A typical U.S. family needs annual income of $145,000 to thrive, study finds. About half fall short.
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Roughly half of Americans fall short of the annual income needed to cover their basic needs, according to new research. Edited by Alain Sherter In:
Roughly half of Americans fall short of the annual income needed to cover their basic needs, according to new research.
A U.S. family with children needs about $145,000 in income to be considered economically secure, according to a March 16 report from the Urban Institute. About 49% of Americans live below that financial threshold, the nonpartisan think tank found.
In 2024 (the latest available data), the median household income for married couples in the U.S. was $128,700, U.S. Census data shows.
According to Urban's analysis, economic security today includes having enough money to pay for:
The research comes as many Americans continue to feel the pinch of rising prices, with even some six-figure households saying they are struggling to pay for basics like utilities and health care.
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