What exactly is the middle class income bracket? New calculator

[disneysteve]

https://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2018/09/14/1061179_middle-class-income-calculator.html

There is a new study from the Pew Research Center about what constitutes middle income level. Unlike the generic national numbers, this actually breaks it down based on where you live and size of your household. You can further break it down by demographics such as age, education level, and marital status.

[TexasHusker]

https://www.savingadvice.com/article...alculator.html

There is a new study from the Pew Research Center about what constitutes middle income level. Unlike the generic national numbers, this actually breaks it down based on where you live and size of your household. You can further break it down by demographics such as age, education level, and marital status.

I've often wondered why everyone is so intrigued with what "middle income" is. It's almost like the old minimum wage debate.

[disneysteve]

I've often wondered why everyone is so intrigued with what "middle income" is.

Yeah, it's not like it really matters ultimately. But we are constantly hearing stuff about the "middle class" so I guess it is somewhat useful to know what the middle class actually is when you're having one of those discussions.

[Thrif-t]

Well I'm actually in the Middle! I think some time in the past I did one of these types of calculators and I was Lower Middle, but maybe this is better because it takes my area in to consideration.

57% of our peers are Upper Income. I suspect we'd be upper income too if I worked full time instead of part time. But it's ok, I'll stick with the Middle and not work full time :-)

[kork13]

I've often wondered why everyone is so intrigued with what "middle income" is. It's almost like the old minimum wage debate.

Just like the minimum wage debate, the term "middle class" is a 100% sociopolitical idea. It's a talking point for politicians, lobbyists, and social advocates, and for the rest of society, it's an excuse to explain away mediocre success. When you aim for the middle, you get the middle.

[Singuy]

The "middle class" is not an income level, it's an entitlement of things. Spawned from 50-60 years ago where the average family can afford a house, 2.5 kids, 1 car and two vacations a year. So when people say they are in the middle class, they have such things even when their income doesn't support it hence the debt and paycheck to paycheck living. So the "disappearing of the middle class" is just a disappearing the ability to have these things. That's why you have people making 20k/year and people having 100k/year both claiming they are middle class. It's because they both have houses, kids, and cars.