The Gap Between the Middle Class and the Rich in Every State

The middle class has always been synonymous with having enough for a comfortable living in the United States. However, the middle class runs a wide gamut of income levels, from the average income to about twice the average income, and economics experts suggest the middle class is shrinking year after year, exposing a widening chasm in financial equity.

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Moreover, there’s a significant gap between the middle class and those considered truly middle class that reveals how much more of a financial cushion those at the top really have.

To find out what the gap is between the middle class and upper class in every state, GOBankingRates found information for each state including total population, total households, population ages 65 and over, median household income and mean household income — all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey.

After costs of living were factored in from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey and the Federal Reserve Economic Data for average mortgage cost, the gaps were revealed. Unsurprisingly, the gap was much bigger in states like California, Hawaii and New York, but a few surprises included New Jersey and Virginia.

Read on to find out how big the gap is in your state. You can also check out the minimum wage you need to be happy in every state.

• Total annual living costs: $38,159
• Minimum household income for middle class: $55,328
• Minimum household income for upper class: $165,984
• Difference: $110,656

• Total annual living costs: $58,036
• Minimum household income for middle class: $73,735
• Minimum household income for upper class: $221,204
• Difference: $147,469

• Total annual living costs: $54,366
• Minimum household income for middle class: $65,713
• Minimum household income for upper class: $197,138
• Difference: $131,425

• Total annual living costs: $36,097
• Minimum household income for middle class: $53,061
• Minimum household income for upper class: $159,184
• Difference: $106,123

• Total annual living costs: $84,385
• Minimum household income for middle class: $87,145
• Minimum household income for upper class: $261,436
• Difference: $174,291

• Total annual living costs: $61,818
• Minimum household income for middle class: $78,339
• Minimum household income for upper class: $235,016
• Difference: $156,677

• Total annual living costs: $56,673
• Minimum household income for middle class: $87,067
• Minimum household income for upper class: $261,202
• Difference: $174,135

• Total annual living costs: $50,846
• Minimum household income for middle class: $69,733
• Minimum household income for upper class: $209,200
• Difference: $139,467

• Total annual living costs: $53,136
• Minimum household income for middle class: $64,661
• Minimum household income for upper class: $193,984
• Difference: $129,323

• Total annual living costs: $46,306
• Minimum household income for middle class: $66,230
• Minimum household income for upper class: $198,690
• Difference: $132,460

• Total annual living costs: $100,640
• Minimum household income for middle class: $81,935
• Minimum household income for upper class: $245,804
• Difference: $163,869

• Total annual living costs: $55,184
• Minimum household income for middle class: $61,853
• Minimum household income for upper class: $185,560
• Difference: $123,707

• Total annual living costs: $42,369
• Minimum household income for middle class: $72,582
• Minimum household income for upper class: $217,746
• Difference: $145,164

• Total annual living costs: $39,678
• Minimum household income for middle class: $59,203
• Minimum household income for upper class: $177,610
• Difference: $118,407

• Total annual living costs: $38,599
• Minimum household income for middle class: $61,369
• Minimum household income for upper class: $184,106
• Difference: $122,737

• Total annual living costs: $38,453
• Minimum household income for middle class: $62,842
• Minimum household income for upper class: $188,526
• Difference: $125,684

• Total annual living costs: $37,842
• Minimum household income for middle class: $55,395
• Minimum household income for upper class: $166,186
• Difference: $110,791

• Total annual living costs: $36,296
• Minimum household income for middle class: $55,446
• Minimum household income for upper class: $166,338
• Difference: $110,892

• Total annual living costs: $54,053
• Minimum household income for middle class: $61,066
• Minimum household income for upper class: $183,198
• Difference: $122,132

• Total annual living costs: $54,708
• Minimum household income for middle class: $86,428
• Minimum household income for upper class: $259,284
• Difference: $172,856

• Total annual living costs: $73,648
• Minimum household income for middle class: $89,712
• Minimum household income for upper class: $269,136
• Difference: $179,424

• Total annual living costs: $40,122
• Minimum household income for middle class: $61,890
• Minimum household income for upper class: $185,670
• Difference: $123,780

• Total annual living costs: $47,540
• Minimum household income for middle class: $74,227
• Minimum household income for upper class: $222,682
• Difference: $148,455

• Total annual living costs: $35,104
• Minimum household income for middle class: $49,433
• Minimum household income for upper class: $148,298
• Difference: $98,865

