Editor’s Notice: This story initially appeared on Upgraded Points.
As financial pressures mount, middle-class households throughout the U.S. are discovering it more and more troublesome to cowl important dwelling bills whereas sustaining a cushty way of life.
Rising prices for housing, well being care, little one care, and transportation have positioned extra pressure on family budgets, leaving many unable to save lots of or spend on discretionary objects.
Whereas these monetary pressures have an effect on households nationwide, the diploma to which a middle-class earnings stretches varies considerably relying on location.
To search out the cities the place the middle-class earnings stretches the furthest, researchers at Upgraded Factors analyzed information from the Financial Coverage Institute and the U.S. Census Bureau. Study extra in regards to the methodology on the finish.
Listed here are the highest cities for middle-class earners.
15. Pittsburgh, PA
- Obtainable Revenue After Requirements: $42,239
- Median Household Revenue: $139,000
- Revenue Required to Cowl Requirements: $96,761
- Housing Prices: $12,709
- Meals Prices: $12,965
- Baby Care Prices: $22,019
- Transportation Prices: $16,861
- Well being Care Prices: $11,565
- Different Requirements Prices: $9,087
- Revenue Taxes: $11,553
14. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- Obtainable Revenue After Requirements: $42,289
- Median Household Revenue: $155,000
- Revenue Required to Cowl Requirements: $112,711
- Housing Prices: $18,054
- Meals Prices: $13,314
- Baby Care Prices: $23,350
- Transportation Prices: $17,052
- Well being Care Prices: $14,688
- Different Requirements Prices: $11,107
- Revenue Taxes: $15,147
13. Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
- Obtainable Revenue After Requirements: $42,461
- Median Household Revenue: $170,000
- Revenue Required to Cowl Requirements: $127,539
- Housing Prices: $22,504
- Meals Prices: $13,162
- Baby Care Prices: $29,241
- Transportation Prices: $17,745
- Well being Care Prices: $12,924
- Different Requirements Prices: $12,627
- Revenue Taxes: $19,331
12. Windfall-Warwick, RI-MA
- Obtainable Revenue After Requirements: $43,519
- Median Household Revenue: $152,000
- Revenue Required to Cowl Requirements: $108,481
- Housing Prices: $17,586
- Meals Prices: $13,269
- Baby Care Prices: $22,824
- Transportation Prices: $16,266
- Well being Care Prices: $13,637
- Different Requirements Prices: $10,926
- Revenue Taxes: $13,972
11. Cleveland, OH
- Obtainable Revenue After Requirements: $44,202
- Median Household Revenue: $140,000
- Revenue Required to Cowl Requirements: $95,798
- Housing Prices: $11,931
- Meals Prices: $13,447
- Baby Care Prices: $18,909
- Transportation Prices: $17,169
- Well being Care Prices: $14,710
- Different Requirements Prices: $8,982
- Revenue Taxes: $10,658
10. Richmond, VA
- Obtainable Revenue After Requirements: $45,243
- Median Household Revenue: $151,000
- Revenue Required to Cowl Requirements: $105,757
- Housing Prices: $16,316
- Meals Prices: $12,608
- Baby Care Prices: $20,050
- Transportation Prices: $17,951
- Well being Care Prices: $14,186
- Different Requirements Prices: $10,242
- Revenue Taxes: $14,408
9. Columbus, OH
- Obtainable Revenue After Requirements: $47,966
- Median Household Revenue: $144,430
- Revenue Required to Cowl Requirements: $96,464
- Housing Prices: $13,749
- Meals Prices: $11,936
- Baby Care Prices: $18,044
- Transportation Prices: $17,377
- Well being Care Prices: $15,455
- Different Requirements Prices: $9,096
- Revenue Taxes: $10,805
8. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
- Obtainable Revenue After Requirements: $48,500
- Median Household Revenue: $167,630
- Revenue Required to Cowl Requirements: $119,130
- Housing Prices: $16,908
- Meals Prices: $13,915
- Baby Care Prices: $27,295
- Transportation Prices: $18,355
- Well being Care Prices: $14,083
- Different Requirements Prices: $10,911
- Revenue Taxes: $17,666
7. Raleigh-Cary, NC
- Obtainable Revenue After Requirements: $52,899
