Earning $100,000 annually is considered lower-middle class in 12 U.S. states, according to an analysis released by financial technology company MoneyLion in April 2026. The findings use U.S. Census Bureau household income data to illustrate how the definition of middle class varies across the country.

The 12 states are Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Hawaii, California, New Hampshire, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Connecticut, Alaska, and Virginia. Massachusetts has the highest threshold, with households earning as much as $116,476 still falling within the lower-middle-class category. Virginia has the lowest threshold among the 12, at $102,322.

MoneyLion's analysis used 2024 Census data and applied a definition of middle class based on households earning between two-thirds and twice their state's median household income. It then divided that range into three tiers, classifying the bottom third as lower-middle class, the middle third as middle class, and the top third as upper-middle class.

The study found that five states had median household incomes above $100,000: Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Hawaii, and California. The remaining states on the list also had relatively high median incomes, contributing to the elevated thresholds.

The findings highlight how household income classifications can differ significantly depending on where a family lives. The analysis is based on income brackets rather than an assessment of individual households' financial circumstances, and it does not mean that every family earning $100,000 in those states has the same standard of living.