It was within reach 20 years ago, but not today. Median hourly wage in the US is about $23/hr. Median rent is about $2000/month. That’s more than 50% of gross wages, and along with inflated prices on everything else, it’s no wonder that half of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck.
The “average middle-class person” you’re referring to is now upper-class. Not because they’re extremely wealthy, but because they can afford to invest (which was once quite common, but is increasingly out of reach for the “average” person).
It was within reach 20 years ago, but not today. Median hourly wage in the US is about $23/hr. Median rent is about $2000/month. That’s more than 50% of gross wages, and along with inflated prices on everything else, it’s no wonder that half of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck.
The “average middle-class person” you’re referring to is now upper-class. Not because they’re extremely wealthy, but because they can afford to invest (which was once quite common, but is increasingly out of reach for the “average” person).