Member-only story
The Difference Between Poverty and Middle Class is a Very Thin Line
We draw an imaginary boundary between abject poverty and the mythical middle class. What is the real difference?
I have heard it said that we are two paychecks from homelessness in the United States.
Imagine. After years of hard work, a career, and education, two paychecks away
Do you believe this?
The truth is that it’s difficult to define poverty and the middle class.
Depending on which part of the country you are in, what you consider “middle class” could be vastly different in another region. When we talk about poverty and the middle class, we often refer to economic status. But there is much more to consider than just financial standing.
A middle-class family may actually be living in poverty if they do not have access to quality healthcare or education. What about families considered “wealthy” by society's standards but live paycheck-to-paycheck?
