How much you have to earn to be considered middle class

Good stuff, mfpark. Excellent points, and very well put.

If we can afford Maplewood taxes and have money in the bank I say we're rich

Great points by everyone. However there are many different factor when determining what class your in. A small family of 3 with a household income of about 160k I would think is middle class considerably.

Middle class isn't just an income or wealth number, but also a lifestyle. I daresay that most of us in M/SO live a middle class lifestyle, not matter what our income or wealth level.

But what does living a middle class lifestyle even mean?

Great discussion, and I agree I think it's all dependent on cost of living and of course what people value-some value experiences, some value possessions. But I think the ability to have either with little or no thought about the consequences counts as "rich".