Does having a 'six figure' salary mean what it used to mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"So, making $100K in SF, DC, NY (below median)"

$100k is not below the median in any of those cities.

Yes, it is. I'm not talking city proper. It includes the surrounding suburbs.

So you're talking about specific neighborhoods. In that case, you could find those in any state in the country.

No. It wasn't specific to a neighborhood.

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2014/08/median-incomes-for-four-person-households-in-d-c.html

"Maryland leads in the latest estimates, as it did last year, with a four-person median household income of $106,452, up from the 2014 estimate of $105,348...The District, meanwhile, made a huge leap year over year, from $87,902 in 2014 to $100,408 in 2015... Virginia, with an estimated median four-person household income of $91,442, is sixth among the states."

You're kind of mixing things up.

What you cite is median household income for a four person household. That is not median salary. Mom and dad making 47500 each would hit the median. If each made 100k, it would be twice the median.

Long and the short of it is that making 100k per year is making a high salary. Period. You can't say "I only make the median and am therefore not well-off" when your spouse also has an income.

Well, generally, you look at how much the HHI can get you based on the COL. So, yes, you would look at both incomes. And as a PP mentioned, a median HHI income of $100K doesn't get you much around the DC area. In Nebraska, yes, in SF, NY, DC area, no. I have lived in SF, LA, and DC area. $100K is not that much in these places.

One salary does not generally equal HHI in the DC area. Nationally, 60% of households are dual income. I would guess that is significantly higher in DC. So, if you have a salary of 100 and your spouse has a salary of 50, your HHI is 50% more than the median.

So, at the end of the day a salary (not HHI) of 100k is significant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not here but in many other places in the country, it still means a lot of money for one person.

100,000 is the top 24%.

http://money.cnn.com/calculator/pf/income-rank/

It's all about perspective and where you live. Many DC neighborhoods have average incomes of 500K, you would be poor living there, just like you would be rich living in 3rd world Sudan at 100k.

Wrong. There isn't a single neighborhood in DC where the average income is $500K. Or even $100K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"So, making $100K in SF, DC, NY (below median)"

$100k is not below the median in any of those cities.

Yes, it is. I'm not talking city proper. It includes the surrounding suburbs.

So you're talking about specific neighborhoods. In that case, you could find those in any state in the country.

No. It wasn't specific to a neighborhood.

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2014/08/median-incomes-for-four-person-households-in-d-c.html

"Maryland leads in the latest estimates, as it did last year, with a four-person median household income of $106,452, up from the 2014 estimate of $105,348...The District, meanwhile, made a huge leap year over year, from $87,902 in 2014 to $100,408 in 2015... Virginia, with an estimated median four-person household income of $91,442, is sixth among the states."

OP here. I was making 100k before I got married, or just around there. Maybe more like 90. I was living with three roommates in a townhouse in south arlington with one car payment and a dog and not having to budget or really think about spending at all but not really accumulating savings. I certainly have nothing to complain about, I've been very fortunate and our current HHI is like 230 so we're doing great. But I guess in the past you'd think of that as like, wealthy. And here its like, enough to own a home, have a kid in daycare and live comfortably without tightening the purse strings.


You're kind of mixing things up.

What you cite is median household income for a four person household. That is not median salary. Mom and dad making 47500 each would hit the median. If each made 100k, it would be twice the median.

Long and the short of it is that making 100k per year is making a high salary. Period. You can't say "I only make the median and am therefore not well-off" when your spouse also has an income.

Well, generally, you look at how much the HHI can get you based on the COL. So, yes, you would look at both incomes. And as a PP mentioned, a median HHI income of $100K doesn't get you much around the DC area. In Nebraska, yes, in SF, NY, DC area, no. I have lived in SF, LA, and DC area. $100K is not that much in these places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"So, making $100K in SF, DC, NY (below median)"

$100k is not below the median in any of those cities.

Yes, it is. I'm not talking city proper. It includes the surrounding suburbs.

So you're talking about specific neighborhoods. In that case, you could find those in any state in the country.

No. It wasn't specific to a neighborhood.

