6 facts that show the dire state of America's middle class

Middle class America isn't faring that well, according to several results from an INSIDER and Morning Consult survey.

They're behind on homeownership and retirement savings, partly because they have debt to pay off.

Even some of those making six figures identify as middle class rather than affluent.

These findings reflect a shrinking middle class and higher cost of living.

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Middle class America is changing.

A recent survey by INSIDER and Morning Consult, which polled 4,400 Americans, asked respondents to define their financial situations by selecting poor, working class, middle class, upper middle class, or affluent (or don't know). The results, in conjunction with other answers related to demographics and financial behaviors, indicated a shifting landscape in terms of socio-economic status.

The middle class in particular carries several financial burdens — they're behind on homeownership, lagging in saving for retirement, and have debt to pay off.

Most striking, though, is that many respondents self-identified with a class that didn't necessarily align with their income levels or the socio-economic background where they grew up. For example, many of those earning six figures or who grew up affluent defined themselves as middle class.

Identifying as a station lower than their backgrounds underscores previous studies of a shrinking middle class and a higher cost of living.

Here, six key findings from the survey that show the state of America's middle class today.