Many U.S. cities, especially in California and Texas, report high median household incomes and wide middle-class income ranges.
According to Investopedia, the middle class in the U.S. generally includes households earning between two-thirds and double the national median income. This group often consists of professionals, small business owners, and skilled workers, and is associated with financial stability, homeownership, and moderate discretionary spending. Definitions can vary based on location, cost of living, and household size.
A generation ago, earning $100,000 a year signaled financial success and elite status. Today, it simply reflects a middle-class lifestyle.
There are many cities in the U.S. where earning $200,000 a year still qualifies as middle class. ProfessPost identified the 50 largest cities by total households where this income level falls within the local middle-class range. According to Investopedia, a middle-class income is defined as earning between two-thirds and twice the median household income in a given area.
The study revealed cities across all regions of the U.S., with nearly half — 23 out of 50 — located in high-cost California. Below is a list of cities from the study, ranked by median household income from highest to lowest.
