How Much Must You Make in Colorado to Be Considered Middle Class?

When you think of a middle-class family, you're typically reminded of your everyday sitcom with a family of four, a decent-sized house, a breadwinning father, a stay-at-home mom, a couple of kids, a dog, and a cat.

However, as we grow, we come to find out that real life is seldom a carbon copy of the white picket-fenced yard we've come to know and love from prime-time TV.

So, when it comes down to it, how much does a modern Colorado family's income really need to be to fall under the middle-class moniker? The answer may surprise you.

What Exactly is Middle Class in Colorado?

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According to a study released in 2022, to be middle class, a household must earn between two-thirds and double the national median income. That being said, in order to be known as middle-class in America, the household's income must be between $52,000 and $156,000 per year.

When compared to other states, Colorado is just above average, making that margin increase to income between $60,000 and $181,000 per year.

However, this figure must also be adjusted based on the number of people that make up the household.

For example, in order to qualify as a middle-class household in Colorado, a single person living alone would be making between $26,876 and $80,629 per year, a couple would have to make between $38,009 and $114,026 per year, and a family of four would be making between $53,752 and $161,257.

Just as the amount of income to qualify as middle-class varies per state, so does the income per county, or even city, based on economic factors and costs of living, but these figures should help give you a basic idea of how close you are to, say, the Simpsons.