We all know people who are 
ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — earning more than the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford the basics where they live.
ALICE households and households in poverty are forced to make tough choices, such as deciding between quality child care or paying the rent — choices that have long-term consequences not only for their families,
but for all.
The United Way ALICE report uses new measures to provide a more accurate picture of these individuals and families whose earnings are above the federal poverty level, yet they still struggle to make ends meet.
ALICE in Maine is a coordinated effort of the United Ways of Maine and is generously supported by the John T. Gorman Foundation.
Visit ALICEinMaine.org to view the detailed data and interactive maps.
ALICE data for Androscoggin County
United For ALICE calculates the cost of household essentials for all counties in Maine. These costs are calculated for various household sizes and compositions.
Of Androscoggin County 46,233 households in 2022…
- 12% earned below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
- 31% were ALICE, in households that earned above the FPL but not enough to afford the basics in the communities where they live
- Together, 43% of households in Maine were below the ALICE Threshold (poverty + ALICE divided by total households)
ALICE data for Oxford County
United For ALICE calculates the cost of household essentials for all counties in Maine. These costs are calculated for various household sizes and compositions.
Of Oxford County 23,183 households in 2022…
15% earned below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
37% were ALICE, in households that earned above the FPL but not enough to afford the basics in the communities where they live
Together, 52% of households in Maine were below the ALICE Threshold (poverty + ALICE divided by total households)
While the COVID-19 pandemic brought employment shifts, health struggles, and school/business closures, it also spurred temporary expansion of public assistance through pandemic relief measures (which then reverted to pre-pandemic levels in 2022). In 2019, 230,151 households in Maine were below the ALICE Threshold; by 2022, that number had changed to 249,725.
Androscoggin and Oxford Counties
ALICE Labor Force 2022
ALICE workers play an essential role in the economy but still struggle to support their households.
Common Jobs in Maine Have a High Percentage of ALICE Workers.
A key contributor to the number of ALICE households in Maine is the fundamental mismatch between the cost of living and what jobs pay.
