priced between roughly $180,000 and $190,000.

"Mississippi, West Virginia, and Louisiana are more affordable states, both in terms of housing and overall cost of living," says Jones. "Incomes tend to be lower in these states, which means middle-class income is lower, too. Middle-class households in these states may be able to afford to buy a home, while middle-class households in higher-priced states may have more trouble, even with more income to work with."

"A lot of people are surprised at how strong Baton Rouge's economy is," Mike Grisham, with SoldFast in Baton Rouge, LA, tells Realtor.com. "It's got massive industry for manufacturing, petrochemicals, and shipping—things most businesses need. It's been listed as a great place for young people and couples to buy their first home or start a business."

Residing in one of these states, where the middle-class threshold, is lower can give homebuyers a head start.

"In states such as Mississippi, West Virginia, and Louisiana, life is much more affordable," says O'Shaughnessy. "In these states, individuals looking for their first home may be able to purchase their first home for less than $150,000 to $200,000. This has given me the ability to help individuals purchase their first home in as little as one year."