How Far Does a Middle-Class Salary Go in Detroit and Other Big Cities in the Midwest?

Recently, GOBankingRates compiled a complex amount of data regarding the 50 largest cities in the United States — gathering the median middle-class income level and then contrasting that information against such actors as the annual cost of living for middle-class homeowners and renters in each of those cities, revealing the amount of income left to live on.

While the original list was comprised of 50 cities across America, a difficult reality is that the current middle-class income bracket may not be able to survive in America’s most expensive regions and biggest cities, specifically in the Northeast and the West, which are the two most expensive regions in the United States (on average).

As such, GOBankingRates has also culled a smaller list of the nine largest cities of the American Midwest, a region that is far more affordable, even in its biggest metropolitan areas.

Using the median middle-class income of $75,149, here is how far a middle-class salary will go in these cities.

• Annual cost of living for homeowner: $32,726
• Surplus/deficit of income for median middle-class homeowner: $42,423
• Annual cost of living for renter: $43,657
• Surplus/deficit of income for median middle-class renter: $31,492

• Annual cost of living for homeowner: $37,563
• Surplus of income for median middle-class homeowner: $37,586
• Annual cost of living for renter: $36,671
• Surplus of income for median middle-class renter: $38,478

• Annual cost of living for homeowner: $38,630
• Surplus of income for median middle-class homeowner: $36,519
• Annual cost of living for renter: $39,692
• Surplus of income for median middle-class renter: $35,457

• Annual cost of living for homeowner: $39,367
• Surplus of income for median middle-class homeowner: $35,782
• Annual cost of living for renter: $40,439
• Surplus of income for median middle-class renter: $34,710

• Annual cost of living for homeowner: $40,470
• Surplus of income for median middle-class homeowner: $34,679
• Annual cost of living for renter: $40,144
• Surplus of income for median middle-class renter: $35,005

• Annual cost of living for homeowner: $41,650
• Surplus of income for median middle-class homeowner: $33,499
• Annual cost of living for renter: $41,555
• Surplus of income for median middle-class renter: $33,594

• Annual cost of living for homeowner: $43,981
• Surplus of income for median middle-class homeowner: $31,168
• Annual cost of living for renter: $40,790
• Surplus of income for median middle-class renter: $34,359

• Annual cost of living for homeowner: $47,771
• Surplus of income for median middle-class homeowner: $27,378
• Annual cost of living for renter: $43,765
• Surplus of income for median middle-class renter: $31,384

• Annual cost of living for homeowner: $47,962
• Surplus of income for median middle-class homeowner: $27,187
• Annual cost of living for renter: $51,768
• Surplus of income for median middle-class renter: $23,381

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the top 50 cities by population according to the U.S. Census 2023 American Community Survey. For each city, the following factors were found: total population, population ages 65 and over, total households and household median income, all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. Using this data, the percentage of the population ages 65 and over was calculated. Next, cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces. These include grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous cost of living indexes. Using the cost of living indexes for grocery, healthcare, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous, as well as the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each location was calculated. Next, the average single-family home value was sourced from the Zillow Home Value Index for September 2024. Using the average single-family home value, assuming a 10% down payment and using the most recent national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated. Using the average mortgage and average expenditure costs, the average total monthly and annual cost of living was calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes for each location and included as supplemental information. Next, using the definition of middle-class income from the Pew Research Center, which defines the middle-class range as two-thirds to double the national median income, the middle-class income range for each city was calculated. Using the minimum, median and maximum income a middle-class household could earn, as well as the total cost of living for each location, the leftover income or additional income needed was calculated. The cities were sorted to show the places where a middle-class household is the most priced out, showing how far a typical middle-class household income goes in the largest U.S. cities. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Nov. 5, 2024.