While the NYT article omits this in the description of what the numbers are based on, the source it is drawn from (and which is linked in the article) indicates that the per-metro figures are computed <i>after</i> adjusting for metro-area cost of living. Which should correct somewhat for inter-region variations, but also makes the definition of &quot;middle class&quot; very weird, even as income-based definitions of &quot;class&quot; go.