The Top 15 States for Middle-Class Earners

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Upgraded Points.

As economic pressures mount, middle-class families across the U.S. are finding it increasingly difficult to cover essential living expenses while maintaining a comfortable lifestyle.

While financial pressures affect families nationwide, the degree to which a middle-class income stretches varies significantly depending on location.

To find the states where a middle-class income stretches the furthest, researchers at Upgraded Points analyzed data from the Economic Policy Institute and the U.S. Census Bureau. Learn more about their methodology at the end.

By comparing the income required to cover essential expenses with the median family income in each location, the findings highlight states where households have the most financial breathing room.

Here are the states where a middle-class income can stretch the furthest.

15. Pennsylvania

• Available Income After Necessities: $29,978
• Median Family Income: $132,200
• Income Required to Cover Necessities: $102,222
• Housing Costs: $14,615
• Food Costs: $12,711
• Child Care Costs: $21,382
• Transportation Costs: $17,073
• Health Care Costs: $13,918
• Other Necessities Costs: $9,675
• Income Taxes: $12,848

14. Ohio

• Available Income After Necessities: $31,480
• Median Family Income: $125,000
• Income Required to Cover Necessities: $93,520
• Housing Costs: $11,804
• Food Costs: $11,922
• Child Care Costs: $17,620
• Transportation Costs: $17,731
• Health Care Costs: $15,824
• Other Necessities Costs: $8,400
• Income Taxes: $10,219

13. Connecticut

• Available Income After Necessities: $34,654
• Median Family Income: $163,000
• Income Required to Cover Necessities: $128,346
• Housing Costs: $19,948
• Food Costs: $13,475
• Child Care Costs: $21,868
• Transportation Costs: $18,036
• Health Care Costs: $22,228
• Other Necessities Costs: $11,834
• Income Taxes: $20,957

12. Illinois

• Available Income After Necessities: $35,128
• Median Family Income: $140,000
• Income Required to Cover Necessities: $104,872
• Housing Costs: $15,184
• Food Costs: $12,547
• Child Care Costs: $18,970
• Transportation Costs: $17,313
• Health Care Costs: $16,511
• Other Necessities Costs: $9,817
• Income Taxes: $14,530

11. Delaware

• Available Income After Necessities: $35,386
• Median Family Income: $141,000
• Income Required to Cover Necessities: $105,614
• Housing Costs: $15,896
• Food Costs: $12,460
• Child Care Costs: $16,443
• Transportation Costs: $18,245
• Health Care Costs: $18,672
• Other Necessities Costs: $10,040
• Income Taxes: $13,858

10. Minnesota

• Available Income After Necessities: $36,002
• Median Family Income: $147,500
• Income Required to Cover Necessities: $111,498
• Housing Costs: $14,932
• Food Costs: $13,251
• Child Care Costs: $23,798
• Transportation Costs: $18,818
• Health Care Costs: $15,052
• Other Necessities Costs: $9,978
• Income Taxes: $15,669

9. Kansas

• Available Income After Necessities: $36,424
• Median Family Income: $126,270
• Income Required to Cover Necessities: $89,846
• Housing Costs: $11,949
• Food Costs: $12,115
• Child Care Costs: $11,351
• Transportation Costs: $18,523
• Health Care Costs: $17,083
• Other Necessities Costs: $8,517
• Income Taxes: $10,308

8. Washington

• Available Income After Necessities: $38,171
• Median Family Income: $153,000
• Income Required to Cover Necessities: $114,829
• Housing Costs: $21,902
• Food Costs: $13,470
• Child Care Costs: $21,881
• Transportation Costs: $17,922
• Health Care Costs: $14,047
• Other Necessities Costs: $12,524
• Income Taxes: $13,083

7. Virginia

• Available Income After Necessities: $39,336
• Median Family Income: $151,000
• Income Required to Cover Necessities: $111,664
• Housing Costs: $17,304
• Food Costs: $12,851
• Child Care Costs: $22,859
• Transportation Costs: $17,835
• Health Care Costs: $13,880
• Other Necessities Costs: $10,676
• Income Taxes: $16,259

6. Massachusetts

• Available Income After Necessities: $44,861
• Median Family Income: $183,000
• Income Required to Cover Necessities: $138,139
• Housing Costs: $25,478
• Food Costs: $13,998
• Child Care Costs: $29,336
• Transportation Costs: $17,525
• Health Care Costs: $15,124
• Other Necessities Costs: $13,978
• Income Taxes: $22,700

5. Rhode Island

• Available Income After Necessities: $44,867
• Median Family Income: $150,000
• Income Required to Cover Necessities: $105,133
• Housing Costs: $17,577
• Food Costs: $13,577
• Child Care Costs: $21,076
• Transportation Costs: $16,124
• Health Care Costs: $13,032
• Other Necessities Costs: $11,030
• Income Taxes: $12,717

4. New Hampshire

• Available Income After Necessities: $46,666
• Median Family Income: $156,000
• Income Required to Cover Necessities: $109,334
• Housing Costs: $18,618
• Food Costs: $12,966
• Child Care Costs: $22,567
• Transportation Costs: $19,307
• Health Care Costs: $12,947
• Other Necessities Costs: $11,185
• Income Taxes: $11,744

3. North Dakota

• Available Income After Necessities: $49,274
• Median Family Income: $133,700
• Income Required to Cover Necessities: $84,426
• Housing Costs: $11,045
• Food Costs: $11,968
• Child Care Costs: $12,792
• Transportation Costs: $18,867
• Health Care Costs: $14,602
• Other Necessities Costs: $8,148
• Income Taxes: $7,004

2. New Jersey

• Available Income After Necessities: $49,748
• Median Family Income: $170,000
• Income Required to Cover Necessities: $120,252
• Housing Costs: $20,775
• Food Costs: $13,199
• Child Care Costs: $24,254
• Transportation Costs: $17,321
• Health Care Costs: $15,974
• Other Necessities Costs: $12,030
• Income Taxes: $16,699

1. Maryland

• Available Income After Necessities: $55,657
• Median Family Income: $168,000
• Income Required to Cover Necessities: $112,343
• Housing Costs: $19,275
• Food Costs: $13,272
• Child Care Costs: $22,367
• Transportation Costs: $17,897
• Health Care Costs: $12,485
• Other Necessities Costs: $11,524
• Income Taxes: $15,523

Methodology

This analysis utilized data from the Economic Policy Institute’s Family Budget Calculator and the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample 1-Year Estimates.

The goal was to determine where in the U.S. a middle-class income stretches the furthest. Researchers at Upgraded Points calculated the available income after necessities for each location. This metric represents the difference between the median family income and the income required to cover essential expenses.

To ensure consistency, the analysis focused exclusively on single-family households with two adults and two children. As a result, the median family income reflects only these households, and the cost of necessities corresponds to the expenses required to maintain a modest yet adequate standard of living for this specific family composition.

Essential expenses included in this calculation cover housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, other necessities, and taxes.

Data at the county level was aggregated to metropolitan areas and states using population-weighted averages to provide regional comparisons.

To preserve data accuracy, metropolitan areas with inconsistent mappings between datasets or large margins of error were excluded. All monetary values are reported in 2023 dollars.