- Median Household Revenue: $160,000
- Revenue Required to Cowl Requirements: $107,101
- Housing Prices: $16,706
- Meals Prices: $13,039
- Baby Care Prices: $17,906
- Transportation Prices: $19,427
- Well being Care Prices: $14,856
- Different Requirements Prices: $10,537
- Revenue Taxes: $14,621
6. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
- Obtainable Revenue After Requirements: $54,229
- Median Household Revenue: $200,000
- Revenue Required to Cowl Requirements: $145,771
- Housing Prices: $28,819
- Meals Prices: $14,179
- Baby Care Prices: $30,747
- Transportation Prices: $17,605
- Well being Care Prices: $14,735
- Different Requirements Prices: $15,224
- Revenue Taxes: $24,465
5. Austin-Spherical Rock-San Marcos, TX
- Obtainable Revenue After Requirements: $56,546
- Median Household Revenue: $164,000
- Revenue Required to Cowl Requirements: $107,454
- Housing Prices: $19,407
- Meals Prices: $11,981
- Baby Care Prices: $19,652
- Transportation Prices: $18,444
- Well being Care Prices: $15,546
- Different Requirements Prices: $11,112
- Revenue Taxes: $11,315
4. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
- Obtainable Revenue After Requirements: $57,059
- Median Household Revenue: $167,550
- Revenue Required to Cowl Requirements: $110,491
- Housing Prices: $19,257
- Meals Prices: $13,297
- Baby Care Prices: $21,298
- Transportation Prices: $17,700
- Well being Care Prices: $12,440
- Different Requirements Prices: $11,523
- Revenue Taxes: $14,975
3. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Obtainable Revenue After Requirements: $61,344
- Median Household Revenue: $188,560
- Revenue Required to Cowl Requirements: $127,216
- Housing Prices: $27,127
- Meals Prices: $14,073
- Baby Care Prices: $24,511
- Transportation Prices: $17,496
- Well being Care Prices: $13,614
- Different Requirements Prices: $14,588
- Revenue Taxes: $15,801
2. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Obtainable Revenue After Requirements: $64,686
- Median Household Revenue: $195,700
- Revenue Required to Cowl Requirements: $131,014
- Housing Prices: $21,869
- Meals Prices: $14,139
- Baby Care Prices: $30,356
- Transportation Prices: $17,302
- Well being Care Prices: $13,654
- Different Requirements Prices: $12,750
- Revenue Taxes: $20,943
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Obtainable Revenue After Requirements: $65,798
- Median Household Revenue: $230,000
- Revenue Required to Cowl Requirements: $164,202
- Housing Prices: $34,993
- Meals Prices: $14,221
- Baby Care Prices: $32,372
- Transportation Prices: $18,891
- Well being Care Prices: $16,436
- Different Requirements Prices: $17,423
- Revenue Taxes: $29,856
Methodology
This evaluation utilized information from the Financial Coverage Institute’s Family Budget Calculator and the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample 1-Year Estimates.
The objective was to find out the place within the U.S. a middle-class earnings stretches the furthest. Researchers at Upgraded Factors calculated the out there earnings after requirements for every location. This metric represents the distinction between the median household earnings and the earnings required to cowl important bills.
To make sure consistency, the evaluation centered completely on single-family households with two adults and two youngsters. In consequence, the median household earnings displays solely these households, and the price of requirements corresponds to the bills required to take care of a modest but ample lifestyle for this particular household composition.
Important bills included on this calculation cowl housing, meals, little one care, transportation, well being care, different requirements, and taxes.
Information on the county degree was aggregated to metropolitan areas and states utilizing population-weighted averages to supply regional comparisons.
To protect information accuracy, metropolitan areas with inconsistent mappings between datasets or massive margins of error have been excluded. All financial values are reported in 2023 {dollars}.