Six Figures Barely Buys Middle Class Status in America's Most Expensive Cities

To be considered middle class in some high-cost US cities like San Francisco and Arlington, you need to earn $150,000 or more per year. This qualifies as lower middle class income.

Housing and real estate costs have the biggest impact on affordability and wealth class. California dominates the list of unaffordable cities due to astronomical housing costs.

An annual salary of $150,000 is considered lower middle class income in Arlington, San Francisco, San Jose, Irvine and Seattle.

The median US household income is $75,000. But to be lower middle class in San Francisco requires an income of $152,652 - quadruple that of Cleveland.

A six-figure salary no longer guarantees an escape from lower middle class status. In the top 15 unaffordable cities, you need $150,000+ to get out of lower middle class.