Does your annual salary place you among the lower-middle class? It depends on the state you live in, according to GOBankingRates data. The minimum income threshold for the lower-middle class in states with high cost of living, such as Massachusetts and Hawaii, is around double the amount required in less expensive states such as West Virginia and Mississippi.
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To rank each state from highest to lowest income required to be considered lower-middle class, GOBankingRates’ research team analyzed each state’s total population, total households and household median income. With the definition of middle class being two-thirds to double the household median income (as sourced from Pew Research), the middle-class income range was calculated and broken into thirds for each state: lower-middle class, middle-middle class and upper-middle class.
Key Findings
- Maryland ranks first for the highest income required to be lower-middle class. The Free State outranked competing high cost-of-living of states like California, Hawaii and New York with its minimum income of $67,768.
- Maryland aside, the top five states with the highest minimum income requirements for the lower-middle class threshold are Massachusetts ($67,561), New Jersey ($67,367), Hawaii ($65,545) and California ($64,223).
- The five states where the lower-middle class made the least are Alabama ($41,351), Louisiana ($40,015), Arkansas ($39,182), West Virginia ($38,611) and Mississippi ($36,610).
Keep reading to see the income required to be considered lower-middle class in every state.
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1. Maryland
- Household median income: $101,652
- Single family home average value: $430,192
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $67,768
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $112,947
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2. Massachusetts
- Household median income: $101,341
- Single family home average value: $642,213
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $67,561
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $112,601
3. New Jersey
- Household median income: $101,050
- Single family home average value: $558,134
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $67,367
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $112,278
4. Hawaii
- Household median income: $98,317
- Single family home average value: $967,396
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $65,545
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $109,241
5. California
- Household median income: $96,334
- Single family home average value: $793,150
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $64,223
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $107,038
6. New Hampshire
- Household median income: $95,628
- Single family home average value: $495,860
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $63,752
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $106,253
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7. Washington
- Household median income: $94,952
- Single family home average value: $603,927
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $63,301
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $105,502
8. Connecticut
- Household median income: $93,760
- Single family home average value: $429,793
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $62,507
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $104,178
9. Colorado
- Household median income: $92,470
- Single family home average value: $552,897
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $61,647
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $102,744
10. Utah
- Household median income: $91,750
- Single family home average value: $528,156
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $61,167
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $101,944
11. Virginia
- Household median income: $90,974
- Single family home average value: $398,259
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $60,649
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $101,082
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12. Alaska
- Household median income: $89,336
- Single family home average value: $379,622
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $59,557
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $99,262
13. Minnesota
- Household median income: $87,556
- Single family home average value: $335,238
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $58,371
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $97,284
14. Rhode Island
- Household median income: $86,372
- Single family home average value: $474,431
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $57,581
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $95,969
15. New York
- Household median income: $84,578
- Single family home average value: $455,344
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $56,385
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $93,976
16. Delaware
- Household median income: $82,855
- Single family home average value: $380,485
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $55,237
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $92,061
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17. Illinois
- Household median income: $81,702
- Single family home average value: $270,708
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $54,468
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $90,780
18. Oregon
- Household median income: $80,426
- Single family home average value: $498,760
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $53,617
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $89,362
19. Vermont
- Household median income: $78,024
- Single family home average value: $388,319
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $52,016
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $86,693
20. Arizona
- Household median income: $76,872
- Single family home average value: $433,746
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $51,248
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $85,413
21. Texas
- Household median income: $76,292
- Single family home average value: $299,948
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $50,861
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $84,769
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22. Pennsylvania
- Household median income: $76,081
- Single family home average value: $266,221
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $50,721
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $84,534
23. North Dakota
- Household median income: $75,949
- Single family home average value: $268,912
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $50,633
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $84,388
24. Wisconsin
- Household median income: $75,670
- Single family home average value: $307,398
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $50,447
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $84,078
25. Nevada
- Household median income: $75,561
- Single family home average value: $458,436
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $50,374
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $83,957
26. Nebraska
- Household median income: $74,985
- Single family home average value: $257,397
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $49,990
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $83,317
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27. Wyoming
- Household median income: $74,815
- Single family home average value: $349,235
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $49,877
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $83,128
28. Georgia
- Household median income: $74,664
- Single family home average value: $326,933
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $49,776
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $82,960
29. Idaho
- Household median income: $74,636
- Single family home average value: $452,207
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $49,757
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $82,929
30. Iowa
- Household median income: $73,147
- Single family home average value: $218,773
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $48,765
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $81,274
31. Kansas
- Household median income: $72,639
- Single family home average value: $225,396
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $48,426
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $80,710
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32. South Dakota
- Household median income: $72,421
- Single family home average value: $302,023
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $48,281
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $80,468
33. Maine
- Household median income: $71,773
- Single family home average value: $387,588
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $47,849
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $79,748
34. Florida
- Household median income: $71,711
- Single family home average value: $404,924
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $47,807
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $79,679
35. Michigan
- Household median income: $71,149
- Single family home average value: $239,674
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $47,433
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $79,054
36. Indiana
- Household median income: $70,051
- Single family home average value: $238,281
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $46,701
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $77,834
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37. Montana
- Household median income: $69,922
- Single family home average value: $450,056
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $46,615
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $77,691
38. North Carolina
- Household median income: $69,904
- Single family home average value: $328,226
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $46,603
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $77,671
39. Ohio
- Household median income: $69,680
- Single family home average value: $229,027
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $46,453
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $77,422
40. Missouri
- Household median income: $68,920
- Single family home average value: $246,692
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $45,947
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $76,578
41. Tennessee
- Household median income: $67,097
- Single family home average value: $318,006
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $44,731
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $74,552
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42. South Carolina
- Household median income: $66,818
- Single family home average value: $296,068
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $44,545
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $74,242
43. Oklahoma
- Household median income: $63,603
- Single family home average value: $205,311
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $42,402
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $70,670
44. Kentucky
- Household median income: $62,417
- Single family home average value: $208,745
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $41,611
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $69,352
45. New Mexico
- Household median income: $62,125
- Single family home average value: $302,570
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $41,417
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $69,028
46. Alabama
- Household median income: $62,027
- Single family home average value: $222,475
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $41,351
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $68,919
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47. Louisiana
- Household median income: $60,023
- Single family home average value: $198,094
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $40,015
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $66,692
48. Arkansas
- Household median income: $58,773
- Single family home average value: $208,734
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $39,182
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $65,303
49. West Virginia
- Household median income: $57,917
- Single family home average value: $163,193
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $38,611
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $64,352
50. Mississippi
- Household median income: $54,915
- Single family home average value: $176,933
- Minimum income for lower-middle class: $36,610
- Maximum income for lower-middle class: $61,017
Methodology: GOBankingRates analyzed each state using the U.S. Census American Community Survey. Using the definition of middle class from Pew Research, two-thirds to double the household median income, the middle-class income range was calculated. Breaking the middle class into thirds, the lower-middle class, middle-middle class and upper-middle class were calculated for each state. The states were sorted to show the highest to lowest income required to be considered lower-middle class. All the data was collected on and is up to date as of April 10, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Income Considered Lower-Middle Class in Every State
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