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2014/08/median-incomes-for-four-person-households-in-d-c.html

"Maryland leads in the latest estimates, as it did last year, with a four-person median household income of $106,452, up from the 2014 estimate of $105,348...The District, meanwhile, made a huge leap year over year, from $87,902 in 2014 to $100,408 in 2015... Virginia, with an estimated median four-person household income of $91,442, is sixth among the states."

You're kind of mixing things up.

What you cite is median household income for a four person household. That is not median salary. Mom and dad making 47500 each would hit the median. If each made 100k, it would be twice the median.

Long and the short of it is that making 100k per year is making a high salary. Period. You can't say "I only make the median and am therefore not well-off" when your spouse also has an income.

Well, generally, you look at how much the HHI can get you based on the COL. So, yes, you would look at both incomes. And as a PP mentioned, a median HHI income of $100K doesn't get you much around the DC area. In Nebraska, yes, in SF, NY, DC area, no. I have lived in SF, LA, and DC area. $100K is not that much in these places.

OP here. I was making 100k before I got married, or just around there. Maybe more like 90. I was living with three roommates in a townhouse in south arlington with one car payment and a dog and not having to budget or really think about spending at all but not really accumulating savings. I certainly have nothing to complain about, I've been very fortunate and our current HHI is like 230 so we're doing great. But I guess in the past you'd think of that as like, wealthy. And here its like, enough to own a home, have a kid in daycare and live comfortably without tightening the purse strings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"So, making $100K in SF, DC, NY (below median)"

$100k is not below the median in any of those cities.

Yes, it is. I'm not talking city proper. It includes the surrounding suburbs.

So you're talking about specific neighborhoods. In that case, you could find those in any state in the country.

No. It wasn't specific to a neighborhood.

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2014/08/median-incomes-for-four-person-households-in-d-c.html

"Maryland leads in the latest estimates, as it did last year, with a four-person median household income of $106,452, up from the 2014 estimate of $105,348...The District, meanwhile, made a huge leap year over year, from $87,902 in 2014 to $100,408 in 2015... Virginia, with an estimated median four-person household income of $91,442, is sixth among the states."

You're kind of mixing things up.

What you cite is median household income for a four person household. That is not median salary. Mom and dad making 47500 each would hit the median. If each made 100k, it would be twice the median.

Long and the short of it is that making 100k per year is making a high salary. Period. You can't say "I only make the median and am therefore not well-off" when your spouse also has an income.

Well, generally, you look at how much the HHI can get you based on the COL. So, yes, you would look at both incomes. And as a PP mentioned, a median HHI income of $100K doesn't get you much around the DC area. In Nebraska, yes, in SF, NY, DC area, no. I have lived in SF, LA, and DC area. $100K is not that much in these places.

One salary does not generally equal HHI in the DC area. Nationally, 60% of households are dual income. I would guess that is significantly higher in DC. So, if you have a salary of 100 and your spouse has a salary of 50, your HHI is 50% more than the median.

So, at the end of the day a salary (not HHI) of 100k is significant.

Yes, by itself, a salary of $100K is pretty good, but still, around here $100K won't get you as much as in Nebraska. And in relation to OP's topic "is it what it used to mean", then the answer is "no", given the rate of inflation, and especially around high COL areas like DC and SF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. I was making 100k before I got married, or just around there. Maybe more like 90. I was living with three roommates in a townhouse in south arlington with one car payment and a dog and not having to budget or really think about spending at all but not really accumulating savings. I certainly have nothing to complain about, I've been very fortunate and our current HHI is like 230 so we're doing great. But I guess in the past you'd think of that as like, wealthy. And here its like, enough to own a home, have a kid in daycare and live comfortably without tightening the purse strings.

Well, then this is really about expenses going up, especially if you have kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not here but in many other places in the country, it still means a lot of money for one person.

100,000 is the top 24%.

http://money.cnn.com/calculator/pf/income-rank/

It's all about perspective and where you live. Many DC neighborhoods have average incomes of 500K, you would be poor living there, just like you would be rich living in 3rd world Sudan at 100k.

Wrong. There isn't a single neighborhood in DC where the average income is $500K. Or even $100K.

