I honestly thought I was..I feel like I am middle class. Check the link to see if you are.
Link to Middle Class Test
Link to Middle Class Test
Are You Really Middle Class?
- Thread starter dandh
- Start date
Nope, I post on HROT so I didn't expect I to be either. From the link:
Middle class in
Johnson County, Iowa is
$41,443-$68,033
Middle class in
Johnson County, Iowa is
$41,443-$68,033
Apparently they are using the "middle fifth"... I think at least middle third would be more appropriate.
I don't see how you could be middle class anywhere anymore without being well over a 6 figure income? Seems wrong to me. 45K in Polk county?
I would consider middle class having a nice place (rent or own), 1-2 cars, things, savings, and be able to do the things you want. In Polk County, I'm not sure how you do that with under $4000 net per month, and 45K is probably going to net out around $3000 per month, at best.
Even at their high end for Polk in the 72K range, I just don't see it being middle class.
We must be bad with our money if people in that range are living a 'middle class' life. Our I don't appreciate what I have....
I would consider middle class having a nice place (rent or own), 1-2 cars, things, savings, and be able to do the things you want. In Polk County, I'm not sure how you do that with under $4000 net per month, and 45K is probably going to net out around $3000 per month, at best.
Even at their high end for Polk in the 72K range, I just don't see it being middle class.
We must be bad with our money if people in that range are living a 'middle class' life. Our I don't appreciate what I have....
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They are providing you with actual figures as to what people in the middle actually earn. If it's not enough to achieve your definition of middle class, what does that tell you?
Middle class in
Dakota County, Minnesota is
$59,628-$88,310
I find that interesting, because the style of life here seems pretty similar to the Iowa City area to me.
- Sep 13, 2002
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So do you think more than 80 percent of Americans are lower class?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 6.03 percent of individuals over 18 and only 19.9 percent of households had incomes of $100,000.
According to this site I'm new money upper class by a hair. Hooray for me.
http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0912/which-income-class-are-you.aspx
http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0912/which-income-class-are-you.aspx
- Sep 13, 2002
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That's a pretty good site - much more detailed than most.
Me and Mrs. Torbee just squeaked into the upper class in the last two years or so as well, it appears.
Bully for us!
This post was edited on 3/27 2:55 PM by torbee
I just clicked on Benton County for giggles and it's figures were higher than Johnson Co. Seems odd
- Sep 13, 2002
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Benton County probably has more rich farmers and fewer people walking around all day with their pants hanging off of their asses. That will skew it.
This raises a question I've confronted numerous times since retiring. When I am asked what my income range is, what do I answer? Just Social Security and pensions? Or do I count unscheduled IRA withdrawals? It makes a difference.
As to this issue specifically, I think they mean middle-income, not middle-class. The two are not the same thing.
As to this issue specifically, I think they mean middle-income, not middle-class. The two are not the same thing.
OK, I didn't mean to offend, but....
Is there a difference between middle class lifestyle, and middle class?
I get that there is a number range that the government, or whoever, can group people into based on income. But just because you are in that group based on numbers, does that really mean you are living that 'lifestyle'? I can see were a family of three, with outstanding fiscal habits and top tier credit could possibly do it, but maybe my understanding of middle class is skewed.
Never mind, I looked at the link DerekD posted, and that seams much more reasonable.
This post was edited on 3/27 4:20 PM by linkshero
Yes, that is my point. Middle class is a social definition, not a financial one.
By the way, 40% of people below the poverty line told pollsters they were middle class, as did 31% of people who earn more than $150K.
It's a state of mind. Everybody wants to be middle class.
Good gawd swag, this place would be a desert without you livening things up. I bet you were the class clown in grade school.
And Wendy is as always Wendyriffic...
And Wendy is as always Wendyriffic...
This statistic has always confused me. I'm married and live in Tiffin, IA with a household income of $115,000 yet judging by the cost of others' home and the cars they drive about 75% of people look to be doing better than my family.
Folks here bitched about $4/gallon gas....,..,,,.Mercedes Benz are out of the question if the price of gasoline is an issue at all......unless big oil stocks make up the majority of your portfolio nest egg.
As was I in both respects. As a result, I tend to think we're easy to spot, even on a message board.
"We all look alike".
You could cherry pick some time lines where the following won't be true... but in general over the last decade, "big oil" hasn't outperformed the stock market as a whole.
You know though, it's probably because Cheney is no longer the VP and Bush isn't manufacturing nasty hurricanes to destroy poor communities.
