Social classes go way back to at least the Middle Ages — but classes such as the “lower class” and the “lower middle class” didn’t become a prominent part of our sociological lexicon in the U.S. until after the Civil War, when industrial growth revolutionized the working life.
Learn More: How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State?
Find Out: How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires — and How You Can, Too
As the years pass, the U.S. class system — or, more precisely, how we understand it — keeps changing. And there’s a geographic component to it all. What makes you “wealthy” in one state may not cut it in another. Just as what makes you “lower class” in one region may actually qualify you as “lower middle class” elsewhere.
In a new study, GOBankingRates analyzed each state to find the line between the lower and middle lower class. States are ranked by the minimum income threshold needed to be middle class, which represents the line between lower class and lower middle class, with those with the highest thresholds ranking highest.
50. Mississippi
- Household median income: $54,915
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $36,610
Read Next: Here’s How Much You Need To Earn To Be ‘Rich’ in Every State
49. West Virginia
- Household median income: $57,917
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $38,611
48. Arkansas
- Household median income: $58,773
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $39,182
47. Louisiana
- Household median income: $60,023
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $40,015
46. Alabama
- Household median income: $62,027
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $41,351
45. New Mexico
- Household median income: $62,125
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $41,417
44. Kentucky
- Household median income: $62,417
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $41,611
43. Oklahoma
- Household median income: $63,603
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $42,402
42. South Carolina
- Household median income: $66,818
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $44,545
41. Tennessee
- Household median income: $67,097
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $44,731
40. Missouri
- Household median income: $68,920
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $45,947
39. Ohio
- Household median income: $69,680
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $46,453
38. North Carolina
- Household median income: $69,904
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $46,603
37. Montana
- Household median income: $69,922
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $46,615
36. Indiana
- Household median income: $70,051
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $46,701
35. Michigan
- Household median income: $71,149
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $47,433
34. Florida
- Household median income: $71,711
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $47,807
33. Maine
- Household median income: $71,773
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $47,849
32. South Dakota
- Household median income: $72,421
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $48,281
31. Kansas
- Household median income: $72,639
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $48,426
30. Iowa
- Household median income: $73,147
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $48,765
29. Idaho
- Household median income: $74,636
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $49,757
28. Georgia
- Household median income: $74,664
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $49,776
27. Wyoming
- Household median income: $74,815
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $49,877
26. Nebraska
- Household median income: $74,985
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $49,990
25. Nevada
- Household median income: $75,561
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $50,374
24. Wisconsin
- Household median income: $75,670
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $50,447
23. North Dakota
- Household median income: $75,949
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $50,633
22. Pennsylvania
- Household median income: $76,081
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $50,721
21. Texas
- Household median income: $76,292
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $50,861
20. Arizona
- Household median income: $76,872
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $51,248
19. Vermont
- Household median income: $78,024
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $52,016
18. Oregon
- Household median income: $80,426
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $53,617
17. Illinois
- Household median income: $81,702
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $54,468
16. Delaware
- Household median income: $82,855
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $55,237
15. New York
- Household median income: $84,578
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $56,385
14. Rhode Island
- Household median income: $86,372
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $57,581
13. Minnesota
- Household median income: $87,556
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $58,371
12. Alaska
- Household median income: $89,336
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $59,557
11. Virginia
- Household median income: $90,974
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $60,649
10. Utah
- Household median income: $91,750
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $61,167
9. Colorado
- Household median income: $92,470
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $61,647
8. Connecticut
- Household median income: $93,760
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $62,507
7. Washington
- Household median income: $94,952
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $63,301
6. New Hampshire
- Household median income: $95,628
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $63,752
5. California
- Household median income: $96,334
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $64,223
4. Hawaii
- Household median income: $98,317
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $65,545
3. New Jersey
- Household median income: $101,050
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $67,367
2. Massachusetts
- Household median income: $101,341
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $67,561
1. Maryland
- Household median income: $101,652
- Middle-class household minimum income threshold: $67,768
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed each state to find the line between the lower and middle lower class. First, GOBankingRates found the; median household income, total population, and total households all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. Using the definition of middle class from PewResearchCenter that states that the middle class is two-thirds to double the household median income, the middle class for each state can be calculated. The middle class for each state represents an overall calculation for each entire state. Once the minimum middle class income level was found the upper lower class was also found, showing the line between lower and lower middle class in every state. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Jan. 3, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Line Between Lower Class and Lower Middle Class in Every State
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
