Upper Middle Class Income in your area?

[The Critic]

In your area, what annual household income is needed to be considered “upper middle class?”

I know this number will vary significantly by area and housing prices are largely responsible for this variable. So, feel free to add additional info that will bring some context to the number.

 

[Rochev]

100k+ I'd say. Most people around here *based on general knowledge of jobs/careers available and general properties* are in the 60k area. But if you want a nice house, plan on a bare minimum of 375k for no yard and big house, or no house and medium yard.

 

[adams355]

Upper middle in Australia is 350-450k+

 

[clinebarger]

$100,000 give or take.

 

[PandaBear]

I'd say probably 400k / year combined income per household, around 200-300k / year would be middle class and below 150k would be lower middle.

To me the definition of upper middle is you can afford 1 bedroom per kid in a 9-10 school district, and you CAN afford any car / boat you want but you decide to buy a reasonable one like a 60k SUV instead of a 150-200k super car. You can still fly with your spouse on the same flight, and you can afford to send your kids to a good college without them having to take out a massive loan.

No enough for private jet and you likely don't fly first class / business class on personal trips though, but you can afford to go on 1-2 vacations a year.

 

[john_pifer]

“Upper middle class” is such a broad term.

I think the days of being considered upper middle class if you make $100K are gone, at least in larger metro areas, with inflation driving up home values so much lately.

Id say in the Nashville metro area, with the current real estate boom, the lower end of “upper middle class” would be $125-150K annually.

But, again, how do you define that term?

100K ain’t what it used to be, especially if you live in a good sized metro area.

 

[PandaBear]

100k per family would be considered poverty in many area now. I know in Palo Alto you are qualified to enter the affordable housing program (not on the front of the priority list I think) if your family makes 200k for a family of 4 or so.

 

[john_pifer]

100k per family would be considered poverty in many area now. I know in Palo Alto you are qualified to enter the affordable housing program (not on the front of the priority list I think) if your family makes 200k for a family of 4 or so.

Yeah, I know you’re in California. Different world out there.

Nashville is experiencing its largest real estate boom ever, and inflation of housing prices is out of control here (at least, as far as we’re concerned; my wife and I have been married for a little over a year, and are starting to think about buying our first house).

But, it’s nowhere near like California.

 

[john_pifer]

Nashville housing market prices are up by nearly 17 percent
https://fox17.com/news/local/nashville-housing-market-prices-are-up-by-nearly-17-percent

 

[Skippy722]

$85,000 but it’s HIGHLY dependent on area/city/town, like 30 minutes to an hours drive dependent.

 

[Donald]

very dependent on location.

 

[Quattro Pete]

How does one define upper middle class? It seems rather vague to me...

https://money.usnews.com/money/pers...-i-fall-in-the-american-economic-class-system

 

[supton]

Not sure, not like we sit around and compare paystubs.

I’d guess 150k plus? Like Quattro asks, what definition do you want to use? In some areas, I’d bet it’d be people who don’t live paycheck to paycheck (Or heck just have a regular paycheck). In others, if you can pay for college for the kids while affording everything else in life, then maybe that’s it.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Nashville housing market prices are up by nearly 17 percent
https://fox17.com/news/local/nashville-housing-market-prices-are-up-by-nearly-17-percent

That's actually still below the national average. Nationwide, the housing market has increased by 20 percent during the past year, according to some sources. We took a trip to Austin, TX recently where it has increased by 40%, and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

 

[doitmyself]

In mid-Michigan, I would guess upper middle class income to be about $140,000+, usually both spouses working. In our Upper Peninsula*, upper middle class maybe is $100,000+?? Strictly guessing, and agree that location is a huge factor.

* In the U.P., a huge wood pile and multiple snow mobiles (both sitting in the front yard year-round) is a bigger status symbol, lol.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Here in CNY, 75-80K would be upper middle class. Especially if two people make that much in a household!

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I'd say these days - disregarding the temporary housing insanity - 125k+
maybe even 150k+ m in southern NH per household.
No Income tax or sales tax, but BIG property tax of over $23/k assessed value make up for it

 

[ATex7239]

I’m not sure how you would quantify “upper middle class... “

I know folks who live “upper middle class” lifestyles but are barely keeping their heads above water financially. They have nice things and do cool stuff, but spend everything they make. And have little to no investments/assets. Whereas my wife and I live a “middle class” lifestyle, but we live well below our means and have investments/assets... So which it is, how much you make, how much you have, or how much you spend?

 

[JeffKeryk]

In Silicon Valley, there are 2 major groups...
Those who got into property when it was $500K or less and those who did not.
Google's average salary is north of $250K; Facebook is about the same.

 

[Leo99]

In NJ, I'd say lower is under $50k a year per household. LMC $50k to $100k. MC $100k to $400k. UMC $400k to $1M. UC $1M+