Notice there are some 500k+ nieghborhoods in McLean and Bethesda, many 300-380K+ in Washington DC, YOU ARE WRONG

Washington DC
Note: This Metro Area covers 3 sub-areas.
Neighborhoods in the District of Columbia:
1: Spring Valley (Washington DC)
Mean Household Income: $354,727, Higley 1000 #126
3.4% Black, 6.9% Asian, 6.5% Latino and 78.2% Non-Hispanic White.

2: Foxhall Crescent-Wesley Heights West (Washington DC)
Mean Household Income: $336,498, Higley 1000 #165
4.4% Black, 5.8% Asian, 7.3% Latino and 77.6% Non-Hispanic White.

3: Kent (Washington DC)
Mean Household Income: $318,400, Higley 1000 #239
4.4% Black, 3.8% Asian, 4.3% Latino and 84.1% Non-Hispanic White.

4: Forest Hills North (Washington DC)
Mean Household Income: $316,140, Higley 1000 #243
12.5% Black, 4.9% Asian, 8.0% Latino and 68.4% Non-Hispanic White.

5: Cleveland Park West (Washington DC)
Mean Household Income: $306,496, Higley 1000 #281
6.9% Black, 4.4% Asian, 6.4% Latino and 77.1% Non-Hispanic White.

6: Logan Circle Northeast (Washington DC)
Mean Household Income: $297,744, Higley 1000 #339
12.9% Black, 4.2% Asian, 7.7% Latino and 70.8% Non-Hispanic White.

7: Georgetown (residential core) (Washington DC)
Mean Household Income: $296,577, Higley 1000 #345
1.8% Black, 4.3% Asian, 5.3% Latino and 86.2% Non-Hispanic White.

8: Chevy Chase (Washington DC)
Mean Household Income: $290,931, Higley 1000 #386
4.5% Black, 3.1% Asian, 4.5% Latino and 84.7% Non-Hispanic White.

9: Tenleytown North (Washington DC)
Mean Household Income: $278,859, Higley 1000 #478
4.0% Black, 6.1% Asian, 6.1% Latino and 78.4% Non-Hispanic White.

10: Palisades (Washington DC)
Mean Household Income: $252,529, Higley 1000 #806
3.0% Black, 3.7% Asian, 5.1% Latino and 84.9% Non-Hispanic White.

11: Massachusetts Heights (Washington DC)
Mean Household Income: $251,498, Higley 1000 #819
3.5% Black, 3.8% Asian, 7.5% Latino and 83.9% Non-Hispanic White.

12: Cathedral Heights (Washington DC)
Mean Household Income: $250,456, Higley 1000 #835
4.7% Black, 5.1% Asian, 7.4% Latino and 75.8% Non-Hispanic White.

Neighborhoods in Maryland:
1: Bradley Manor-Longwood (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $599,440, Higley 1000 #2
3.3% Black, 8.4% Asian, 5.0% Latino and 80.0% Non-Hispanic White.

2: Potomac Manor-Potomac Rivers Estates (Potomac)
Mean Household Income: $599,331, Higley 1000 #3
1.3% Black, 17.7% Asian, 5.7% Latino and 72.4% Non-Hispanic White.

3: Carderock-The Palisades (Potomac)
Mean Household Income: $595,669, Higley 1000 #5
3.0% Black, 16.1% Asian, 5.6% Latino and 73.6% Non-Hispanic White.

4: Chevy Chase Village (Chevy Chase Village)
Mean Household Income: $466,049, Higley 1000 #24
0.5% Black, 1.6% Asian, 2.8% Latino and 93.4% Non-Hispanic White.

5: Congressional Forest Estates-McAuley Park (Potomac)
Mean Household Income: $404,394, Higley 1000 #48
2.6% Black, 7.3% Asian, 5.3% Latino and 81.9% Non-Hispanic White.

6: The Burning Tree Club (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $373,904, Higley 1000 #87
2.5% Black, 11.1% Asian, 5.2% Latino and 77.6% Non-Hispanic White.

7: Avenal-Heritage Farm (Potomac)
Mean Household Income: $366,427, Higley 1000 #101
6.0% Black, 14.1% Asian, 5.3% Latino and 70.4% Non-Hispanic White.

8: Clewerall-Glengarry (Potomac)
Mean Household Income: $361,555, Higley 1000 #113
2.8% Black, 14.5% Asian, 2.1% Latino and 79.0% Non-Hispanic White.

