How Far the Average Budget of a Middle-Class Family Goes in Every State
Maryland may have a reputation for its high cost of living, but it’s also a surprising haven for middle-class families. According to a new MoneyLion analysis, Maryland ranked as the top state where a middle-class family’s average budget stretches the furthest.
For this study, MoneyLion defined middle-class income as two-thirds to double the median household income. Key factors analyzed in every state included the median household income and the average monthly cost of living for necessities, along with monthly mortgage, grocery and healthcare costs for a family of four. The middle-class income range for each state was calculated. Using the minimum middle-class income, household income, and maximum middle-class income, the leftover savings were calculated for each state.
Read More: How Much More You Would Make in Your State If Income Tax Vanished
Find Out: Start Growing Your Net Worth With Smarter Tracking
Key Findings
Maryland is one of six states where middle-class income is enough to provide families with $3,000 or more in monthly disposable income. The states: Maryland ($3,723), New Jersey ($3,127), Virginia ($3,110), Minnesota ($3,086), New Hampshire ($3,074) and Illinois ($3,055).
Hawaii is the only state where a middle-class income is not enough. The average middle-class earner is $220 short every month in the Aloha State.
Families in 18 states have $2,500 or more in leftover middle-class income every month. Of these 18, Utah (No. 8), Colorado (No. 10), Texas (No. 13) and Alaska (No. 14) have disposable income/savings of anywhere between $2,697 and $2,960.
Arkansas has the cheapest monthly grocery costs. Residents pay $753 on average.
Here’s how far the average middle-class family’s budget goes in every state.
1. Maryland
Median household income: $102,905
Middle-class income range: $68,603 to $205,810
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $4,853
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,399
Average monthly grocery costs: $842
Average monthly healthcare costs: $716
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $3,723
2. New Jersey
Median household income: $104,294
Middle-class income range: $69,529 to $208,588
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $5,564
Average monthly mortgage costs: $3,155
Average monthly grocery costs: $826
Average monthly healthcare costs: $744
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $3,127
3. Virginia
Median household income: $92,090
Middle-class income range: $61,393 to $184,180
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $4,564
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,252
Average monthly grocery costs: $796
Average monthly healthcare costs: $722
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $3,110
4. Minnesota
Median household income: $87,117
Middle-class income range: $58,078 to $174,234
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $4,174
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,900
Average monthly grocery costs: $803
Average monthly healthcare costs: $688
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $3,086
5. New Hampshire
Median household income: $99,782
Middle-class income range: $66,521 to $199,564
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $5,241
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,807
Average monthly grocery costs: $794
Average monthly healthcare costs: $724
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $3,074
6. Illinois
Median household income: $83,211
Middle-class income range: $55,474 to $166,422
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,879
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,566
Average monthly grocery costs: $797
Average monthly healthcare costs: $699
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $3,055
7. Connecticut
Median household income: $96,049
Middle-class income range: $64,033 to $192,098
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $5,042
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,468
Average monthly grocery costs: $827
Average monthly healthcare costs: $749
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,962
8. Utah
Median household income: $96,658
Middle-class income range: $64,439 to $193,316
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $5,095
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,969
Average monthly grocery costs: $774
Average monthly healthcare costs: $610
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,960
9. Iowa
Median household income: $75,501
Middle-class income range: $50,334 to $151,002
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,441
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,268
Average monthly grocery costs: $771
Average monthly healthcare costs: $644
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,851
10. Colorado
Median household income: $97,113
Middle-class income range: $64,742 to $194,226
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $5,273
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,998
Average monthly grocery costs: $808
Average monthly healthcare costs: $714
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,820
11. Delaware
Median household income: $87,534
Middle-class income range: $58,356 to $175,068
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $4,483
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,166
Average monthly grocery costs: $809
Average monthly healthcare costs: $698
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,812
12. Kansas
Median household income: $75,514
Middle-class income range: $50,343 to $151,028
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,493
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,310
Average monthly grocery costs: $766
Average monthly healthcare costs: $634
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,800
13. Texas
Median household income: $79,721
Middle-class income range: $53,147 to $159,442
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,859
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,633
Average monthly grocery costs: $761
Average monthly healthcare costs: $650
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,785
14. Alaska
Median household income: $95,665
Middle-class income range: $63,777 to $191,330
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $5,275
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,168
Average monthly grocery costs: $998
Average monthly healthcare costs: $935
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,697
15. North Dakota
Median household income: $77,871
Middle-class income range: $51,914 to $155,742
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,795
