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This is super interesting to see how it varies around the country. To me, middle class is more about a lifestyle than an income level, and so it varies wildly by region (as evidenced by that map ) Thanks for posting this!

Mine depends. This year was an exception for us because we had a lot medical expenses.

It is very interesting based on where we live.

When I switched from the whole country to my actual area, my percentage doubled.

I expected that, but still find it sad. DH and I are house shopping and realize that if we lived anywhere else, we could have our pick of houses with our current budget.

@meredithNYC: totally! despite being in a high percent, we just signed a lease for a new apartment and because we don't fit the absolutely ludicrous income requirements (40x rent is insane) my dad had to be a guarantor. how do most people live anywhere??

@blackbird: exactly this. On paper I look kinda balling for our area, in real life though definitely not. But, on the other hand, if that graph is true, than I am doing better than many in our area, so I'm more privileged than I feel that I am.

Great graph, sobering in a lot of ways.

Yup. I look better on paper. I live in an extremely expensive area, so I feel like we're in a lower percentage than we are.

@.twist.: maybe the map says lower 25%, but your new pic says, top 1%

So, related to the question of middle class, I do think there is more to it than income. I think it is also much more difficult to move into the upper class than we like to admit...it's got a lot to do with the age of your wealth, your social standing, your pedigree, if you will.

@looch: That's an interesting point! What about upper-middle class then?

@yoursilverlining: Absolutely. I know we're not struggling, but for my area, we're doing pretty well. I need to remind myself of that when I get all rage-y that I can't afford the perfect house in the perfect area. Need to get over myself.

We are in the middle half, but close to top 25 for our area.

A few thoughts on these types of articles/threads:

1. It's tempting to think, "well if I lived somewhere else I would be so much better off!" But incomes vary greatly by region too. My DH is a lawyer. But because incomes are much lower in our area than the rest of the country, he was making the same as an associate as my sister just out of college was making as an assistant at a non profit in a city!

2. Another is that even though we are Ina much better financial place than we were a year or two ago, yes - we often still feel the budget is tight. Hospital bills, college savings,, daycare when we had that. But that does not make us "poor" since there a lot of people living on much less who have the exact same expenses.

I guess my main point is that it's very American to assume you are in the middle. But a lot of us are closer to the top than we realize.

Looking around the country at the map, I am reminded why we moved from the Baltimore/DC area to the southeast... And to note: our incomes would NOT be higher if we still lived up there. I know, we've lived and worked in both.

We are $18,000/year away from being in the top 1% in Canada. It's my goal to reach that!

We are in the top 1/2. Middle class, exactly what I expected!

Very interesting! Thank you for posting!

@mediagirl: I'm jealous you got out! I know our salaries wouldn't be the same elsewhere (they depend on the fed gov't!).

@MoreCoffee: we just felt we had to when housing prices were at their peak in '05. We knew they had to come to an end at some point and now I am so glad we didn't buy and moved instead. We were very lucky we didn't have any family in the immediate vicinity at the time to tie us there.

@LaughLines: I completely agree.

What are "necessary expenses" to some aren't necessary to others.