9: Kenwood (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $349,711, Higley 1000 #135
0.4% Black, 3.8% Asian, 4.0% Latino and 90.5% Non-Hispanic White.

10: Westmoreland Hills (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $333,704, Higley 1000 #174
0.5% Black, 2.9% Asian, 6.7% Latino and 87.1% Non-Hispanic White.

11: South Bradley Hills (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $331,275, Higley 1000 #184
0.8% Black, 4.2% Asian, 5.2% Latino and 87.1% Non-Hispanic White.

12: Potomac Village-Falconhurst (Potomac)
Mean Household Income: $320,708, Higley 1000 #230
5.1% Black, 18.8% Asian, 4.9% Latino and 67.8% Non-Hispanic White.

13: Battery Park (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $315,548, Higley 1000 #246
0.9% Black, 6.1% Asian, 5.8% Latino and 85.8% Non-Hispanic White.

14: Greenwich Forest (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $309,843, Higley 1000 #270
1.5% Black, 3.2% Asian, 3.8% Latino and 90.3% Non-Hispanic White.

15: Somerset (Somerset)
Mean Household Income: $307,425, Higley 1000 #279
0.7% Black, 3.9% Asian, 4.8% Latino and 87.7% Non-Hispanic White.

16: Tulip Hill-Glen Echo Heights (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $304,389, Higley 1000 #301
1.9% Black, 4.1% Asian, 5.2% Latino and 85.5% Non-Hispanic White.

17: Bannockburn-St. Marsh (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $297,989, Higley 1000 #337
4.3% Black, 15.6% Asian, 5.2% Latino and 71.5% Non-Hispanic White.

18: Kenwood Park-Oakwood Knolls (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $290,967, Higley 1000 #385
2.8% Black, 17.8% Asian, 8.2% Latino and 66.7% Non-Hispanic White.

19: Chevy Chase (Town) (Chevy Chase (Town))
Mean Household Income: $289,628, Higley 1000 #395
1.0% Black, 3.8% Asian, 4.7% Latino and 88.1% Non-Hispanic White.

20: Kentdale Estates-Red Coat Woods (Potomac)
Mean Household Income: $289,375, Higley 1000 #396
5.7% Black, 19.7% Asian, 3.9% Latino and 67.0% Non-Hispanic White.

21: Chevy Chase Section Five (Chevy Chase Sec 5)
Mean Household Income: $288,468, Higley 1000 #401
0.0% Black, 2.1% Asian, 3.3% Latino and 92.7% Non-Hispanic White.

22: Woodacres (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $285,545, Higley 1000 #431
2.2% Black, 3.5% Asian, 5.7% Latino and 86.4% Non-Hispanic White.

23: Fawcett Farms-River Falls (Potomac)
Mean Household Income: $282,946, Higley 1000 #448
2.4% Black, 12.1% Asian, 2.9% Latino and 79.5% Non-Hispanic White.

24: Travilah (Travilah)
Mean Household Income: $279,057, Higley 1000 #476
4.7% Black, 29.7% Asian, 3.6% Latino and 58.9% Non-Hispanic White.

25: Brookmont (Brookmont)
Mean Household Income: $278,489, Higley 1000 #486
1.9% Black, 4.2% Asian, 5.2% Latino and 86.0% Non-Hispanic White.

26: Chevy Chase Section Three (Chevy Chase Sec 3)
Mean Household Income: $272,285, Higley 1000 #557
1.2% Black, 2.6% Asian, 3.9% Latino and 88.8% Non-Hispanic White.

27: Bedfordshire-Elberon (Potomac)
Mean Household Income: $266,149, Higley 1000 #622
3.5% Black, 22.2% Asian, 3.7% Latino and 68.4% Non-Hispanic White.

28: Fallsreach-Potomac Green (Potomac)
Mean Household Income: $262,821, Higley 1000 #657
3.4% Black, 17.1% Asian, 5.7% Latino and 69.8% Non-Hispanic White.

29: Westwood (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $261,980, Higley 1000 #669
0.8% Black, 3.8% Asian, 6.4% Latino and 87.1% Non-Hispanic White.