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,558
Average monthly grocery costs: $773
Average monthly healthcare costs: $731
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,695
16. Nebraska
Median household income: $76,376
Middle-class income range: $50,917 to $152,752
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,691
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,487
Average monthly grocery costs: $787
Average monthly healthcare costs: $669
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,674
17. Pennsylvania
Median household income: $77,545
Middle-class income range: $51,697 to $155,090
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,814
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,521
Average monthly grocery costs: $787
Average monthly healthcare costs: $629
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,648
18. Georgia
Median household income: $79,991
Middle-class income range: $53,327 to $159,982
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $4,053
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,809
Average monthly grocery costs: $781
Average monthly healthcare costs: $653
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,613
19. South Dakota
Median household income: $76,881
Middle-class income range: $51,254 to $153,762
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,930
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,710
Average monthly grocery costs: $780
Average monthly healthcare costs: $715
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,477
20. Washington
Median household income: $99,389
Middle-class income range: $66,259 to $198,778
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $5,807
Average monthly mortgage costs: $3,317
Average monthly grocery costs: $862
Average monthly healthcare costs: $740
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,476
21. Ohio
Median household income: $72,212
Middle-class income range: $48,141 to $144,424
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,564
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,314
Average monthly grocery costs: $794
Average monthly healthcare costs: $651
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,454
22. Michigan
Median household income: $72,389
Middle-class income range: $48,259 to $144,778
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,586
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,373
Average monthly grocery costs: $793
Average monthly healthcare costs: $604
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,446
23. Wisconsin
Median household income: $77,488
Middle-class income range: $51,659 to $154,976
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $4,018
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,782
Average monthly grocery costs: $795
Average monthly healthcare costs: $670
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,439
24. Indiana
Median household income: $71,959
Middle-class income range: $47,973 to $143,918
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,606
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,370
Average monthly grocery costs: $792
Average monthly healthcare costs: $647
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,390
25. Missouri
Median household income: $71,589
Middle-class income range: $47,726 to $143,178
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,604
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,424
Average monthly grocery costs: $766
Average monthly healthcare costs: $673
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,362
26. Vermont
Median household income: $82,730
Middle-class income range: $55,153 to $165,460
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $4,588
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,095
Average monthly grocery costs: $842
Average monthly healthcare costs: $751
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,306
27. Massachusetts
Median household income: $104,828
Middle-class income range: $69,885 to $209,656
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $6,474
Average monthly mortgage costs: $3,632
Average monthly grocery costs: $820
Average monthly healthcare costs: $901
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,262
28. South Carolina
Median household income: $72,350
Middle-class income range: $48,233 to $144,700
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,871
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,654
Average monthly grocery costs: $791
Average monthly healthcare costs: $632
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,158
29. Arizona
Median household income: $81,486
Middle-class income range: $54,324 to $162,972
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $4,637
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,349
Average monthly grocery costs: $814
Average monthly healthcare costs: $627
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,153
30. Oklahoma
Median household income: $66,148
Middle-class income range: $44,099 to $132,296
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,379
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,187
Average monthly grocery costs: $762
Average monthly healthcare costs: $652
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,134
31. Tennessee
Median household income: $71,997
Middle-class income range: $47,998 to $143,994
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,870
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,792
Average monthly grocery costs: $773
Average monthly healthcare costs: $580
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,130
32. Alabama
Median household income: $66,659
Middle-class income range: $44,439 to $133,318
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,429
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,256
Average monthly grocery costs: $779
Average monthly healthcare costs: $612
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,126
33. New York
Median household income: $85,820
Middle-class income range: $57,213 to $171,640
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $5,034
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,612
Average monthly grocery costs: $825
Average monthly healthcare costs: $745
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,117
34. Wyoming
Median household income: $75,532
Middle-class income range: $50,355 to $151,064
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $4,178
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,935
Average monthly grocery costs: $797
Average monthly healthcare costs: $665
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,116
35. Florida
Median household income: $77,735
Middle-class income range: $51,823 to $155,470
