Here’s how much money it takes to be middle-class in the Valley

For decades, the American middle class has been shrinking as the rich get richer and workers are routinely and increasingly screwed. That’s certainly happened in Arizona over the last 10 years, with prices surging 43% since 2015.

It’s as expensive as ever to make it into the middle class — and that’s especially true in two Valley cities. Phoenix suburbs Gilbert and Scottsdale boast some of the richest middle classes in America, both ranking in the top 10, according to a study titled “What it Takes to be Middle Class in America.” This study was created by SmartAsset, a New York-based financial technology company, and used 2023 data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

In Gilbert, the minimum household income needed to be middle-class is about $81,600 — the fifth-highest minimum in the country. Households earning between that and about $245,000 annually are considered middle-class in Gilbert. The four other cities ahead of Gilbert are Arlington, Virginia, and San Jose, Irving and San Francisco in California.

Scottsdale ranks 10th. Households need to earn at least $70,700 a year to be middle class.


The study ranked 100 of America’s largest cities and also all 50 states, with Arizona requiring the 20th-highest minimum income to be middle-class. Statewide, Arizona households that make more than $51,500 are considered middle-class.

Five other Arizona cities were listed in the top 100 most expensive cities to be middle class. They are:

No. 12: Chandler ($70,255 minimum)
No. 41: Phoenix ($53,104)
No. 44: Mesa ($52,758)
No. 55: Glendale ($47,062)
No. 90: Tucson ($37,135)

But what does it mean to be middle class, exactly? According to the Pew Research Center, to be considered middle-income, a household must earn two-thirds to double the median household income. But the ranges for middle-class inclusion vary widely — salaries up to $210,000 are considered middle-class in 12 American cities, including Gilbert, Scottsdale and Chandler.

Meanwhile, a family of five — two parents, three kids — earning the middle-class minimum in Tucson would technically fall barely above the federal poverty line, which is $35,650 for a five-person household. So, maybe being “middle-class” doesn’t mean much of anything.