30: Westhaven (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $261,291, Higley 1000 #678
3.3% Black, 4.3% Asian, 5.1% Latino and 83.0% Non-Hispanic White.

31: Martin's Additions (Martin's Additions)
Mean Household Income: $259,991, Higley 1000 #702
0.6% Black, 3.8% Asian, 3.2% Latino and 90.5% Non-Hispanic White.

32: Chevy Chase Lake-Dunlop Hills (Chevy Chase CDP)
Mean Household Income: $259,574, Higley 1000 #709
6.4% Black, 4.2% Asian, 4.4% Latino and 81.1% Non-Hispanic White.

33: Inverness Woods-Inverness Forest (Potomac)
Mean Household Income: $257,166, Higley 1000 #738
3.6% Black, 17.9% Asian, 6.0% Latino and 69.5% Non-Hispanic White.

34: West Chevy Chase (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $256,391, Higley 1000 #754
1.6% Black, 6.1% Asian, 5.0% Latino and 83.9% Non-Hispanic White.

35: Kemp Mil Forest-Springbrook Forest (Kemp Mill)
Mean Household Income: $255,728, Higley 1000 #762
7.4% Black, 5.0% Asian, 5.2% Latino and 78.0% Non-Hispanic White.

36: Rollingwood (Chevy Chase CDP)
Mean Household Income: $255,566, Higley 1000 #765
8.0% Black, 4.0% Asian, 3.7% Latino and 79.1% Non-Hispanic White.

37: Tilden Woods (North Potomac)
Mean Household Income: $251,240, Higley 1000 #821
1.2% Black, 6.6% Asian, 4.7% Latino and 84.9% Non-Hispanic White.

38: Highland Hills-Bradley Woods (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $249,481, Higley 1000 #849
3.4% Black, 9.7% Asian, 8.0% Latino and 75.4% Non-Hispanic White.

39: Rock Creek Forest (Silver Spring)
Mean Household Income: $248,758, Higley 1000 #858
6.0% Black, 3.1% Asian, 4.3% Latino and 82.2% Non-Hispanic White.

40: The Brownstones of Park Potomac (Potomac)
Mean Household Income: $246,904, Higley 1000 #881
19.9% Black, 18.2% Asian, 7.6% Latino and 52.7% Non-Hispanic White.

41: Alta Vista Terrace-Oakmont (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $246,700, Higley 1000 #888
3.7% Black, 6.9% Asian, 5.9% Latino and 79.3% Non-Hispanic White.

42: English Village-Kenwood Park (Bethesda)
Mean Household Income: $245,055, Higley 1000 #913
1.5% Black, 9.0% Asian, 5.0% Latino and 80.1% Non-Hispanic White.

43: Leland Beach Triangle (Chevy Chase CDP)
Mean Household Income: $245,037, Higley 1000 #914
1.2% Black, 2.8% Asian, 4.6% Latino and 88.2% Non-Hispanic White.

44: Laurel Hill-Stonhurst Center (Potomac)
Mean Household Income: $242,131, Higley 1000 #971
3.0% Black, 7.3% Asian, 7.5% Latino and 80.3% Non-Hispanic White.

Neighborhoods in Virginia:
1: Swinks Mill-The Dominion Reserve (McLean)
Mean Household Income: $562,596, Higley 1000 #7
2.2% Black, 16.8% Asian, 3.5% Latino and 59.8% Non-Hispanic White.

2: McLean Country Estates-Glendale (McLean)
Mean Household Income: $498,944, Higley 1000 #19
0.7% Black, 10.7% Asian, 4.8% Latino and 81.0% Non-Hispanic White.

3: Douglass Hill (Arlington)
Mean Household Income: $416,717, Higley 1000 #39
0.3% Black, 2.2% Asian, 2.3% Latino and 93.3% Non-Hispanic White.

4: Ingleside-Old Dominion Gardens (McLean)
Mean Household Income: $376,004, Higley 1000 #83
1.3% Black, 18.8% Asian, 5.0% Latino and 71.2% Non-Hispanic White.

5: Woodside Estates-Peacock Station (McLean)
Mean Household Income: $373,813, Higley 1000 #88
2.8% Black, 20.3% Asian, 3.6% Latino and 69.9% Non-Hispanic White.

