More Americans Are Breaking into the Upper Middle Class
by alephnerd on 4/6/2026, 3:46:56 PM
https://www.wsj.com/economy/more-americans-are-breaking-into-the-upper-middle-class-bf8b7cb2
Comments
by: balderdash
the thing that doesn't compute for me is that the definition of upper middle class here is 5-15x the federal poverty line, ok, but in 1970 the federal poverty line was like ~$3k (and ~$22k today) 10x in 1970 (~33k/year) in nyc you could buy a 2,000 sqft apt for like 2.75x your salary [1] today, that same apartment is like >10x - so while perhaps more people are earning "upper middle class" incomes, what that gets you has declined significantly.<p>[1]<a href="https://www.elikarealestate.com/blog/tracing-buying-real-estate-new-york-past-100-years/" rel="nofollow">https://www.elikarealestate.com/blog/tracing-buying-real-est...</a>
4/6/2026, 4:32:39 PM
by: alsetmusic
Also, more Americans are living in poverty. But don’t look over there.
4/6/2026, 4:17:55 PM
by: tdb7893
The headline is a remarkably rosy spin on it when the subheading is "Research shows that ranks of higher earners have grown markedly over last 50 years, while lower rungs of middle class have shrunk". The article is behind a paywall but it makes it sound like inequality is increasing.
4/6/2026, 4:13:07 PM
by: sph
> Research shows [...]<p>In American mice, perhaps.
4/6/2026, 4:26:12 PM
by: laidoffamazon
As someone that thinks of myself as a low-caste, middle class American it's interesting seeing all of these people listed in the article making less than me
4/6/2026, 4:32:37 PM
by: amelius
No kidding. If you allow a population to gamble online, with prediction markets, derivatives, etc. don't be surprised if you widen the wealth gap.<p>More winners, but even more losers.<p>But hey, you only ever hear about the winners, so it's great for the image. America is doing great!
4/6/2026, 4:43:27 PM
by: blinded
Anyone have a gift link?
4/6/2026, 3:59:31 PM
by: guzfip
Great for these people, but will there be such opportunities for their children?<p>I thought I did well for myself, finding myself among the middle class, the end is on the horizon.
4/6/2026, 4:02:49 PM
by: materialpoint
"For the first decade of his career, he lived in an apartment and worried about paying for vacations. Then, in his early 30s (...)" ... here is America, without paid vacation guaranteed by law since the government does not truly care about the middle or working class. It's amazing how serious media can write articles about economy, while the blatant obvious deficits slip right by their nose..
4/6/2026, 4:14:02 PM
by: xtodoubt
[dead]
4/6/2026, 4:29:13 PM
by: ljsprague
[flagged]
4/6/2026, 4:20:59 PM
by: htx80nerd
"Americans"
4/6/2026, 4:24:57 PM