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you want to find out what is meant by "middle class" and how many of this mag's readership fit it. yes? the last time i went at it, you wanted a NUMBER for middle class, it MUST be a range. where would the median family income fit into it? i don't think 40,000 anywhere would be middle class - but perhaps in rural alabama it might. you first must figure what GOODS and SERVICES go to make up a middle class life style and then the locations where such could be bought for that amount of money. do you need to own a house to be middle class? do you need good health insurance? do you need to be able to educate your 2.1 children? do you need a car for every adult? a computer? a vacation? travel? if so, $100,000 more or less is not unreasonable in new york city. pick a range. 60,000 to 140,000? that's my guess. i also think you live on less. you might be getting free rent. or you might have naturally good health and have given up health insurance. or might not have family responsibilities. i am SURE people here are HEFTY middle class. they talk too much about wine and going off registering voters and whatever to not have money. am i envious? OF COURSE! but i don't think having little money makes you more interesting. you can TALK "masses" but really, one or two "instances of mass" are sufficient.