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $4,414
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,149
Average monthly grocery costs: $833
Average monthly healthcare costs: $622
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,063
36. North Carolina
Median household income: $73,958
Middle-class income range: $49,305 to $147,916
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $4,120
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,820
Average monthly grocery costs: $791
Average monthly healthcare costs: $740
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,043
37. Nevada
Median household income: $81,134
Middle-class income range: $54,089 to $162,268
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $4,726
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,514
Average monthly grocery costs: $820
Average monthly healthcare costs: $600
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,036
38. Idaho
Median household income: $81,166
Middle-class income range: $54,111 to $162,332
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $4,763
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,555
Average monthly grocery costs: $790
Average monthly healthcare costs: $718
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $2,001
39. West Virginia
Median household income: $60,798
Middle-class income range: $40,532 to $121,596
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,100
Average monthly mortgage costs: $926
Average monthly grocery costs: $769
Average monthly healthcare costs: $639
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $1,966
40. Kentucky
Median household income: $64,526
Middle-class income range: $43,017 to $129,052
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,423
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,252
Average monthly grocery costs: $797
Average monthly healthcare costs: $628
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $1,954
41. Arkansas
Median household income: $62,106
Middle-class income range: $41,404 to $124,212
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,302
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,199
Average monthly grocery costs: $753
Average monthly healthcare costs: $586
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $1,874
42. Oregon
Median household income: $85,220
Middle-class income range: $56,813 to $170,440
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $5,233
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,733
Average monthly grocery costs: $853
Average monthly healthcare costs: $792
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $1,869
43. Louisiana
Median household income: $60,986
Middle-class income range: $40,657 to $121,972
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,272
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,147
Average monthly grocery costs: $770
Average monthly healthcare costs: $627
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $1,810
44. Mississippi
Median household income: $59,127
Middle-class income range: $39,418 to $118,254
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,159
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,033
Average monthly grocery costs: $763
Average monthly healthcare costs: $633
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $1,768
45. Rhode Island
Median household income: $83,504
Middle-class income range: $55,669 to $167,008
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $5,199
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,728
Average monthly grocery costs: $810
Average monthly healthcare costs: $677
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $1,760
46. New Mexico
Median household income: $67,816
Middle-class income range: $45,211 to $135,632
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $3,922
Average monthly mortgage costs: $1,703
Average monthly grocery costs: $775
Average monthly healthcare costs: $727
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $1,730
47. Maine
Median household income: $76,442
Middle-class income range: $50,961 to $152,884
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $4,655
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,145
Average monthly grocery costs: $806
Average monthly healthcare costs: $774
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $1,715
48. Montana
Median household income: $75,340
Middle-class income range: $50,227 to $150,680
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $4,747
Average monthly mortgage costs: $2,497
Average monthly grocery costs: $811
Average monthly healthcare costs: $715
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $1,532
49. California
Median household income: $100,149
Middle-class income range: $66,766 to $200,298
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $7,023
Average monthly mortgage costs: $4,308
Average monthly grocery costs: $873
Average monthly healthcare costs: $700
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: $1,323
50. Hawaii
Median household income: $100,745
Middle-class income range: $67,163 to $201,490
Monthly cost of living for necessities: $8,616
Average monthly mortgage costs: $5,274
Average monthly grocery costs: $1,049
Average monthly healthcare costs: $858
Monthly leftover savings from median middle-class income: -$220
Methodology: For this study, MoneyLion analyzed each state to find out how far the average budget of a middle-class family goes in every state. For each state, the total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, and median household income were all sourced from the U.S. Census 2024 American Community Survey. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling's BestPlaces and using the national average expenditure costs for a family of four, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure costs can be calculated for each state. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 6.11%, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data on 3/19/26, the average mortgage cost was calculated for each state. Using the average expenditure and mortgage cost, the total cost of living for necessities can be calculated for each state. Middle-class income is defined as two-thirds to double the median household income. The middle-class income range for each state was calculated. Using the minimum middle-class income, median household income, and maximum middle-class income, the leftover savings for each were calculated. The states were sorted to show the most leftover savings after the median household income covers the total cost of living for necessities. All data is up to date as of March 19, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
More From MoneyLion:
