DUI Lawyers in Upper, NJ

Wondering what it takes to be considered upper-middle class in New Jersey? A new report breaks down the income range that defines this economic tier in the Garden State.

“The American Dream” is a phrase made famous by author James Truslow Adams in his 1931 book The Epic of America. Adams defined the idea as “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” The idea that the USA is a land of upward mobility and unlimited opportunity has been a core tenet of American mythology since the beginning.

For some, the American Dream is a college degree, owning a home, or running your own business. In the end, it comes down to the almighty dollar. Perhaps the best barometer could be making the financial leap from the middle class to the upper-middle class.

How much money do you need to make to be considered upper-middle class in America? More importantly, how much income do you need to be upper middle class in NEW JERSEY?

To determine what upper middle class means across the nation, GOBankingRates determined what the upper middle class income ranges look like in every state by sourcing each state’s median household income from the 2023 American Community Survey (part of the United States Census Bureau). Each state’s upper-middle-class income range was found after finding the total middle-class income range (defined as two-thirds to double the income of a state). Upper middle class income falls in the top third of the middle class income range.

For example, if a state’s median household income is $100,000, the middle class range would be between $66,000 and $200,000. The upper middle class would start at $152,000 and max out at $200,000.

The results showed that earning enough to be upper middle class differs wildly, state by state. What is upper middle class in one state could fall far short in another. Only three states have a median household income over $100,000 and New Jersey is one of them. We wound up as #3 on the high end of upper-middle class household income states. trailing only Maryland and Massachusetts. We even beat out California and Hawaii, two states with very high cost-of-living expenses.

Of course, New Jersey is a perpetual overachiever, and the American Dream costs us a little bit more. Our median household income is $101,050. That puts the upper middle class point of entry at $157,190 and the high end at $202,100. Your results may vary from town to town or county to county.

If you want to find out where you stand in pursuing the American Dream, play around with this income calculator tool from the Pew Research Center.

Finding a lake house in North Jersey is no small feat, as there are only so many to go around. But finding one that has been meticulously restored and comes with private lakefront property is often even more challenging.

Look no further: The home at 27 Witte Road in Hewitt — offering about 135 feet of secluded lakefront property on the southern end of Upper Greenwood Lake in Passaic County — recently hit the market for $729,000. It was listed by Mitchell Kass of Werner Realty in West Milford, who purchased the property himself in January 2024 and spent over a year refreshing it.

"I saw the home listed a year and a half ago. It was in desperate need of repair. I drove from Manhattan in a snowstorm to see it, and I knew I wanted to rescue it," he said. "Ironically, every home I have purchased has been number 27 or started with the numbers 27, so this was also a good sign."

Kass said the property, originally built in 1935, is known in the community as the "Gingerbread House." That is because its exterior is reminiscent of the European Gingerbread style of architecture, defined by things like steeply pitched roof lines, overhanging eaves and detailed siding.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home features a spacious kitchen with new stainless steel appliances, a sitting room or home office space with a wood stove, and a living room that leads to a balcony overlooking the hidden yard, the lake and the property's private dock.

"The home was built on a boulder and has an unusually wide lot for the area, giving it privacy," Kass said. "And the deck off the main living space is expansive and feels like a treehouse overlooking the lake."

Throughout his restoration of the home, Kass said, he was focused on preserving the unique details of the property while also upgrading it to include more modern conveniences. He said it involved reviving all of the home's custom woodworking — including wainscoting, moldings and beams — but installing updated appliances, new utility systems and a new room, for example.

"I think it has always been important to me to keep the character in the home," he said. "I also bought furnishings from online estate sales that were more Old World European in style and make. Anything modern would have stood out like a sore thumb."

Beyond the home, the 400 acres of Upper Greenwood Lake is a private community that is home to about 2,100 properties. Residents of the community have exclusive access to its private beach and clubhouse, and to the lake for boating and fishing, among other things.

A public open house for the home will be held on Sunday, March 16, from noon to 3 p.m.

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.com.