By Dallas Gagnon
masslive.com
(TNS)
A new analysis shows the income needed to reach the upper-middle class varies widely depending on where you live.
Researchers at GOBankingRates calculated the income thresholds for upper-middle-class households in every state using data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey.
The study uses a definition from the Pew Research Center, which defines the middle class as households earning between two-thirds and double the median income in their area.
Among the top five states with the highest upper-middle-class thresholds are California, New Jersey, Maryland, Hawaii and New Hampshire—all with thresholds topping $166,000 a year.
On the other end of the spectrum, the climb is much shorter in states like West Virginia, Arkansas, Louisiana and New Mexico.
Mississippi has the lowest barrier to entry in the nation, with an upper-middle-class threshold of about $89,000.
The difference between California and Mississippi is immense, with California’s threshold at $181,684—a $92,202 difference.
See how your state stacks up:
Alabama
- Median household income: $66,659
- Middle-class income range: $44,439 to $133,318
- Upper-middle class income begins: $103,692
Alaska
- Median household income: $94,783
- Middle-class income range: $63,189 to $189,566
- Upper-middle class income begins: $147,442
Arizona
- Median household income: $77,315
- Middle-class income range: $51,543 to $154,630
- Upper-middle class income begins: $120,229
Arkansas
- Median household income: $59,334
- Middle-class income range: $39,556 to $118,668
- Upper-middle class income begins: $92,297
California
- Median household income: $116,005
- Middle-class income range: $77,337 to $232,010
- Upper-middle class income begins: $181,684
Colorado
- Median household income: $105,637
- Middle-class income range: $70,425 to $211,274
- Upper-middle class income begins: $165,803
Connecticut
- Median household income: $109,433
- Middle-class income range: $72,955 to $218,866
- Upper-middle class income begins: $171,558
Delaware
- Median household income: $90,000
- Middle-class income range: $60,000 to $180,000
- Upper-middle class income begins: $140,000
Florida
- Median household income: $77,735
- Middle-class income range: $51,823 to $155,470
- Upper-middle class income begins: $120,921
Georgia
- Median household income: $78,938
- Middle-class income range: $52,625 to $157,876
- Upper-middle class income begins: $122,792
Hawaii
- Median household income: $109,432
- Middle-class income range: $72,955 to $218,864
- Upper-middle class income begins: $171,556
Idaho
- Median household income: $78,128
- Middle-class income range: $52,085 to $156,256
- Upper-middle class income begins: $121,531
Illinois
- Median household income: $90,137
- Middle-class income range: $60,091 to $180,274
- Upper-middle class income begins: $140,213
Indiana
- Median household income: $72,241
- Middle-class income range: $48,161 to $144,482
- Upper-middle class income begins: $112,064
Iowa
- Median household income: $72,819
- Middle-class income range: $48,546 to $145,638
- Upper-middle class income begins: $112,962
Kansas
- Median household income: $73,909
- Middle-class income range: $49,273 to $147,818
- Upper-middle class income begins: $114,651
Kentucky
- Median household income: $66,032
- Middle-class income range: $44,021 to $132,064
- Upper-middle class income begins: $102,716
Louisiana
- Median household income: $63,738
- Middle-class income range: $42,492 to $127,476
- Upper-middle class income begins: $99,148
Maine
- Median household income: $76,125
- Middle-class income range: $50,750 to $152,250
- Upper-middle class income begins: $118,418
Maryland
- Median household income: $111,736
- Middle-class income range: $74,491 to $223,472
- Upper-middle class income begins: $173,182
Massachusetts
- Median household income: $104,828
- Middle-class income range: $69,885 to $209,656
- Upper-middle class income begins: $163,066
Michigan
- Median household income: $73,960
- Middle-class income range: $49,307 to $147,920
- Upper-middle class income begins: $114,557
Minnesota
- Median household income: $94,522
- Middle-class income range: $63,015 to $189,044
- Upper-middle class income begins: $146,509
Mississippi
- Median household income: $57,706
- Middle-class income range: $38,471 to $115,412
- Upper-middle class income begins: $89,482
Missouri
- Median household income: $71,578
- Middle-class income range: $47,719 to $143,156
- Upper-middle class income begins: $110,945
Montana
- Median household income: $78,265
- Middle-class income range: $52,177 to $156,530
- Upper-middle class income begins: $121,476
Nebraska
- Median household income: $76,777
- Middle-class income range: $51,185 to $153,554
- Upper-middle class income begins: $119,142
Nevada
- Median household income: $82,700
- Middle-class income range: $55,133 to $165,400
- Upper-middle class income begins: $128,379
New Hampshire
- Median household income: $107,110
- Middle-class income range: $71,407 to $214,220
- Upper-middle class income begins: $166,383
New Jersey
- Median household income: $113,600
- Middle-class income range: $75,733 to $227,200
- Upper-middle class income begins: $177,053
New Mexico
- Median household income: $64,800
- Middle-class income range: $43,200 to $129,600
- Upper-middle class income begins: $100,879
New York
- Median household income: $100,800
- Middle-class income range: $67,200 to $201,600
- Upper-middle class income begins: $157,008
North Carolina
- Median household income: $75,812
- Middle-class income range: $50,541 to $151,624
- Upper-middle class income begins: $118,018
North Dakota
- Median household income: $77,585
- Middle-class income range: $51,723 to $155,170
- Upper-middle class income begins: $120,754
Ohio
- Median household income: $72,836
- Middle-class income range: $48,557 to $145,672
- Upper-middle class income begins: $113,301
Oklahoma
- Median household income: $66,463
- Middle-class income range: $44,309 to $132,926
- Upper-middle class income begins: $103,410
Oregon
- Median household income: $89,438
- Middle-class income range: $59,625 to $178,876
- Upper-middle class income begins: $139,123
Pennsylvania
- Median household income: $79,000
- Middle-class income range: $52,667 to $158,000
- Upper-middle class income begins: $122,896
Rhode Island
- Median household income: $88,307
- Middle-class income range: $58,871 to $176,614
- Upper-middle class income begins: $137,451
South Carolina
- Median household income: $72,290
- Middle-class income range: $48,193 to $144,580
- Upper-middle class income begins: $112,140
South Dakota
- Median household income: $71,559
- Middle-class income range: $47,706 to $143,118
- Upper-middle class income begins: $111,022
Tennessee
- Median household income: $70,909
- Middle-class income range: $47,273 to $141,818
- Upper-middle class income begins: $110,043
Texas
- Median household income: $80,039
- Middle-class income range: $53,359 to $160,078
- Upper-middle class income begins: $125,089
Utah
- Median household income: $88,496
- Middle-class income range: $58,997 to $176,992
- Upper-middle class income begins: $138,654
Vermont
- Median household income: $84,760
- Middle-class income range: $56,507 to $169,520
- Upper-middle class income begins: $132,671
Virginia
- Median household income: $100,308
- Middle-class income range: $66,872 to $200,616
- Upper-middle class income begins: $156,812
Washington
- Median household income: $107,806
- Middle-class income range: $71,871 to $215,612
- Upper-middle class income begins: $168,479
West Virginia
- Median household income: $60,400
- Middle-class income range: $40,267 to $120,800
- Upper-middle class income begins: $93,662
Wisconsin
- Median household income: $79,200
- Middle-class income range: $52,800 to $158,400
- Upper-middle class income begins: $123,120
Wyoming
- Median household income: $79,700
- Middle-class income range: $53,133 to $159,400
- Upper-middle class income begins: $123,892
Photo credit: FJZEA/iStock
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©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit masslive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Tags: income, middle class, Payroll, states, upper-middle class