6: Langley (McLean)
Mean Household Income: $344,570, Higley 1000 #142
1.1% Black, 15.2% Asian, 4.9% Latino and 75.5% Non-Hispanic White.

7: Lake Barcroft Shores (Lake Barcroft)
Mean Household Income: $343,824, Higley 1000 #143
1.4% Black, 3.3% Asian, 8.0% Latino and 83.8% Non-Hispanic White.

8: Belle Haven (Belle Haven )
Mean Household Income: $342,842, Higley 1000 #147
1.0% Black, 2.0% Asian, 2.7% Latino and 93.0% Non-Hispanic White.

9: Oakton Mill Estates-Avon Park (Oakton)
Mean Household Income: $336,629, Higley 1000 #164
2.0% Black, 10.8% Asian, 4.1% Latino and 79.5% Non-Hispanic White.

10: McLean Hamlet-The Reserve (McLean)
Mean Household Income: $336,039, Higley 1000 #166
1.7% Black, 16.4% Asian, 3.7% Latino and 75.1% Non-Hispanic White.

11: Chandley Farm-Pleasant Hills North (Centreville)
Mean Household Income: $333,446, Higley 1000 #175
4.1% Black, 11.9% Asian, 5.8% Latino and 72.7% Non-Hispanic White.

12: Williamsburg (Arlington)
Mean Household Income: $329,735, Higley 1000 #197
0.9% Black, 2.7% Asian, 4.5% Latino and 87.0% Non-Hispanic White.

13: Potomac Overlook-Langley Ridge (McLean)
Mean Household Income: $319,669, Higley 1000 #234
4.4% Black, 15.0% Asian, 4.8% Latino and 69.5% Non-Hispanic White.

14: Brookhaven (McLean)
Mean Household Income: $302,814, Higley 1000 #314
1.9% Black, 6.8% Asian, 5.7% Latino and 82.2% Non-Hispanic White.

15: Chain Bridge Forest-Old Glebe (Arlington)
Mean Household Income: $300,767, Higley 1000 #323
1.9% Black, 3.8% Asian, 4.1% Latino and 87.4% Non-Hispanic White.

16: Woodmont-Dover Crystal (Arlington)
Mean Household Income: $298,376, Higley 1000 #334
0.6% Black, 3.1% Asian, 5.2% Latino and 87.6% Non-Hispanic White.

17: Chesterbrook (McLean)
Mean Household Income: $294,657, Higley 1000 #357
1.5% Black, 6.3% Asian, 4.9% Latino and 84.3% Non-Hispanic White.

18: Ridgelea Hills (Mantua)
Mean Household Income: $291,519, Higley 1000 #376
1.5% Black, 19.2% Asian, 5.0% Latino and 70.4% Non-Hispanic White.

19: Cedar Ridge-Kirkpatrick Farms (South Riding)
Mean Household Income: $290,158, Higley 1000 #393
8.3% Black, 31.4% Asian, 8.7% Latino and 41.8% Non-Hispanic White.

20: McLean Hunt-Timberley Park (McLean)
Mean Household Income: $288,058, Higley 1000 #406
1.1% Black, 14.1% Asian, 3.4% Latino and 78.4% Non-Hispanic White.

21: Dartmoor Woods-Vale Park West (Oakton)
Mean Household Income: $280,195, Higley 1000 #467
1.5% Black, 11.2% Asian, 3.9% Latino and 79.5% Non-Hispanic White.

22: River Creek Club (Loudoun Cty)
Mean Household Income: $277,355, Higley 1000 #499
4.0% Black, 4.0% Asian, 2.8% Latino and 86.7% Non-Hispanic White.

23: Beverley Hills-North Ridge (Alexandria)
Mean Household Income: $276,840, Higley 1000 #507
0.7% Black, 1.0% Asian, 3.0% Latino and 94.1% Non-Hispanic White.

24: Clifton North (Fairfax Cty)
Mean Household Income: $276,353, Higley 1000 #511
2.1% Black, 10.8% Asian, 5.6% Latino and 75.9% Non-Hispanic White.

25: Shaker Woods (Dranesville)
Mean Household Income: $274,066, Higley 1000 #534
2.9% Black, 9.3% Asian, 2.7% Latino and 80.9% Non-Hispanic White.

