Housing Was Primary Driver of Increased Household Costs Over Previous Year
MINNEAPOLIS (September 16, 2026) – In 2024, 35% of Twin Cities residents lived in households that couldn’t afford basic needs like housing, food and childcare, according to data in the report The State of ALICE in Minnesota: 2026 Update on Financial Hardship. The newreport shows that traditional measures of poverty continue to undercount the number of households living in financial hardship.
While 9% of all households in the nine-county Twin Cities metro area earned at or below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) in 2024, the latest research shows that 26% of households – nearly three times as many – were ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). These households earned more than the FPL, but not enough to fully cover the costs of basic needs. Combined, an estimated 35% of Twin Cities households fell below the ALICE Threshold of Financial Survival in 2024.
“We all know an ALICE in our life: someone who is working hard, contributing to our community, and still can’t make ends meet,” said John Wilgers, president and CEO of Greater Twin Cities United Way. “Through partnerships like our work with United for ALICE, Greater Twin Cities United Way is helping lawmakers, nonprofits and other regional decision-makers better understand the impossible financial math that too many Twin Cities families are facing.”
The State of ALICE in Minnesota was developed by United for ALICE in partnership with the United Ways of Minnesota, including Greater Twin Cities United Way.
Learn more about Greater Twin Cities United Way’s work with ALICE.
The precise ALICE income threshold varies by county, as well as by household size. In the nine-county Twin Cities metro area, the ALICE Survival Budget for a family of four requires a combined household income of well over $90,000 to pay for the family’s basic expenses – ranging from $94,344 for a family in Isanti County, to $106,344 for Hennepin County. (This figure does not include any form of household savings, which are also necessary for a family’s long-term stability.)
In 2024, increases in housing costs were the primary driver of increased cost burdens for Twin Cities families. All nine of the Twin Cities metro counties showed increases in housing costs between 2023 and 2024, ranging from 1 percent in Washington County to 18 percent in Anoka County.
Other key findings of the report include:
“The Federal Poverty Level is a useful measurement for severe poverty, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg for the day-to-day hardship experienced by many Twin Cities households,” said Shannon Smith Jones, chief impact officer at Greater Twin Cities United Way. “This new data confirms that the struggle to make ends meet is much more widespread across our region – requiring new forms of investment and collaboration from government, nonprofits, business and philanthropy.”
Data from The State of ALICE in Minnesota is informing United Way’s development of future funding opportunities, as well as United Way’s continuing advocacy at the state and federal level. This fall, Greater Twin Cities United Way is also launching a new interactive “Everyday ALICE” experience tailored toward Minnesota workplaces, helping employers and their workforces understand the scale of this under-recognized category of economic hardship.
ALICE data is also presented in the Minnesota 211 Dashboard alongside real-time data from United Way’s 211 resource helpline – illustrating the specific services and resources that are currently helping Minnesota’s families close the gap. The dashboard provides county-level views that include the percentage of ALICE families in each county, alongside the top areas of need indicated by the county’s 211 calls.
| County | ALICE Survival Budget (for Family of 4) | % of Households Below ALICE Threshold |
| Anoka | $103,464 | 34% |
| Carver | $104,904 | 37% |
| Chisago | $102,192 | 36% |
| Dakota | $103,944 | 31% |
| Hennepin | $106,344 | 34% |
| Isanti | $94,344 | 39% |
| Ramsey | $103,440 | 43% |
| Scott | $102,672 | 27% |
| Washington | $104,172 | 29% |
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About Greater Twin Cities United Way
Greater Twin Cities United Way unites changemakers, advocates for social good, and develops solutions to address the challenges no one can solve alone to create a community where all people thrive regardless of income, race or place. For more information, visit gtcuw.org and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky.
