California’s Middle Class Struggle in Affordable Living Amid Real Estate Boom

The Inland Empire has long been recognized as one of the most affordable places to live in Southern California, but with a surge in population comes an intensely hot real estate market, making it increasingly expensive. It’s no secret that California remains one of the most pricey states in terms of cost-of-living expenses. To determine middle-class income levels for households across 345 large cities and each state, SmartAsset analyzed data from Pew Research Center’s definition of “middle income” as being between two-thirds to double median income limits. According to the study, a household earning an average annual income ranging from $52,000 to $155,000 falls into California’s middle class category in large cities across the United States. The median household income for all 345 studied areas was set at $77,345 per annum. New Jersey placed first on the list with a highest threshold of middle-class earnings standing at $189,982; California ranked fifth ($183,102). Five out of ten cities in America that boast the highest income thresholds for being considered part of the middle class are located within California’s borders. Los Angeles came in 160th place with a threshold set at $152,270 per annum. A separate study by Consumer Affairs found that to be classified as “middle-class” in terms of income for families consisting of four members residing in California costs a yearly income bracket totaling sixty thousand and six hundred dollars ($69,064). Three out of the top five cities with the highest median income threshold were determined through analysis published annually by The Department Of Housing And Community Development In California. These three cities are all located within the Bay Area region (Source: Los Angeles Times; Additional resources can be found here and here).