Basic needs

A "household survival budget" is a way to measure what the estimated minimum cost a household would pay in today’s economy to make ends meet. This measure is used to determine which households are below or above the ALICE threshold. While this measure uses the best available data to calculate its estimates, it is important to remember that some people may not see these estimates reflected in their daily reality. As with all data aggregations, these measures are often calculated using estimated averages, which do not account for the variation in individual lived experiences.

According to ALICE measures, in 2023, the survival budget for a two-parent two-child household with both children in childcare in Lenawee County was $5,324 per month or $63,888 per year (Figure 2) (United for ALICE, 2023). If we look at median household income in 2023, which was estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau to be $67,013 annually, we can conclude that, if they fit the profile of a two-parent two-child household with both children enrolled in childcare, half of families in Lenawee County would not have much of a buffer in income should an emergency arise (2019-2023b).