Middle Class

Definition

The middle class refers to individuals who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class within a societal hierarchy, typically characterized by moderate to high income levels, personal and professional jobs, home ownership, and higher education.

Related terms

Socioeconomic Status: This refers to an individual's or family's economic and social position relative to others based on income, education, and occupation.

Suburbanization: The process of population movement from urban areas to suburbs. This is often associated with the growth of the middle class post-World War II.

Income Inequality: The unequal distribution of household or individual income across various participants in an economy. It is often presented as the percentage of income related to a percentage of population.