I am not sure I understand the question. I know a lot of people it doesn’t bother to have 400k or more tied up in a house in San Diego. Doesn’t bother me.

A family with more kids than you could get by on 30k a year with a property assessed for 400k without a mortgage,no mello roos or HOA, transportation expenses are kept to a minimum and they had access to reasonably priced health insurance.

I am pretty sure that is not “middle class” add another 30-40k to look “middle class”.