The definition of "middle class".

Hi everyone. I'm just curious. Alot of talk is done regarding the "middle class". Who they are , what kind of housing they can afford etc. I have seen articles that state that most Americans consider themselves middle class, regardless of income or education levels. My question that I would like to throw out there is this: what do you consider to be middle class? Specifically, income, education and housing. Do you consider yourself to be middle class? Is it a fluid thing, constantly changing with current circumstances? Or do we need to revise our definitions to meet the current realities we face today? I just haven't a clue what it means anymore.
Any responses would be appreciated.

To me it has to do with income level, versus cost of living in a particular area.

Here, there are plenty of University graduates only making 40-50k (Cdn) in the Toronto area, Canada's most expensive city, while there are also probably quite a few people with just a high school diploma who make well over 100k.

The details would seem fuzzy on how much annual income I'd say would be middle class for everywhere, but for the Toronto/Ontario area I'd say 35-90k (Cdn) would be middle class.

I guess a good point of reference to me would be if the income is high enough that you have the option of not having to live paycheck-to-paycheck if you make smart lifestyle/financial choices.

To me middle class is earning median income for an area. Living middle class means being able to support a family on that income, living in a single family home in the suburbs or affordable housing with adequate space in the city. However I think city life is not good to raise a family in.

I don't have a strict definition. You're not rich enough to afford too many lavish luxeries, but you're not poor enough to need handouts or to struggle with the fact that your kids might go to bed hungry. You get by, with relative ease, but not with flying colors. It's kind of hard to define. lol

I do consider my family middle class.

I think I am text book middle class. I live in a rich area, but I don't own, I lease this home. I am putting into savings, but not abundantly.

Overall, I think that it means making the median income for any area one lives in, like Robbie said. And that is us. We live in this area, but we are on the cusp of the high end homes and some that live around here have, and rent, are barely making it and have much less than we do.