A taxonomy of how we talk about class and wealth in the United States today
Peering behind the once iconic picket fence surrounding a house, we see what “middle class” used to mean. The mortgage was close to paid off; the car loan settled. This feat was accomplished on a single income that came with health care plus pension and enough for domestic vacations and college. … Being in the middle class once guaranteed choices and life without fear that the unexpected would prove catastrophic.
Source: Why Americans All Believe They Are ‘Middle Class’ – The Atlantic