Maintaining a Middle-Class Status in Houston Gets Harder: Study Says
According to the latest report from SmartAsset, maintaining a middle-class status in Houston has become increasingly challenging. The report, which analyzed data from the Census Bureau’s 2023 one-year American Community Survey, found that a Houston household would need to make a minimum of $41,754 but no more than $125,274 a year to be considered “middle class.”
The report used a variation of Pew Research’s definition of a middle-class household, stating that the salary range is two-thirds to double the median U.S. salary. This means that a middle-class household in Houston would need to earn at least $41,754 but no more than $125,274 a year to be considered middle class.
The report also found that the necessary salary range to maintain a middle-class status in Houston has increased compared to last year. In 2024, the necessary salary range was between $40,280 and $120,852 a year. The report suggests that this increase is due to rising costs of living, inflation rates, and changes in wages nationwide.
The study found that the city of Plano has the highest middle-class income range in the state, with households needing to make between $72,389 and $217,188 a year to be labeled “middle class.” On the other hand, middle-class earners in Lubbock have the smallest income range necessary to be labeled middle class: Between $36,297 and $108,902 a year.
Here are the middle-class income thresholds for other Texas cities:
* Austin: $60,995 to $183,002 yearly
* Irving: $52,885 to $158,670 yearly
* Fort Worth: $51,383 to $154,164 yearly
* Garland: $47,815 to $143,458 yearly
* Dallas: $46,743 to $140,242 yearly
* Arlington: $46,134 to $138,416 yearly
* Corpus Christi: $43,421 to $130,276 yearly
* San Antonio: $41,544 to $124,644 yearly
* Laredo: $40,476 to $121,440 yearly
* El Paso: $38,208 to $114,634 yearly
The report concludes that maintaining a middle-class status is becoming increasingly difficult due to rising costs of living, inflation rates, and changes in wages nationwide. The study suggests that households need to earn a higher income to maintain their middle-class status, making it even more challenging for individuals to achieve this status.
FAQs:
Q: What is the minimum income required to be considered middle class in Houston?
A: A Houston household would need to make a minimum of $41,754 but no more than $125,274 a year to be considered “middle class.”
Q: What is the highest middle-class income range in Texas?
A: The city of Plano has the highest middle-class income range in the state, with households needing to make between $72,389 and $217,188 a year to be labeled “middle class.”
Q: What is the smallest middle-class income range in Texas?
A: Middle-class earners in Lubbock have the smallest income range necessary to be labeled middle class: Between $36,297 and $108,902 a year.
Q: What is the main reason for the increase in the necessary salary range to maintain a middle-class status?
A: The report suggests that rising costs of living, inflation rates, and changes in wages nationwide are the main reasons for the increase in the necessary salary range to maintain a middle-class status.
