11 Cities the Middle Class Won’t Be Able To Afford in 5 Years

Historically, being middle class refers to white-collar occupations and people whose incomes are within the median range for their area of residence. 

A 2025 study from SmartAsset says that middle-class incomes range between $49,500 and $148,500. However, this range isn't the same wherever you may live. For example, the low tier of this range only qualifies as middle class in states like West Virginia or Louisiana.

As inflation grows, your financial fitness needs to evolve accordingly. If it doesn't, you may not be able to afford to live in these 11 cities in as little as five years.

All cost of living statistics are pulled from BestPlaces unless otherwise noted.

Cities that experience rapid population growth are also the ones that are likely to become out of reach for middle-class earners. Sarasota is a prime example.

The city is experiencing fast population and economic growth. As a middle-class family, you need a $87,120 yearly income to afford this city's cost of living, which is higher than the U.S. and Florida averages. Given Sarasota's 16.81% population growth rate in the last decade, it will become unaffordable in five years if your income doesn't keep up to help pay for your mortgage.

Phoenix is another good spot for middle-class families. Since 2010, it has also experienced a population growth of 15.61%.

The average home price in the Phoenix area is $413,000, 22% more expensive than the U.S. national average. While you only need a yearly family income of $79,200 to live comfortably in Phoenix, its rapid growth may change your fortunes for the worse within five years.

While Orlando isn't experiencing rapid population growth, its annual $70,920 cost of living places it firmly in middle-class territory. Like other Florida locations, Orlando is highly sought after by families and retirees alike.

Its excellent quality of life and perfect climate may cause its already expensive housing costs — $369,400 on average — and high cost of living to explode in the next five years.

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Boise attracts middle-class families with its natural beauty and steady economic growth. Its home prices hover at $478,900, 41.6% more than the national average.

You already need a minimum income of $91,800 to live in Boise. If local wages fail to keep up with year-to-year home cost increases — a figure Zillow puts at 3.2% — living in Boise is unlikely to be feasible for middle-class earners in five years.

The Raleigh-Durham-Cary Metro in North Carolina has also experienced an unprecedented population growth of 19.84% in the last 15 years, according to Exploding Topics. 

This growth is accompanied by an increase in average housing costs, which are already 26.3% more expensive than the domestic average of $338,100.

While you can still afford the city on a middle-class income of roughly $80,000 per year, the Metro's steady growth will lock you out of a home if you don't start making smart homeowner moves.

While Dallas's cost of living is only slightly higher than the U.S. average at .2%, you only need $56,520 a year to live in this Texas city.

Housing costs also reflect the affordability of Dallas — at an average of $295,100, they're almost 13% lower than the average home elsewhere in the nation. However, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metro's population has grown by 16.58% since 2010 according to Exploding Topics, so prices are bound to rise in the next five years.

Nashville has always been a hub of music and entertainment. While this city offers a relatively low cost of living that is only 4.7% higher than the national average and affordable home prices, it's also a magnet for newcomers to these fields.

The population growth Nashville is experiencing is unlikely to make it more affordable during the next five years — especially since you already need at least $79,200 a year to live there comfortably.

Salt Lake City may be one of the fastest-growing cities in the West, but it still has a relatively affordable cost of living by comparison, at 21.3% higher than the U.S. average.

Still, housing prices have been steadily becoming less affordable in the last eight years. The average home now costs $500,800, almost 50% more expensive than the average across the nation. This trend is unlikely to change, which means middle-class earners may not be able to afford Salt Lake City in five years.

Charlotte is a hub for American Airlines and quality healthcare. As such, the city is a major employer in several fields, with a population growth of 15.33% during the last decade, according to Exploding Topics.

As the city gets closer to the one million residents mark, its once affordable housing and cost of living will likely increase. You already need $73,080 per year to afford living in Charlotte and can expect to pay 12.9% more for a home than elsewhere in the U.S.

Austin, Texas, is already on the high end of affordability for the middle class. A family needs an average of $110,520 per year to live in Texas's capital. Moreover, to buy a home in Austin, you'd have to pay an average of $577,400, or 70.8% more than the national average.

While groceries and transportation expenses are lower in Austin than in other large cities, the city's affordability is only going to decrease in the next five years as it continues to attract new residents.

The proximity to the coast and its appeal to people of all ages make Charleston a desirable city. Its population growth since 2010 has been going strong at 18.5%, according to Exploding Topics. Charleston has a moderately high cost of living, 12% higher than the U.S. average.

The one feature of Charleston that may make it unaffordable for the middle class in future years is its wealth distribution. The city's largest income brackets are under $15,000 and over $150,000. The middle class is already priced out of Charleston, and that's likely to continue.

With high population and economic growth, many cities around the country are set to become increasingly unaffordable for the middle class. Examples include Boise, Dallas, and Charleston — cities that are highly sought after and likely to experience a high cost of living in the next five years.

To keep your options open, you must avoid foolish ways to waste money, like not having a financial plan or waiting until retirement to make one, at all costs. That way, you'll still be able to afford these cities five years from now.