Reply #7: I think you're putting too much emphasis ...

[Bishop Rook]

... on home-ownership as being the definition of rich versus middle-class. There are lots of middle-class folks who own their home, and there are lots of rich folks who rent. Rich renters are especially common in the cities, in luxury apartments and condos, and middle-class owners are especially common in rural and suburban areas. The overall cost of living does fluctuate depending on location, but it fluctuates much, much less than real estate prices. Real estate in Northern California may be ten times more expensive than in a rural area, but the cost of living isn't ten times higher overall.

Just because you can't afford the house you're living in doesn't mean you aren't rich, in other words. You may still be able to afford a luxury car, to take cruise liner vacations, to send your kids to private schools and put them through college without debt.

And thanks for the welcome!