People Making Nearly $300K Are Still Considered Middle Class in These U.S. Cities, Report Says
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Anthony O'ReillyWed, April 8, 2026 at 3:01 AM UTC
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A household income of nearly $300,000 is still considered middle class in some U.S. cities, according to fintech company SmartAsset.
San Jose, California had the highest middle class income level at $296,452, the February report said. Irvine, California and Frisco, Texas had the second- and third-highest level at $291,462 and $290,888, respectively.Cleveland had the lowest middle class income limit at $28,922, according to SmartAsset.
On a statewide level, Massachusetts had the highest middle class income level at $209,656, the report said. Mississippi was the lowest at $39,418.
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What's Considered Middle Class?
A household must earn between two-thirds to two-times an area's median annual income to be considered middle class, according to SmartAsset. San Jose, which is in the heart of Silicon Valley, has a median income of $148,226, the report said. Cleveland's median income is $43,383.
Factors like an area's housing market could also impact what's considered middle class in a particular city or state, according to the report.
For example, in February the median home sale price for San Jose was $1.3 million, according to real estate website Redfin; in Cleveland, it was $125,000.
Top 10 Cities With the Highest Middle Class Income Limit
These are the top 10 cities with the highest income limit to be considered middle class, according to the SmartAsset report.
San Jose, California.
Upper limit for middle class income: $296,452
Lower limit for middle class income: $98,817
Median household income: $148,226
Irvine, California
Upper limit for middle class income: $291,462
Lower limit for middle class income: $97,154
Median household income: $145,731
Frisco, Texas
Upper limit for middle class income: $290,888
Lower limit for middle class income: $96,963
Median household income: $145,444
San Francisco
Upper limit for middle class income: $279,602
Lower limit for middle class income: $93,201
Median household income: $139,801
Arlington, Virginia.
Upper limit for middle class income: $267,164
Lower limit for middle class income: $89,055
Median household income: $133,582
Gilbert, Arizona
Upper limit for middle class income: $249,936
Lower limit for middle class income: $83,312
Median household income: $124,968
Seattle
Upper limit for middle class income: $237,490
Lower limit for middle class income: $79,163
Median household income: $118,745
Plano, Texas
Upper limit for middle class income: $231,802
Lower limit for middle class income: $77,267
Median household income: $115,901
Enterprise, Nevada
Upper limit for middle class income: $222,256
Lower limit for middle class income: $74,085
Median household income: $111,128
San Diego
Upper limit for middle class income: $222,064
Lower limit for middle class income: $74,021
Median household income: $111,032
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Top 10 Cities With the Lowest Middle Class Income Limit
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These are the top 10 cities with the lowest income limit to be considered middle class, according to the SmartAsset report.
Cleveland
Upper limit for middle class income: $86,766
Lower limit for middle class income: $28,922
Median household income: $43,383
Toledo, Ohio
Upper limit for middle class income: $101,124
Lower limit for middle class income: $33,708
Median household income: $50,562
Buffalo, New York
Upper limit for middle class income: $104,422
Lower limit for middle class income: $34,807
Median household income: $52,211
Memphis, Tennessee
Upper limit for middle class income: $105,358
Lower limit for middle class income: $35,119
Median household income: $52,679
St. Louis
Upper limit for middle class income: $106,748
Lower limit for middle class income: $35,583
Median household income: $53,374
Milwaukee
Upper limit for middle class income: $113,584
Lower limit for middle class income: $37,861
Median household income: $56,792
Cincinnati
Upper limit for middle class income: $113,820
Lower limit for middle class income: $37,940
Median household income: $56,910
Hialeah, Florida
Upper limit for middle class income: $114,302
Lower limit for middle class income: $38,101
Median household income: $57,151
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Upper limit for middle class income: $115,516
Lower limit for middle class income: $38,505
Median household income: $57,758
Newark, New Jersey
Upper limit for middle class income: $116,980
Lower limit for middle class income: $38,993
Median household income: $58,490
Top 10 States With the Highest Middle Class Income Limit
Massachusetts
Upper limit for middle class income: $209,656
Lower limit for middle class income: $69,885
Median household income: $104,828
New Jersey
Upper limit for middle class income: $208,588
Lower limit for middle class income: $69,529
Median household income: $104,294
Maryland
Upper limit for middle class income: $205,810
Lower limit for middle class income: $68,603
Median household income: $102,905
Hawaii
Upper limit for middle class income: $201,490
Lower limit for middle class income: $67,163
Median household income: $100,745
California
Upper limit for middle class income: $200,298
Lower limit for middle class income: $66,766
Median household income: $100,149
New Hampshire
Upper limit for middle class income: $199,564
Lower limit for middle class income: $66,521
Median household income: $99,782
Washington
Upper limit for middle class income: $198,778
Lower limit for middle class income: $66,259
Median household income: $99,389
Colorado
Upper limit for middle class income: $194,226
Lower limit for middle class income: $64,742
Median household income: $97,113
Utah
Upper limit for middle class income: $193,316
Lower limit for middle class income: $64,439
Median household income: $96,658
Connecticut
Upper limit for middle class income: $192,098
Lower limit for middle class income: $64,033
Median household income: $96,049
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Top 10 States With the Lowest Middle Class Income Limit
Mississippi
Upper limit for middle class income: $118,254
Lower limit for middle class income: $39,418
Median household income: $59,127
West Virginia
Upper limit for middle class income: $121,596
Lower limit for middle class income: $40,532
Median household income: $60,798
Louisiana
Upper limit for middle class income: $121,972
Lower limit for middle class income: $40,657
Median household income: $60,986
Arkansas
Upper limit for middle class income: $124,212
Lower limit for middle class income: $41,404
Median household income: $62,106
Kentucky
Upper limit for middle class income: $129,052
Lower limit for middle class income: $43,017
Median household income: $64,526
Oklahoma
Upper limit for middle class income: $132,296
Lower limit for middle class income: $44,099
Median household income: $66,148
Alabama
Upper limit for middle class income: $133,318
Lower limit for middle class income: $44,439
Median household income: $66,659
New Mexico
Upper limit for middle class income: $135,632
Lower limit for middle class income: $45,211
Median household income: $67,816
Missouri
Upper limit for middle class income: $143,178
Lower limit for middle class income: $47,726
Median household income: $71,589
Indiana
Upper limit for middle class income: $143,918
Lower limit for middle class income: $47,973
Median household income: $71,959
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