• Total annual living costs: $39,273
• Minimum household income for middle class: $59,968
• Minimum household income for upper class: $179,904
• Difference: $119,936

• Total annual living costs: $56,422
• Minimum household income for middle class: $60,095
• Minimum household income for upper class: $180,284
• Difference: $120,189

• Total annual living costs: $41,467
• Minimum household income for middle class: $63,698
• Minimum household income for upper class: $191,094
• Difference: $127,396

• Total annual living costs: $56,660
• Minimum household income for middle class: $65,303
• Minimum household income for upper class: $195,910
• Difference: $130,607

• Total annual living costs: $60,049
• Minimum household income for middle class: $78,745
• Minimum household income for upper class: $236,236
• Difference: $157,491

• Total annual living costs: $62,899
• Minimum household income for middle class: $90,113
• Minimum household income for upper class: $270,340
• Difference: $180,227

• Total annual living costs: $43,654
• Minimum household income for middle class: $54,023
• Minimum household income for upper class: $162,070
• Difference: $108,047

• Total annual living costs: $56,857
• Minimum household income for middle class: $80,589
• Minimum household income for upper class: $241,766
• Difference: $161,177

• Total annual living costs: $46,926
• Minimum household income for middle class: $61,919
• Minimum household income for upper class: $185,756
• Difference: $123,837

• Total annual living costs: $41,840
• Minimum household income for middle class: $64,814
• Minimum household income for upper class: $194,442
• Difference: $129,628

• Total annual living costs: $39,578
• Minimum household income for middle class: $60,639
• Minimum household income for upper class: $181,916
• Difference: $121,277

• Total annual living costs: $36,856
• Minimum household income for middle class: $56,268
• Minimum household income for upper class: $168,804
• Difference: $112,536

• Total annual living costs: $61,046
• Minimum household income for middle class: $68,887
• Minimum household income for upper class: $206,660
• Difference: $137,773

• Total annual living costs: $42,442
• Minimum household income for middle class: $67,225
• Minimum household income for upper class: $201,674
• Difference: $134,449

• Total annual living costs: $59,403
• Minimum household income for middle class: $71,007
• Minimum household income for upper class: $213,022
• Difference: $142,015

• Total annual living costs: $44,340
• Minimum household income for middle class: $58,992
• Minimum household income for upper class: $176,976
• Difference: $117,984

• Total annual living costs: $44,737
• Minimum household income for middle class: $60,471
• Minimum household income for upper class: $181,412
• Difference: $120,941

• Total annual living costs: $44,115
• Minimum household income for middle class: $59,511
• Minimum household income for upper class: $178,534
• Difference: $119,023

• Total annual living costs: $44,147
• Minimum household income for middle class: $68,131
• Minimum household income for upper class: $204,394
• Difference: $136,263

• Total annual living costs: $59,225
• Minimum household income for middle class: $74,277
• Minimum household income for upper class: $222,832
• Difference: $148,555

• Total annual living costs: $53,324
• Minimum household income for middle class: $65,207
• Minimum household income for upper class: $195,620
• Difference: $130,413

• Total annual living costs: $51,108
• Minimum household income for middle class: $80,369
• Minimum household income for upper class: $241,106
• Difference: $160,737

• Total annual living costs: $68,959
• Minimum household income for middle class: $81,920
• Minimum household income for upper class: $245,760
• Difference: $163,840

• Total annual living costs: $34,791
• Minimum household income for middle class: $50,383
• Minimum household income for upper class: $151,150
• Difference: $100,767

• Total annual living costs: $45,433
• Minimum household income for middle class: $63,330
• Minimum household income for upper class: $189,990
• Difference: $126,660

• Total annual living costs: $46,889
• Minimum household income for middle class: $63,267
• Minimum household income for upper class: $189,802
• Difference: $126,535

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed each U.S. state to find the gap between middle class and upper class. First, GOBankingRates found information for each state, including total population, total households, population ages 65 and over, median household income and mean household income, all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The cost of living indexes, as sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces, were used with the national average expenditure costs for all residents, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, to find the average expenditure costs for each state. The average single family home value was sourced from the Zillow Home Value Index, and by assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage cost can be calculated. Using the mortgage and expenditure costs, the total cost of living can be calculated. The middle class income was found by using the average household income, with two thirds being the minimum for middle class and two times the income as the minimum for upper class. The states were sorted to show the smallest gap between the minimum income for middle and upper class. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Aug. 28, 2024.