Spoiler alert: It costs much more in 2025 to be considered “middle class” than it did in 1990. And that makes sense, given that both wages and the cost of living have increased significantly over the past 35 years. But the data reveals something more troubling — staying in the middle class today is actually harder than it was a few decades ago.
The reason? The cost of housing, education, and quality healthcare — hallmarks of middle-class life — have outpaced wage growth. In other words, everyday expenses now take a larger bite out of household budgets than they did in 1990. Here’s what that means for Americans today.
