# In every corner of the country, the middle class struggles with affordability

- Link: https://www.widthness.com/in-every-corner-of-the-country-the-middle-class-struggles-with-affordability/
- Published: 2025-12-28T09:30:00-06:00
- Author: Curated by Theresa Wysocki

Image credit: Freepik. Research article by Hannah Stephens and Andre M. Perry. Brookings – December 2, 2025. The United States is home to some of the most expensive cities in the world, and middle-class residents are struggling to afford a decent life for themselves and their families. According to our latest analysis, one-third of the American middle class cannot afford the cost of basic necessities as of 2023. Using cost-of-living estimates from the Economic Policy Institute and demographic data from the U.S. Census Bureau, this report examines the affordability of 160 U.S. metro areas for middle-class households. Middle-class households are those with incomes within the middle 60% of income earners. Our analysis finds that in each metro area, at least 20% of the middle class cannot afford to live in that place, even after adjusting income ranges to account for local price variations. […] Click here to view original web page at www.brookings.edu