Just looked at some data on what's actually considered middle class in America now versus a decade ago, and it's kind of wild how much the numbers have shifted. Back in 2013, you could be middle class in most states on like $30-40k a year. Fast forward to 2023 and that's basically doubled in a lot of places. Washington state jumped from roughly $40-119k to $63-190k. California's even more extreme. It's not just coastal states either - even places like Idaho and Montana saw pretty significant jumps. Basically what qualifies as middle class income in america has gotten way higher across the board. The gap between 2013 and 2023 is biggest in those high-cost states, but even the more affordable areas have seen meaningful increases. Makes you wonder what the actual definition of middle class will look like another decade from now. Inflation and cost of living just keep pushing those thresholds up.