Oh, boy. As a middle class white, let me tell you that class differences among whites are a real thing, and many whites, whether they admit it or not, are as class conscious as they are race conscious.

From where I sit, whites have two classes apiece: the class they were raised to, and the class their economic status assigns them to. The class they were raised to is a blend of both their parents “raised” class, with a bit of their economic class as a modifier.

For example: My parents were both raised middle to upper middle class. My grandmothers were both higher “class” than my grandfathers. Economically, we were lower middle to middle class when I grew up, and my father still is while my mother went tumbling out of the middle class economically since the divorce.

Myself personally, I started out middle as a kid, tumbled into the lower class when I suffered financial calamities, and have clawed my way back to middle class.

I know couples whose income is easily twice what my spouse and I make, but whose personal grooming and social habits are solidly what I would consider low class.

How do you separate low from middle from upper in whites? Appearance and habits. This is governed as much by finance as upbringing.

• Teeth: Do they have dental insurance, did they have it as a kid, are their teeth straight and not rotting in their head? Good teeth means middle to upper class economics.
• Clothing: Are their clothes new-ish? Do they have multiple jackets/coats? Do they wear youth fashion (grunge, goth, pop-slop, hip hop) into adulthood? Do they buy the cheapest clothes and accessories, or slightly better? The more money, the better the clothes, less cheaply made. Also, upper/upper middle class whites will not buy used underwear or shoes.
• Home: As adults, do they rent, do they own a mobile, do they own a condo, or a single family dwelling? In the California Bay Area, the usual indicators are messed up. If you own anything, even a one bedroom condo, you are solidly middle class. Owning a single family home has you edging into upper class. (I couldn’t afford to buy a house until I was 52.)
• Car/Transportation: The older and rattier your car, the more likely you are to be lower class, unless it’s a classic or you are ultra rich because you don’t spend a dime you don’t have to. Middle class tends to buy new or used less than 10 years old. Lower buys beaters and drives them until they die.
• Smoking: If you smoke, how much you smoke, drops you down in class rapidly. A pack a day or more? You end up being perceived as low class, regardless of your actual income.
• Drugs: Coke is not generally used by lower class whites — it’s used by middle-upper class. Crack is lower class. Weed is used by any, but middle and upper in California will get a medical pot card (often validly — trying to keep afloat in Silicon Valley is stressful.)
• Food. Upper middle class whites will shop at boutique type stores like Whole Foods and Traders Joes. The middle shops at places like Safeway and Costco. Lower class shops at whatever is cheapest or closest. Middle class has time to cook, lower often doesn’t, so lower buys more pre-prepared junk.
• Hobbies: Middle and upper will often have multiple hobbies, some of which can be expensive. Lower will have cheaper and more practical hobbies. Example: Middle/Upper class women will take up weaving, middle/lower class will take up knitting.
• Entertainment: This gets weird. Some lower class whites will crowdfund entertainment, or spend money on concerts and stuff but let bills lapse. Middle class will eat out a couple times a month, and maybe go to a paid event a few times a year. Lower class does a lot of fast food. Upper class can afford lots of trips, sports games, concerts, events, etc.
• Language: All three classes swear. Where and when they swear, OTOH, depends on their perceived power and class. This one is very much influenced by upbringing, not economics. Upper class whites swear when and where they feel that they have enough social power to get away with it, or they don’t care. Middle class, again is related to relative power and whether they care. Lower either doesn’t swear at all, or curses like a trucker. Grammar is related to highest educational level attained and retained, and that of the parents. Even a college educated white, economically middle class, will talk with poor grammar if their parents or most of their peers were lower class, or if they are affecting a lower class standard to try to fit in.

Anyway, these are generalities, and mostly from my warped perspective as a middle-class white. For every one, you can find the exception that proves the rule. But class distinctions between whites are very real and pervasive, especially these days.

I know for every point there will be people who disagree, and probably vehemently. *shrug*