What is middle class in Calgary?

[ignite09]

So, I've been reading through some articles on what makes someone a middle class citizen in Canada, and found a few interesting tidbits. They have shown middle class incomes starting in the $20000 range in some Maritime provinces all the way up to $90000 to hit baseline in a place like Ft. McMurry. Upwards of 90% of North Americans would identify as middle class which shows how misconstrued this concept is. As well as why the "middle class voter" is so vital politically. So let's simplify and localize, what makes a Calgarian middle class?

[Fuzz]

2400 sq foot vinyl palace, F-150, Honda CRV(or equivalent), a travel trailer and a dog. That's gotta be about as average as you get in this city.

[Erick Estrada]

2400 square foot is well above average. Average house is likely in the range of 1700 or less.

[iggy_oi]

Somewhere between $75k and $100k annual household income.

[P-Rugby]

Boston Pizza

[CliffFletcher]

It's really tough to base on anecdote and personal experience, because we tend to know people like ourselves. If you hang out with people who get a new car every 5 years and fly to Mexico for vacation every winter, you'll probably think that's middle-class. If you hang out with people who always buy used and camp in B.C. every summer that'll seem middle-class to you.

But statistically, median income for a full-time worker in Calgary is $66k. Median household income is $99k. Median house price is $460k.

So Fuzz probably isn't far off the mark. Though I'd suggest in a middle-middle-class household, one of the vehicles was bought used.

[81MC]

$500 000 debt
$100 000 household income

[GP_Matt]

I think that the definition should not be income but security. If losing your source of income for a short period is devestating you would be lower class. If you can easily replace your income (in demand skills, savings) you would be middle class and if you don't have to worry about ever working again then you are upper class

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

I think that the definition should not be income but security. If losing your source of income for a short period is devestating you would be lower class. If you can easily replace your income (in demand skills, savings) you would be middle class and if you don't have to worry about ever working again then you are upper class

So instead of using a measure of your economic position in society, such as income, we are going to use some fringe scenario of what happens if you lose your job?

If two people have the same income and one chooses to save, they are middle class, but if the other chooses not to save, they are lower class?

[ASP#26525]

Originally Posted by 81MC

$500 000 debt
$100 000 household income

What if you're single? Because this is insane.

[calgarywinning]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

So instead of using a measure of your economic position in society, such as income, we are going to use some fringe scenario of what happens if you lose your job?

If two people have the same income and one chooses to save, they are middle class, but if the other chooses not to save, they are lower class?

The very definition of wealth is saving. So if we are classing based on income he makes an excellent point. I think his point is valid in that there are options.

[GordonBlue]

to me, if you have a house over 2000 sq feet, two newer vehicles, and your combined family income is over $125,000, you're at the very least upper middle class.

I support a family of 3 on less than $70,000 and if I had the above, I'd feel upper class and on easy street.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Where does upper middle class end and upper class begin?

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Where does upper middle class end and upper class begin?

I don't know. to hard to define. a matter of perspective from where you feel you sit.
that's where looking at one's saving comes in, on top of what you own and make.

I'm sure that what I feel would be a life of relative luxury, many here who had that would think they are solid middle class.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

I think that the definition should not be income but security. If losing your source of income for a short period is devestating you would be lower class. If you can easily replace your income (in demand skills, savings) you would be middle class and if you don't have to worry about ever working again then you are upper class

That seems more a measure of financial prudence than class. There are people who earn 30k a year who have a comfortable nest-egg, and households that earn 300k who are leveraged to the tits and heading for bankruptcy.

I don't think being able to replace your income is a good litmus test either. A clerk at the Bay can probably replace her income quite easily. A directional driller, not so easily in today's economy. Does that make a Bay clerk middle class and a temporarily out of work directional driller not middle class?

[Weitz]

Median family income in Calgary was $102,700 in 2015 according to this website:

https://regionaldashboard.alberta.ca...m=2011&to=2015

So plus or minus on that (from 2015 though so who knows now?):

[OMG!WTF!]

When I was a kid it was that smell that came from other's kids' houses at dinner time that was maddeningly delicious. I discovered as an adult it was Hamburger Helper and their 1980's pure msg flavour packages. I would add Shake 'n Bake to the list too but that's pushing upper and something I had only ever heard about, never witnessed.

[gasman]

Best definition I have come across is the point where a family has more than 1/3 of their income available for discretionary spending.

Canada wide that number is statistically about $59,000/year household income (assuming shelter/food/transportation are the essentials). In Alberta that would translate to about $71,000/year

Upper class would be those that make more than double the median income. So Canada overall would be $140,000 and in Alberta $190,000

so to put bounds on the middle class in Alberta

Household Income between $71,000 and $190,000

[Flamenspiel]

Originally Posted by ASP#26525

What if you're single? Because this is insane.

Well, i think you have your marching orders. Find a wife/husband....or increase your salary.

[red sky]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

Well, i think you have your marching orders. Find a wife/husband....or increase your salary.

Or just don't have a $500,000 house.