A $100,000 income qualifies as "lower-middle class" in several US states
By NJ Chicaa
@NJChicaa (126966)
United States
April 30, 2026 5:17pm CST
For real. Most people consider that to be a fairly comfortable income though obviously not "rich" or "upper class". Pew Research Center has defined "middle class" as 2/3 or double the median income in a state. "Lower-middle class" describes the bottom 1/3 of the middle class earners.
In 12 states earning $100,000 or even more classifies an individual as "lower-middle class". The top income for that category in Massachusetts is $116,476. NJ comes in 2nd at $115,882. Virginia is #12 at $102,322. I read through this brief article/summary several times and it looks like those incomes refer to just 1 person rather than the usual family of 4 metric.
Wow. New Jersey (where I live) is almost $116K. My salary on its own is close to $100K but that incredibly would rank me as lower-class. Yikes. I certainly am not living the large life but I wouldn't classify myself in that category. I've always known that NJ is an expensive place to live. This is just further proof.
https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/5848227-100k-qualifies-as-lower-middle-class-in-these-12-states/
6 people like this
4 responses
@AmbiePam (118432)
• United States
9h
In Oklahoma, we think of people who live on $100,000 IN Oklahoma, as the beginning of being rich. Notice I included “In Oklahoma”. Because the cost of living is low here. One lives very well on a $100,000 year here. That being said, in California, New York, New Jersey…I realize the money doesn’t go that far.
4 people like this
@MarieCoyle (57774)
•
9h
I know you live in one of the most expensive areas of the country. There is a huge difference in what is needed for survival in different areas. It's just crazy.
3 people like this
