Here’s How Much the Definition of Middle Class Has Changed in Every State
Over the last decade, the household income needed to be a part of the middle class has increased significantly. In 2012, a household income of $35,364 qualified you as a member of the middle class in the U.S.; in 2022, $50,099 was the lowest minimum household income threshold.
It also takes a lot more to reach the next level of wealth. In 2012, the highest household income considered to be middle class was $106,092, but as of 2022, that high end of the middle-class household income spectrum had reached $150,298. Overall, the household income required to be considered middle class in the U.S. has increased by 41.67% during that time frame.
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However, the shifts in middle-class household income requirements have not been the same in every state. In some states, the household income range of the middle class hasn’t increased quite as much as the national average. On the other hand, it’s shot up by as much as 53.15% in one state.
To find the household income needed to be middle class in each state, GOBankingrates defined “middle class” as those with an annual household income that is two-thirds to double the median income.
Here’s a look at how much the definition of middle class has changed in every state from 2012 to 2022. States are ranked by largest to smallest percentage change.
Key Findings
Mississippi has the lowest household income needed to be middle class. As of 2022, a $35,323 salary is considered middle class in the state.
Maryland has the highest household income needed to be middle class. As of 2022, $65,641 is the lowest household income that qualifies you to be considered middle class in the state.
The definition of the middle class has changed the least in Alaska. The household income needed to be middle class in Alaska has increased by just 23.53% from 2012 to 2022.
In Oregon, the household income needed to be middle class has increased by 53.15% from 2012 to 2022 — the biggest increase of any state.
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1. Oregon
2022 middle-class income range: $51,088 to $153,264
2012 middle-class income range: $33,357 to $100,072
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 53.15%
2. Washington
2022 middle-class income range: $60,217 to $180,650
2012 middle-class income range: $39,583 to $118,748
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 52.13%
3. Colorado
2022 middle-class income range: $58,399 to $175,196
2012 middle-class income range: $38,829 to $116,488
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 50.40%
4. California
2022 middle-class income range: $61,270 to $183,810
2012 middle-class income range: $40,933 to $122,800
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 49.68%
5. Idaho
2022 middle-class income range: $46,809 to $140,428
2012 middle-class income range: $31,343 to $94,030
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 49.34%
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6. Utah
2022 middle-class income range: $57,889 to $173,666
2012 middle-class income range: $38,776 to $116,328
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 49.29%
7. Montana
2022 middle-class income range: $44,227 to $132,682
2012 middle-class income range: $30,304 to $90,912
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 45.95%
8. Tennessee
2022 middle-class income range: $42,690 to $128,070
2012 middle-class income range: $29,427 to $88,280
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 45.07%
9. Rhode Island
2022 middle-class income range: $54,247 to $162,740
2012 middle-class income range: $37,401 to $112,204
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 45.04%
10. Massachusetts
2022 middle-class income range: $64,337 to $193,010
2012 middle-class income range: $44,439 to $133,316
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 44.78%
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11. Arizona
2022 middle-class income range: $48,387 to $145,162
2012 middle-class income range: $33,504 to $100,512
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 44.42%
12. Georgia
2022 middle-class income range: $47,570 to $142,710
2012 middle-class income range: $33,069 to $99,208
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 43.85%
13. Florida
2022 middle-class income range: $45,278 to $135,834
2012 middle-class income range: $31,539 to $94,618
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 43.56%
14. North Dakota
2022 middle-class income range: $49,306 to $147,918
2012 middle-class income range: $34,427 to $103,282
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 43.22%
15. Minnesota
2022 middle-class income range: $56,209 to $168,626
2012 middle-class income range: $39,417 to $118,252
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 42.60%
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16. South Carolina
2022 middle-class income range: $42,415 to $127,246
2012 middle-class income range: $29,749 to $89,246
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 42.58%
17. North Carolina
2022 middle-class income range: $44,124 to $132,372
2012 middle-class income range: $30,967 to $92,900
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 42.49%
18. Texas
2022 middle-class income range: $48,690 to $146,070
2012 middle-class income range: $34,375 to $103,126
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 41.64%
19. Maine
2022 middle-class income range: $45,501 to $136,502
2012 middle-class income range: $32,146 to $96,438
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 41.54%
20. South Dakota
2022 middle-class income range: $46,305 to $138,914
2012 middle-class income range: $32,727 to $98,182
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 41.49%
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21. Michigan
2022 middle-class income range: $45,670 to $137,010
2012 middle-class income range: $32,314 to $96,942
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 41.33%
22. Kentucky
2022 middle-class income range: $40,122 to $120,366
2012 middle-class income range: $28,407 to $85,220
