EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Most Americans consider themselves middle class. This raises the question, what does it mean to be middle class? This report examines various definitions, discusses middle class values and aspirations, and presents hypothetical budgets showing how these aspirations might be achieved with different incomes. Finally, we consider whether or not it is harder to live a middle class lifestyle today than it was twenty years ago.
Income levels alone do not define the middle class. Many very high and very low income persons report themselves as middle class. Social scientists have explained this by defining “middle class” as a combination of values, expectations, and aspirations, as well as income levels. Middle class families and those aspiring to be part of the middle class want economic stability, a home and a secure retirement. They want to protect their children’s health and send them to college. They also want to own cars and take family vacations. However, aspirations alone are not enough; middle class families know that to achieve these goals they must work hard and save.
This report examines how two-parent two-child families and single-parent two-child families at different income levels might achieve a middle class lifestyle. The result is a snapshot of hypothetical family finances during a single year when both children are in school and before they start college. The estimates in this report present a picture of the possible spending and saving decisions that families might make. A major conclusion to be drawn from this report is that planning and saving are critical elements in attaining a middle class lifestyle for most families.
Our results indicate how difficult it might be for many families to achieve these goals, particularly families in areas with higher housing prices. In addition, any number of uncontrollable events can make it hard to achieve middle class aspirations, including extra medical bills, payments for child care or elder care, or other demands on income. Families also face uncertainty about their future income, especially in an environment of high unemployment.
Finally, we look back two decades to examine whether it is more or less difficult to attain a middle class lifestyle today. While incomes for married-couple and single-parent families with two children have increased significantly, much of this rise occurred in the 1990s. In part, these increases occurred because parents are working more hours in order to maintain higher income levels. Unfortunately, while incomes have risen, the prices for three large components of middle class expenses have increased faster than income: the cost of college, the cost of health care and the cost of a house. Thus, we conclude that it is harder to attain a middle class lifestyle now than it was in the recent past.
One of the hallmarks of American society has been the common desire among families of all backgrounds for economic security and a better life for their children. Unfortunately, many families are not able to afford the sort of expenditures that we lay out in this report. If American families are to realize their middle class dreams, the nation must have a healthy economy, a responsible private sector that offers decent jobs with benefits, and an effective public sector that provides high quality schools for all children.
