ALICE In Anderson County
ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed
ALICE households earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living for the county. While conditions have improved for some households, many continue to struggle, especially as wages fail to keep pace with the rising cost of household essentials (housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and a basic smartphone plan). Households below the ALICE Threshold — ALICE households plus those in poverty — can’t afford the essentials.
2024 Anderson County Point-in-Time-Data
Population: 217,183 Number of Households: 85,800
Median Household Income: $70,226 (state average: $72,350)
Labor Force Participation Rate: 62% (state average: 61%)
ALICE Households: 24% (state average 28%) Households in Poverty: 15% (state average 14%)
Meet ALICE
ALICE earns more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than what it costs to make ends meet and afford the basics like housing, transportation, food and child care. You may already know ALICE as a friend, a neighbor, a child's daycare teacher, a restaurant server or a receptionist at a doctor's office.
In Anderson County, 15% of households fall under the Federal Poverty level, and an additional 24% falls in the ALICE Threshold. This means that almost 4 out of 10 households considered ALICE households.
MAKEUP OF FAMILIES THAT FALL UNDER THE ALICE THRESHOLD
.png)
Age also plays a role in financial hardship with people under the age of 25 and over the age of 65 making up the highest percentage of ALICE families.
Not Enough to Cover the Basics
This budget reflects the minimum cost to live and work in the current economy and includes housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, technology, and taxes. It does not include savings for emergencies or future goals like college or retirement. In 2022, household costs in every County in South Carolina were well above the Federal Poverty Level of $15,960 for a single adult and $33,000 for a family of four.
.png)
The Household Survival Budget reflects the minimum cost to live and work in the current economy including:
- Housing
- Child Care
- Food
- Transportation
- Health Care
- Technology
- Taxes