PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Data from the Pew Research Center shows that America’s middle class has been declining over time, dropping from 61% of the population in 1971 to just 50% in 2021.
For that reason, a new study shows exactly how much someone needs to earn to be considered middle class in the U.S.’s biggest cities, including Portland.
Financial tech company SmartAsset conducted the study, using numbers from sources like the Council for Community and Economics Research Cost of Living Index, Pew Research Center and Zillow.
Out of the 100 metro areas analyzed, Portland was the 25th city with the highest yearly income to be considered middle class.
Here’s more on the middle-class range in the Rose City.
- Middle income lower limit: $52,968
- Median household income: $79,057
- Middle-income upper limit: $158,114
Overall, the study shows that many of the top cities for middle-income limits are along the West Coast.
Fremont, Calif., was the No. 1 city on the list, which says that someone with a yearly salary of $311,936 is still considered middle class. Fremont was followed by San Jose, Calif., Arlington, Va., and then San Francisco, Calif.
According to SmartAsset, reaching the middle class is the most challenging in tech cities like Seattle — which took the No. 5 spot. The city’s middle-income salaries range from $74,223 to $221,562.
The other Pacific Northwest city included in the report was Spokane, at No. 66 out of 100 cities.
Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo, N.Y., Cincinnati and Newark, N.J., were named the bottom five metro areas for middle-class ceilings.
Additionally, the study looked at the middle-income thresholds for all 50 states.
In Oregon, middle-class workers earn anything between $47,947 and $143,124 in a year. For Washington’s middle class, annual income ranges from $56,445 to $168,494.