About two in five Snohomish County households had incomes below a basic living-cost budget in 2024, the latest United For ALICE research estimates. More than 100,000 of those households earned above the federal poverty line.
The gap helps explain a term residents may see in United Way announcements: ALICE, short for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. It describes households whose income exceeds the poverty line but falls short of the basic costs for their household size and location.
United Way of Snohomish County says reaching ALICE households is central to its community investments. For residents, the research offers a way to understand financial pressure that poverty statistics alone can miss.
What the local figures show
The 2026 Washington data sheet estimates that Snohomish County had 326,367 households in 2024. It divides them into three groups:
- 29,818 households had incomes below the federal poverty level.
- 101,286 households were above poverty but below the ALICE basic-cost threshold.
- 195,263 households had incomes above that threshold.
The first two groups together total 131,104 households, or about 40% of the county. These figures count households rather than individuals or clients served by United Way. The analysis includes households regardless of work status.
The report describes 2024, the latest data year available in the 2026 release. Changes in income, prices or public programs since then fall outside these figures.
A budget that changes with the household
The ALICE Household Survival Budget includes housing, child care, food, transportation, health care and technology, plus taxes and a miscellaneous allowance. It varies by county and household composition.
That means a single adult, a retired couple and parents paying for infant care have different basic budgets. On the report's cost-of-basics page, select Snohomish County and compare the household types. Treat the figures as a research benchmark when looking at your own bills, with the data year in mind.
Where to start when a bill is becoming difficult
If you need help with groceries, rent, utilities or another essential expense, start with the particular need affecting your household.
Washington 211 offers free, confidential, multilingual information and referrals to local services. Call 211 or use its online directory to find resources near you. Ask which programs serve your location, whether they are taking applications and what information they require.
For food specifically, the Washington State Department of Agriculture's food-access page links to food banks, pantries and similar resources through its Food Near You tool.
Each assistance program has its own rules and available resources. Check those details with the provider, and use our Help & Resources guides for more local starting points.
Information checked November 3, 2026. Household figures come from the 2026 ALICE release and describe 2024.