26: Rosemont (Alexandria)
Mean Household Income: $273,987, Higley 1000 #536
5.2% Black, 2.1% Asian, 2.8% Latino and 83.6% Non-Hispanic White.

27: Balmacara-River Oaks (McLean)
Mean Household Income: $269,129, Higley 1000 #586
2.1% Black, 8.3% Asian, 5.4% Latino and 82.5% Non-Hispanic White.

28: Elnido-The Potomac School (McLean)
Mean Household Income: $266,494, Higley 1000 #618
1.6% Black, 13.1% Asian, 3.3% Latino and 79.0% Non-Hispanic White.

29: Great Falls (Great Falls)
Mean Household Income: $265,533, Higley 1000 #627
1.7% Black, 13.5% Asian, 3.9% Latino and 77.4% Non-Hispanic White.

30: Franklin Park-Kenabargan (McLean)
Mean Household Income: $263,880, Higley 1000 #641
0.8% Black, 5.0% Asian, 3.3% Latino and 88.0% Non-Hispanic White.

31: Old Town Central (Alexandria)
Mean Household Income: $261,697, Higley 1000 #674
2.0% Black, 1.6% Asian, 2.3% Latino and 92.7% Non-Hispanic White.

32: Ascot-Hunters Gate (Reston)
Mean Household Income: $260,719, Higley 1000 #689
2.7% Black, 16.2% Asian, 4.5% Latino and 72.4% Non-Hispanic White.

33: Waverly-Spring Lake (Wolf Trap)
Mean Household Income: $260,672, Higley 1000 #690
1.2% Black, 9.6% Asian, 4.3% Latino and 82.2% Non-Hispanic White.

34: Hunters Valley-Hunters Valley North (Oakton)
Mean Household Income: $259,359, Higley 1000 #713
1.6% Black, 9.9% Asian, 5.0% Latino and 81.5% Non-Hispanic White.

35: Lansdowne Riverpoint (Lansdowne)
Mean Household Income: $255,092, Higley 1000 #769
9.9% Black, 18.0% Asian, 7.3% Latino and 57.6% Non-Hispanic White.

36: Tattersall-Cinnamon Ridge (Oakton)
Mean Household Income: $254,116, Higley 1000 #785
1.4% Black, 7.8% Asian, 4.7% Latino and 82.7% Non-Hispanic White.

37: Brimstone-Ardmore (Fairfax Station)
Mean Household Income: $252,776, Higley 1000 #801
2.8% Black, 9.9% Asian, 3.4% Latino and 80.5% Non-Hispanic White.

38: Franklin Oaks Park (Franklin Farm)
Mean Household Income: $252,533, Higley 1000 #805
3.2% Black, 13.9% Asian, 4.2% Latino and 74.5% Non-Hispanic White.

39: Clarks Crossing-Meadowlark Gardens (Wolf Trap)
Mean Household Income: $250,655, Higley 1000 #829
1.1% Black, 8.1% Asian, 4.3% Latino and 82.3% Non-Hispanic White.

40: Fountainhead Park (Fairfax Cty)
Mean Household Income: $248,186, Higley 1000 #865
4.0% Black, 11.5% Asian, 3.3% Latino and 77.5% Non-Hispanic White.

41: Bluffs of Wolf Trap-Spring Lake (Wolf Trap)
Mean Household Income: $247,550, Higley 1000 #872
2.0% Black, 8.5% Asian, 5.4% Latino and 79.9% Non-Hispanic White.

42: Gulf Branch (Arlington)
Mean Household Income: $245,261, Higley 1000 #909
1.5% Black, 3.7% Asian, 3.6% Latino and 88.2% Non-Hispanic White.

43: Rock Spring (Arlington)
Mean Household Income: $244,868, Higley 1000 #918
0.3% Black, 4.6% Asian, 5.4% Latino and 86.1% Non-Hispanic White.

44: Catharpin (Prince William Cty)
Mean Household Income: $244,724, Higley 1000 #920
2.6% Black, 5.4% Asian, 9.2% Latino and 79.2% Non-Hispanic White.

