BS...Not too many jobs in the middle of the desert or boonies where a home might still be reasonable in price. And the reason why millions of former CA middle class have bailed out, only to be replaced by foreign nationals with big $$. Those are brutal facts.
Yes, life is tougher for the middle class in California, just like the rest of the country. Please identify a state where the middle class has an easy life.
California provides many opportunities that are not available elsewhere.