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What income it takes to be considered "middle class" in Louisiana

Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:37 am
Posted by member12
Bob's Country Bunker
Member since May 2008
33006 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:37 am
This is bare minimum it takes to be considered middle class from a personal income perspective; not total household income. It's likely that the household income threshold is likely 20%-40% higher.

An area with higher income averages driven by a major industry or a very large city will have a higher minimum threshold than areas with lower costs of living. Houston will naturally have a higher threshold than Tyler or Midland. But cities of similar size may differ based on the type of employers there or the relative unemployment rate.

This is how the Louisiana metros rank:
 
quote:

Baton Rouge: $64,222

Lake Charles: $62,184

New Orleans/Metairie: $61,602

Houma/Thibodaux: $58,332

Alexandria: $56,339

Hammond: $55,391

Shreveport/Bossier City: $52,775

Lafayette: $50,837

Monroe: $44,507


LINK

Baton Rouge is likely a bit higher than everywhere else because it's sort of a hub for downstream oil/gas and chemical processing and engineering companies in the state while also having a huge university.

New Orleans may be a bit lower because hospitality and tourism are huge industries there; and they tend to have lower salaries. Unemployment is usually higher in New Orleans during the slower months too.

Houma is a huge hub for the offshore oil/gas industry, which can be pretty lucrative. It's also a relatively small city so those jobs have a big impact on it's averages.

Surprised Lafayette isn't higher.
This post was edited on 7/15/24 at 10:41 am
Posted by Commandeaux
Zachary
Member since Jul 2009
7881 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:38 am to
Tree Fiddy
Posted by Shexter
Prairieville
Member since Feb 2014
18958 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:39 am to
quote:

bare minimum


That's the minimum, so they're barely out of the lower class bracket. Sad.
Posted by OysterPoBoy
City of St. George
Member since Jul 2013
42555 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:40 am to
quote:

Baton Rouge: $64,222


No way. A single guy with child support for 2 kids would be smoked with this salary. Private school tuition and travel ball/cheerleading alone would be more than that.
Posted by fallguy_1978
Best States #50
Member since Feb 2018
52862 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:40 am to
I don't think the COL is higher in BR than Nola.
Posted by Cosmo
glassman's guest house
Member since Oct 2003
128666 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:42 am to
Prob $75k in most places

BR/NOLA prob 100k
Posted by member12
Bob's Country Bunker
Member since May 2008
33006 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:43 am to
quote:

No way. A single guy with child support for 2 kids would be smoked with this salary. Private school tuition and travel ball/cheerleading alone would be more than that.



Yeah divorces tends to be economically painful.

Two parents, each earning $64,222, would be relatively comfortable in most of the Baton Rouge metro so long as they don't have expensive tastes.
Posted by Salmon
I helped draft the email
Member since Feb 2008
85352 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:44 am to
Alex higher than Lafayette?
Posted by GetCocky11
Calgary, AB
Member since Oct 2012
53509 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:45 am to
quote:

No way. A single guy with child support for 2 kids would be smoked with this salary. Private school tuition and travel ball/cheerleading alone would be more than that.


Good thing public school and rec league are options.
Posted by member12
Bob's Country Bunker
Member since May 2008
33006 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:45 am to
quote:

I don't think the COL is higher in BR than Nola.



It's about the distribution of income and the mean income range, not costs of living.

Costs of living in New Orleans is substantially higher than the rest of the state. But the middle tier income is a tad lower than it's peer cities within the state of Louisiana.
Posted by fareplay
Member since Nov 2012
6250 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:45 am to
Someone explain Monroe to someone whose never been there
Posted by OysterPoBoy
City of St. George
Member since Jul 2013
42555 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:46 am to
quote:

Good thing public school and rec league are options.


Have you ever been to BR? Public school is right out and rec league is a joke as far as skill development is concerned.
Posted by member12
Bob's Country Bunker
Member since May 2008
33006 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:47 am to
quote:

Alex higher than Lafayette?



Yeah that is puzzling. I guess Lafayette is larger, and there are more lower income people bringing down the averages?

I know I'd prefer to live in Lafayette. But I guess Alexandria is more economically healthy than I thought.
Posted by GetCocky11
Calgary, AB
Member since Oct 2012
53509 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:47 am to
quote:


quote:
Good thing public school and rec league are options.


quote:

Have you ever been to BR? Public school is right out and rec league is a joke as far as skill development is concerned.



Too bad, work harder, earn more. That is what this board always says.
Posted by Y.A. Tittle
Member since Sep 2003
109369 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:50 am to
quote:

I don't think the COL is higher in BR than Nola.


NOLA has a much larger shite housing stock than BR. I suspect that's what is skewing the numbers.

For normal people who are never going to want to live in a shite ghetto house, NOLA is going to be more expensive.
Posted by fallguy_1978
Best States #50
Member since Feb 2018
52862 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:50 am to
quote:

It's about the distribution of income and the mean income range, not costs of living.

Costs of living in New Orleans is substantially higher than the rest of the state. But the middle tier income is a tad lower than it's peer cities within the state of Louisiana.

Gotcha. When I read it, I was thinking it was saying this is the income you'll need to have a middle-class lifestyle in these markets.
Posted by el Gaucho
He/They
Member since Dec 2010
58323 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:50 am to
quote:

Good thing public school and rec league are options.

Maybe if you don’t love your kid
Posted by ike221
Loo A Vul
Member since Aug 2006
13856 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:50 am to
Say no to private school and travel ball
Posted by member12
Bob's Country Bunker
Member since May 2008
33006 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:50 am to
quote:

Have you ever been to BR? Public school is right out and rec league is a joke as far as skill development is concerned.



Pretty good rec leagues in Baton Rouge area. I know some of y'all insist on travel ball. Generally that costs more and goes farther to develop talent, but it's not really required.

And the Baton Rouge metro has at least 2-3 school districts that are VERY competitive by Louisiana standards. Central, Ascension, Livingston, West Feliciana....not to mention the Baton Rouge Magnet system. There are some "okay" districts too like Zachary, Brusly, and some of the STEM programs in outlying areas like Pointe Coupee are not too bad. But generally the EBR schools, St. Helena, non STEM in Pointe Coupee, etc. are terrible.
This post was edited on 7/15/24 at 10:58 am
Posted by notiger1997
Metairie
Member since May 2009
61230 posts
Posted on 7/15/24 at 10:51 am to
Damn these are low numbers
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