The idea of the middle class seems to differ in definition depending on where you live or which financial expert you ask. Throughout the United States, some shockingly high average salaries can still land you right in the middle of America’s economic class system — especially in these economically uncertain times of tariffs and the aftermath of pandemic inflation.
Learn More: How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State?
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GOBankingRates recently conducted a study to determine the most affordable city in every state for those on middle-class incomes. The findings were based on statistics such as monthly expenditures, household income, real estate value and general cost of living.
Here are some key takeaways:
What is considered middle-class income will vary from state to state, but it’s typically evaluated as two-thirds to double the median income in an area.
Though the middle-class income can range from $50,000 to $150,000, for the sake of this survey, the cities included are those where middle-class families can still have healthy savings.
The highest average household income in this study is $250,000, with both Southlake, Texas, and McLean, Virginia, tied for that top spot.
The lowest income to still be considered middle class was in Billings, Montana, where the average household income is $71,855.
Affordability is another term that seems completely subjective to the opinions and circumstances of those writing the checks. However, it’s good to know there are many cities throughout the U.S. where you can still live comfortably as part of the middle class. Here are the most affordable cities in every state for those living on a middle-class income.
Mountain Brook, Alabama
Annual cost of living: $92,455
Median middle-class income: $191,128
Leftover savings: $98,673
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Anchorage, Alaska
Annual cost of living: $57,974
Median middle-class income: $98,152
Leftover savings: $40,178
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Queen Creek, Arizona
Annual cost of living: $70,814
Median middle-class income: $134,719
Leftover savings: $63,905
Centerton, Arkansas
Annual cost of living: $47,119
Median middle-class income: $112,920
Leftover savings: $65,801
Granite Bay, California
Annual cost of living: $103,168
Median middle-class income: $190,000
Leftover savings: $86,832
Erie, Colorado
Annual cost of living: $76,490
Median middle-class income: $163,644
Leftover savings: $87,154
North Haven, Connecticut
Annual cost of living: $57,817
Median middle-class income: $126,807
Leftover savings: $68,990
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Middletown, Delaware
Annual cost of living: $63,583
Median middle-class income: $115,252
Leftover savings: $51,669
Parkland, Florida
Annual cost of living: $101,880
Median middle-class income: $200,156
Leftover savings: $98,276
Decatur, Georgia
Annual cost of living: $47,203
Median middle-class income: $140,480
Leftover savings: $93,277
Kapolei, Hawaii
Annual cost of living: $96,707
Median middle-class income: $129,260
Leftover savings:$32,553
Kuna, Idaho
Annual cost of living: $54,940
Median middle-class income: $93,545
Leftover savings: $38,605
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Wilmette, Illinois
Annual cost of living: $91,073
Median middle-class income: $192,300
Leftover savings: $101,227
Zionsville, Indiana
Annual cost of living: $67,542
Median middle-class income: $159,126
Leftover savings: $91,584
Urbandale, Iowa
Annual cost of living: $47,663
Median middle-class income: $113,086
Leftover savings: $65,433
Leawood, Kansas
Annual cost of living: $75,560
Median middle-class income: $184,976
Leftover savings: $109,416
Independence, Kentucky
Annual cost of living: $46,119
Median middle-class income: $98,653
Leftover savings: $52,534
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Prairieville, Louisiana
Annual cost of living: $49,895
Median middle-class income: $115,610
Leftover savings: $65,715
Westbrook, Maine
Annual cost of living: $54,517
Median middle-class income: $85,868
Leftover savings: $31,351
Potomac, Maryland
Annual cost of living: $123,962
Median middle-class income: $239,205
Leftover savings: $115,243
Wilmington, Massachusetts
Annual cost of living: $78,054
Median middle-class income: $161,473
Leftover savings: $83,419
Birmingham, Michigan
Annual cost of living: $79,133
Median middle-class income: $153,125
Leftover savings: $73,992
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Lakeville, Minnesota
Annual cost of living: $57,662
Median middle-class income: $138,119
Leftover savings: $80,457
