Americans can’t agree on what ‘middle class’ means anymore, and they’re debating it in the comments of TikTok home tours

The comment sections of TikTok’s “middle class house tours” feature thousands of Americans arguing about what qualifies as middle class in 2025. Viral videos of average homes are sparking comment threads filled with passionate arguments, as users weigh in on everything from income definitions and house size to family struggles and lifestyle choices. Users boldly label themselves as, alternately, “lower middle class,” “middle middle class,” or “upper middle class”—but the comments sections reveal fierce debates about whoʼs really where on the economic ladder.

Some viewers feel showcased homes look more affluent than their own reality, prompting debate over whether the poster is truly middle class or, as one commenter put it, “upper class hiding behind modest decor.” Posts that offer relata