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 41.24%
23. New York
2022 middle-class income range: $54,257 to $162,772
2012 middle-class income range: $38,455 to $115,366
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 41.09%
24. Hawaii
2022 middle-class income range: $63,209 to $189,628
2012 middle-class income range: $44,995 to $134,984
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 40.48%
25. Pennsylvania
2022 middle-class income range: $48,780 to $146,340
2012 middle-class income range: $34,845 to $104,534
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 39.99%
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26. New Hampshire
2022 middle-class income range: $60,563 to $181,690
2012 middle-class income range: $43,283 to $129,850
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 39.92%
27. Nebraska
2022 middle-class income range: $47,815 to $143,444
2012 middle-class income range: $34,254 to $102,762
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 39.59%
28. Missouri
2022 middle-class income range: $43,947 to $131,840
2012 middle-class income range: $31,555 to $94,666
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 39.27%
29. Arkansas
2022 middle-class income range: $37,557 to $112,670
2012 middle-class income range: $27,021 to $81,062
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 38.99%
30. Indiana
2022 middle-class income range: $44,782 to $134,346
2012 middle-class income range: $32,249 to $96,748
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 38.86%
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31. Ohio
2022 middle-class income range: $44,660 to $133,980
2012 middle-class income range: $32,164 to $96,492
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 38.85%
32. Alabama
2022 middle-class income range: $39,739 to $119,218
2012 middle-class income range: $28,773 to $86,320
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 38.11%
33. Iowa
2022 middle-class income range: $47,047 to $141,142
2012 middle-class income range: $34,086 to $102,258
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 38.03%
34. Illinois
2022 middle-class income range: $52,289 to $156,866
2012 middle-class income range: $37,902 to $113,706
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 37.96%
35. Wisconsin
2022 middle-class income range: $48,305 to $144,916
2012 middle-class income range: $35,085 to $105,254
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 37.68%
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36. Virginia
2022 middle-class income range: $58,166 to $174,498
2012 middle-class income range: $42,424 to $127,272
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 37.11%
37. Oklahoma
2022 middle-class income range: $40,909 to $122,728
2012 middle-class income range: $29,927 to $89,782
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 36.70%
38. West Virginia
2022 middle-class income range: $36,811 to $110,434
2012 middle-class income range: $26,933 to $80,800
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 36.68%
39. Vermont
2022 middle-class income range: $49,343 to $148,028
2012 middle-class income range: $36,112 to $108,336
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 36.64%
40. Mississippi
2022 middle-class income range: $35,323 to $105,970
2012 middle-class income range: $25,921 to $77,764
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 36.27%
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41. Kansas
2022 middle-class income range: $46,498 to $139,494
2012 middle-class income range: $34,182 to $102,546
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 36.03%
42. New Jersey
2022 middle-class income range: $64,751 to $194,252
2012 middle-class income range: $47,758 to $143,274
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 35.58%
43. Maryland
2022 middle-class income range: $65,641 to $196,922
2012 middle-class income range: $48,666 to $145,998
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 34.88%
44. Nevada
2022 middle-class income range: $47,764 to $143,292
2012 middle-class income range: $36,055 to $108,166
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 32.47%
45. Delaware
2022 middle-class income range: $52,883 to $158,650
2012 middle-class income range: $40,079 to $120,238
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 31.95%
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46. New Mexico
2022 middle-class income range: $39,148 to $117,444
2012 middle-class income range: $29,924 to $89,772
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 30.82%
47. Connecticut
2022 middle-class income range: $60,142 to $180,426
2012 middle-class income range: $46,346 to $139,038
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 29.77%
48. Louisiana
2022 middle-class income range: $38,568 to $115,704
2012 middle-class income range: $29,782 to $89,346
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 29.50%
49. Wyoming
2022 middle-class income range: $48,330 to $144,990
2012 middle-class income range: $37,715 to $113,146
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 28.14%
50. Alaska
2022 middle-class income range: $57,580 to $172,740
2012 middle-class income range: $46,611 to $139,834
10-year change in middle-class income (%): 23.53%
Methodology: For this piece, GOBankingRates first sourced the 2012, 2017 and 2022 household median income of every state, as sourced from the 2012, 2017 and 2022 American Community Surveys as conducted by the US Census Bureau. With these median household incomes isolated, GOBankingRates was able to find middle-class income ranges for each respective year with the following definition: those with an annual household income that was two-thirds to double the national median income. For each state, GOBaningRates found (1) 2022 middle-class income range; (2) 2017 middle-class income range; (3) 2012 middle-class income range; (4) 10-year change in middle-class income range; and (5) 10-year percent change in middle-class income. All data was collected and up to date as of April 8, 2024.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here’s How Much the Definition of Middle Class Has Changed in Every State