Madison, Mississippi
Annual cost of living: $51,010
Median middle-class income: $120,918
Leftover savings: $69,908
Wildwood, Missouri
Annual cost of living: $62,730
Median middle-class income: $157,750
Leftover savings: $95,020
Billings, Montana
Annual cost of living: $49,923
Median middle-class income: $71,855
Leftover savings: $21,932
Papillion, Nebraska
Annual cost of living: $52,390
Median middle-class income: $109,602
Leftover savings: $57,212
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Fernley, Nevada
Annual cost of living: $51,634
Median middle-class income: $87,991
Leftover savings: $36,357
Keene, New Hampshire
Annual cost of living: $45,836
Median middle-class income: $78,183
Leftover savings: $32,347
Ridgewood, New Jersey
Annual cost of living: $107,490
Median middle-class income: $217,250
Leftover savings: $109,760
Carlsbad, New Mexico
Annual cost of living: $36,399
Median middle-class income: $78,277
Leftover savings: $41,878
Dix Hills, New York
Annual cost of living: $101,892
Median middle-class income: $219,636
Leftover savings: $117,744
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Apex, North Carolina
Annual cost of living: $66,766
Median middle-class income: $138,442
Leftover savings: $71,676
West Fargo, North Dakota
Annual cost of living: $46,728
Median middle-class income: $96,877
Leftover savings: $50,139
Hudson, Ohio
Annual cost of living: $59,167
Median middle-class income: $180,931
Leftover savings: $121,764
Jenks, Oklahoma
Annual cost of living: $48,093
Median middle-class income: $104,970
Leftover savings: $56,877
West Linn, Oregon
Annual cost of living: $81,024
Median middle-class income: $138,526
Leftover savings: $57,502
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Murrysville, Pennsylvania
Annual cost of living: $47,718
Median middle-class income: $120,685
Leftover savings: $72,967
Warwick, Rhode Island
Annual cost of living: $52,909
Median middle-class income: $87,536
Leftover savings: $34,627
Fort Mill, South Carolina
Annual cost of living: $61,378
Median middle-class income: $127,537
Leftover savings: $66,159
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Annual cost of living: $45,629
Median middle-class income: $74,714
Leftover savings: $29,085
Germantown, Tennessee
Annual cost of living: $57,573
Median middle-class income: $144,799
Leftover savings: $87,226
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Southlake, Texas
Annual cost of living: $112,555
Median middle-class income: $250,00
Leftover savings: $137,445
Syracuse, Utah
Annual cost of living: $63,760
Median middle-class income: $132,459
Leftover savings: $68,699
South Burlington, Vermont
Annual cost of living: $66,381
Median middle-class income: $97,229
Leftover savings: $30,848
McLean, Virginia
Annual cost of living: $139,442
Median middle-class income: $250,000
Leftover savings: $100,558
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Sammamish, Washington
Annual cost of living: $144,758
Median middle-class income: 227,273
Leftover savings: $82,515
Charleston, West Virginia
Annual cost of living: $36,216
Median middle-class income: $64,512
Leftover savings: $28,296
Mequon, Wisconsin
Annual cost of living: $68,689
Median middle-class income: $147,391
Leftover savings: $78,702
Gillette, Wyoming
Annual cost of living: $49,993
Median middle-class income: $90,699
Leftover savings: $40,706
Travis Woods contributed to the reporting for this article.
Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities with populations of at least 20,000 to find the most affordable city in each state — defined as the cities in this group that had the most leftover savings. GOBankingRates used U.S. Census American Community Survey to find all the cities with populations of at least 20,000. With the cities identified, the cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces. Using the cost of living and the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each location was calculated. Using Zillow Home Value Index for February 2025 and the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated. Using the average mortgage and average expenditure costs, the average cost of living was calculated. The household median income was sourced from the American Community Survey. The middle class is defined by Pew Research as two-thirds to double the median household income. The median household income and the total cost of living were used to find the leftover savings for middle-class households. All data was collected on and is up to date as of March 18, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Most Affordable City in Every State for the Middle Class
