Explore the ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) Reports & Tools
Learn just what it costs to survive in every county in Maryland and about the challenges low-wage earners face.
2025 ALICE Report
This ALICE Report provides the first look at the extent of financial hardship in Maryland using ALICE metrics since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Past ALICE Reports
Central Maryland Jurisdiction Snapshots
Central Maryland
Baltimore City
Baltimore County
Anne Arundel County
Howard County
Harford County
Carroll County
ALICE Essentials Index
Over 15 years, low-wage jobs didn’t keep up with the increased cost of essentials. Workers in retail sales, the most common occupation in Maryland, saw an average loss of buying power of $40,300 – more than a full year’s earnings, according to findings of the ALICE Essentials Index.
ALICE in Focus: Children in Financial Hardship
This 2019 report and interactive tools reveal that federal poverty data undercounts how many children of all races are growing up in financially insecure households in Maryland and other states.
ALICE in Focus: People with Disabilities
50% of people with disabilities in Maryland experience financial hardship and struggle to afford the basics, according to this 2019 report.
ALICE in Focus: Veterans
The ALICE data uncovers the harsh realities faced by these struggling veterans. In 2019, more than half (55%) of veterans living in financial hardship spent at least 35% of their income on rent, stretching their budgets even thinner.
What would you do?
Step into the shoes of a struggling family with United Way’s online 30|30 Experience. Navigate real-life scenarios, make tough decisions, and learn what daily life is like for low-wage earners.