45: Grays-Oakton Knoll Estates (Oakton)
Mean Household Income: $243,032, Higley 1000 #955
1.6% Black, 21.9% Asian, 4.1% Latino and 65.7% Non-Hispanic White.

46: Fairfax Station-Fariview Woods (Fairfax Station)
Mean Household Income: $241,771, Higley 1000 #975
1.9% Black, 8.9% Asian, 4.0% Latino and 81.9% Non-Hispanic White.

[Anonymous]

Not that would be like $500k inflation adjusted.

[Anonymous]

I think some of it depends on what you've gotten used to. I work in a field where my income tends to be in the $50-60k/year range (and have student debt). My husband was making more in the $70-80k range.

Compared to friends who are a social worker and music teacher, we were rich; compared to lots of others in DC, we were were not. We ate out lots with out friends, and had a very nice life, but we weren't saving money. (We'd have been assholes to complain, but we also felt like DC was just too expensive, on those salaries.)

In the last year, my husband just got a raise to over $100k, and we moved to a cheaper city.

Having a six figure salary - and living in a cheaper city - feels very different. Compared to the people in the city where we are now, we are doing very well. So in both relative senses - what we were used to, and the people around us - things feel a whole lot easier with a six figure salary.

TL;DR: get out of DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was contemplating this earlier today. I remember growing up it was an expression like, 'so and so got to six figures' as a big compliment. I make about 110k so just over the line but don't feel like I am THAT much better off than the people around me. It doesn't seem like it really means what it once did.

It does everywhere except East and West Coast. When you can buy a 4,000 sf home in the best school district for under $400K, then yes, a six-figure salary means something. When you can only buy a shoebox with a less-than-impressive school - then no. Not so much.

yep. It's all relative. To a lot of people living in a 3rd world country, $40K/yr is a lot.

I know what you are saying but that's not a fair comparison. COL at those countries are many, many times lower.

Not really. They just have lower housing expectations and such. If you want to recreate your life here (schools, houses, safety etc) it wouldn't be that much cheaper.

Bullshit. My in laws had a salary like that in the developing world and 4 full time domestic staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. I was making 100k before I got married, or just around there. Maybe more like 90. I was living with three roommates in a townhouse in south arlington with one car payment and a dog and not having to budget or really think about spending at all but not really accumulating savings. I certainly have nothing to complain about, I've been very fortunate and our current HHI is like 230 so we're doing great. But I guess in the past you'd think of that as like, wealthy. And here its like, enough to own a home, have a kid in daycare and live comfortably without tightening the purse strings.

Well, then this is really about expenses going up, especially if you have kids.

Then don't have kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. I was making 100k before I got married, or just around there. Maybe more like 90. I was living with three roommates in a townhouse in south arlington with one car payment and a dog and not having to budget or really think about spending at all but not really accumulating savings. I certainly have nothing to complain about, I've been very fortunate and our current HHI is like 230 so we're doing great. But I guess in the past you'd think of that as like, wealthy. And here its like, enough to own a home, have a kid in daycare and live comfortably without tightening the purse strings.

Well, then this is really about expenses going up, especially if you have kids.

Then don't have kids.

My op and this post weren't really complaining just thinking. I think in my mind growing up a six figure salary meant you could comfortably raise a family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on your debt. I make very low six figures, and I don't watch every penny. The only fixed debt I have is the mortgages.

I worked hard to get here, and it feels very comfortable to me.

+1.
We have low six figures but worked hard to pay off all debt + cash cushion in the bank. We don't spend lavishly but are very comfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm

Yup. 100k in 1980 is equivalent to about 290K now. 290K is very good money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. I was making 100k before I got married, or just around there. Maybe more like 90. I was living with three roommates in a townhouse in south arlington with one car payment and a dog and not having to budget or really think about spending at all but not really accumulating savings. I certainly have nothing to complain about, I've been very fortunate and our current HHI is like 230 so we're doing great. But I guess in the past you'd think of that as like, wealthy. And here its like, enough to own a home, have a kid in daycare and live comfortably without tightening the purse strings.

Well, then this is really about expenses going up, especially if you have kids.

Then don't have kids.

My op and this post weren't really complaining just thinking. I think in my mind growing up a six figure salary meant you could comfortably raise a family.

Not in DC.