Being considered middle class has gotten more expensive over the years, including Delaware households.

A recent report from GOBankingRates found the median range for middle class income across the country is between $52,000 and $98,500 in 2024, depending on what state you live in.

While the current national minimum would have declared you middle class in Delaware 10 years ago, it no longer meets the minimum income to be middle class in the First State. It has gone up 32% higher in that time.

Delaware’s annual median household income of $79,325 is higher than the national median of $75,149, according to the Census Bureau. And so is the range for middle class consideration.

What is middle class in Delaware?

The middle class is a socioeconomic group that falls between the working class and the upper class. They are likely to have enough disposable income to afford eating out and vacationing, but also rely on loans for their homes, cars and student loans, according to Investopia.

According to GOBankingRates, Delaware’s middle-class income in 2022 (the most recent year available from Census data) was between $52,883 and $158,650 — a 32% change from 10 years prior; in 2012, it fell between $40,079 and $120,238.

So, someone working for minimum wage — $13.25 in Delaware — would need to work 40 hours a week, plus an additional 24 hours per week at overtime rate to just crack the middle-class range of $52,883 annually. A family of two people working for minimum wage would need to work 40 hours each, with one person working an additional 3.8 hours of overtime per week for the household to reach that same middle-class threshold.

Delaware’s median household income is $79,325 according to the Census Bureau.

• Median household income: $79,325
• Lowest end of middle class income: $52,883
• Highest end of middle class income: $158,650

Delaware’s median income and middle class range still faired better than it’s neighbors, Maryland and New Jersey, which ranked with the two highest income requirements for middle class status.

Highest median household incomes in the U.S.

1. Maryland income range: $65,641 to $196,922
2. New Jersey income range: $64,751 to $194,252
3. Massachusetts income range: $64,337 to $193,010
4. Hawaii income range: $63,209 to $189,628
5. California income range: $61,270 to $183,810
6. New Hampshire income range: $60,563 to $181,690
7. Washington income range: $60,217 to $180,650
8. Connecticut income range: $60,142 to $180,426
9. Colorado income range: $58,399 to $175,196
10. Virginia income range: $58,166 to $174,498