In general in the US does an income between $50,000 and $60,000 deem you middle class?

Question

I know it varies from state to state, county to county, etc but in general is this comfortable living in the US?

Okay let's say it's a family of 3-5 people.

Answer 1

I think it's worth noting that $50 - 60K is a measure of income, not class, and certainly well above the federally defined poverty level (see link). A person's class in this country is usually based on common values e.g. the middle class traditionally values education as a way to "get ahead". With that said, it will depend on your definition of "comfortable". For instance, is it important for you to own a home, or is renting okay, and do you already have a down payment? Similarly, do you need to save for college educations for your children, and which schools are on the short list? Do you take family vacations? Do you have high medical expenses, and adequate insurance? Do you take care of things yourself, or pay for services like house cleaning and landscaping? If you're coming from outside the US it might be a shock to see how fast your money drains away just paying for basics like these (although a housekeeper and lawn service might be considered luxuries). But if you live simply, $50 - 60K can be a very adequate income level.

Answer 2

50 to 60 for a single or couple would make them middle class. 3 or 4 in the family yeah they would for the most part still be middle class. Mind you in like New York, D.C. and places like that one would be in the lower class, but in the upper end of the lower class. That's what our politicians need to realize. I mean some people who make 50 a year in some areas are doing good and living well, others are not getting by very good at all making that much money. That's why I can't stand laws on the federal level that use a persons income as a way to define who is rich and who is poor. It varies from place to place. Well anyway, yeah 50 to 99 thousand a year would put someone in what I would call the middle class. At 100,000 or over you begin to get into the upper classes of society. =)

Answer 3

if you have a family of 3-5 people and live in an expensive city 50-60 thousand dollars would not keep the family solvent.

Most cities now are for the rich or the poor. The middle class gets squeezed in the middle, because the rich get tax breaks. If you are poor, you either collect welfare and the more children you have your welfare goes up, or you find a cheap town to live in.

I am 60, disabled, only allowed to work part time because I have medicare and I collect 1166.00 in social security disability insurance. My rent is 825.00 for a studio outside of San Fransisco. I can hadly pay my rent let alone telephone, gas and electric. I applied for food stamps and general assistance. They gave me $10 a month in food stamps, because they say i make too much SSDI and general assistance said if you made $40 less we could give you 395.00 generl assistance.

What does our government do? They pour billions of dollars to fight dumb wars instead of taking care of its own people in the US.

Answer 4

Depends on ones lifestyle...if it supplies the basics such as clothing, shelter, food and medical care..then yes. Some peoples idea of middle class is being in debt 5 times more than what the earn and consider themselves poor. Anything else other than what I listed is a luxury.

Answer 5

Yes

Answer 6

That is dead center middle class for a single individual. For a family you'd need approximately 80,000-100,000 depending on the area.

Answer 7

In general, yes, somewhere in the middle class range.

Answer 8

yes

Answer 9

yes, I'd say so...and I live in one of the more expensive areas of the country.