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MICHIGAN • 2019 COUNTY PROFILES

Counties are the core geography for ALICE data: They reveal variations often masked by statewide averages,
and the data is reported regularly and reliably.

ALICE IN BAY COUNTY

2019 Point-in-Time-Data

Population: 103,126 Number of Households: 44,887

Median Household Income: $49,610 (state average: $59,584)
Unemployment Rate: 4.5% (state average: 5.0%)
ALICE Households: 21% (state average: 25%)
Households in Poverty: 14% (state average: 13%)

How Has the Number of ALICE Households Changed Over Time?

ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — households that earn more than
the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living for the county (the ALICE Threshold). While
conditions have improved for some households, many continue to struggle, especially as wages fail to keep
pace with the cost of household essentials (housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and a
basic smartphone plan).

14,000

11,441
12,000
10,698
10,242
9,507
10,000

7,813
Households

8,000 6,729
6,516 6,605
6,096
5,846
6,000

4,000

2,000

0
2010 2012 2014 2016 2019

ALICE Poverty

Total Households Total Households Total Households Total Households Total Households
44,064 43,967 42,706 43,876 44,887

Sources: ALICE Threshold, 2007-2019; American Community Survey, 2007-2019

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ALICE and Poverty in Bay County Over Time...continued

100%

80%

61% 59%
62%
67% 65%

60%
Households

40%

25%
26% 23%
18% 21%
20%

15% 16% 15% 14%

13%

0%
2010 2012 2014 2016 2019

Poverty ALICE Above ALICE Threshold

Sources: ALICE Threshold, 2007-2019; American Community Survey, 2007-2019

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What Types of Households Are Struggling?

In the past few decades, there have been major shifts in household composition. The share of American
adults who have never been married is at a historic high, as is the number of senior households. There is
also a growing number of people who live alone or with roommates, and an increasing share of grown
children who live with their parents. Yet all types of households continue to struggle: ALICE and poverty-
level households exist across all of these living arrangements.
100%

13,384
80%
Percent of Total Households

7,481
7,152
14,651
60%
10,975

40%

1,242
4,496
20,528
20% 3,769

2,581

2,108 1,407
0%
Single or Cohabiting Families 65 and Over Total Households
(No Children Under 18) With Children

Poverty ALICE Above ALICE Threshold Single Family Senior

Sources: ALICE Threshold, 2007-2019; American Community Survey, 2007-2019

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Why Do So Many Households Struggle?

The cost of household basics outpaces wages...
The Household Survival Budget reflects the bare minimum cost to live and work in the modern economy and
includes housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, technology (a smartphone plan), and taxes. It
does not include savings for emergencies or future goals like college or retirement. In 2019, household
costs were well above the Federal Poverty Level of $12,490 for a single adult and $25,750 for a family of
four.

Two Adults
Single Two Two Adults Single Two
Two School-Age
Adult Adults Two in Child Care Senior Seniors
Children

Housing $495 $583 $771 $771 $495 $583

Child Care $0 $0 $406 $1,197 $0 $0

Food $245 $509 $852 $744 $211 $435

Transportation $457 $647 $929 $929 $406 $545

Health Care $189 $403 $569 $569 $497 $993

Technology $55 $75 $75 $75 $55 $75

Miscellaneous $168 $257 $397 $488 $192 $299

Taxes $240 $349 $372 $594 $251 $360

Monthly Total $1,849 $2,823 $4,371 $5,367 $2,107 $3,290

Annual Total $22,188 $33,876 $52,452 $64,404 $25,284 $39,480

Hourly Wage $11.09 $16.94 $26.23 $32.20 $12.64 $19.74

Sources: ALICE Household Survival Budget, 2019; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, 2019
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...and the labor landscape is challenging for ALICE workers.

A breakdown of the labor force shows a small portion of adults (16 years and older) who are unemployed
and a large number who are working. However, a significant portion of full- and part-time workers are paid
by the hour; these workers are more likely to have fluctuations in income and less likely to receive benefits.
There is also a high number of workers outside of the labor force (people who are not employed and not
looking for work), which has helped keep wages low: When more workers are available, employers have less
incentive to raise wages to attract employees.

23% 22% 7% 3% 4% 20% 21%

0% 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 %

Full-Time Salary Full-Time Hourly Part-Time Hourly Part-Time Salary Unemployed Not In Labor Force Retired

Note: Data for hourly full- and part-time jobs is only available at the national level; these national rates (51% of full-time workers paid hourly and 75% of part-time workers paid hourly) have
been applied to the workforce at the county-level to calculate the breakdown shown in this figure. Because this figure sums county-level data (some using 1-year estimates and some using
5-year estimates), the state percentages may differ slightly from those shown in the 2020 Report. Full-time represents 35 hours per week or more at one or more jobs for 48 weeks per year.

Sources: American Community Survey, 2019; Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 2019
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How Does the Number of ALICE Households Vary Within the County?
There is significant variation in the number of households who live below the ALICE Threshold within the
county.

Source: ALICE Threshold, 2019; American Community Survey, 2019

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County Subdivision Total Households % Below ALICE Threshold

Auburn city, Bay County, Michigan 1,055 35%

Bangor charter township, Bay County, Michigan 6,083 40%

Bay City city, Bay County, Michigan 13,958 47%

Beaver township, Bay County, Michigan 1,022 25%

Essexville city, Bay County, Michigan 1,389 28%

Frankenlust township, Bay County, Michigan 1,545 23%

Fraser township, Bay County, Michigan 1,547 35%

Garfield township, Bay County, Michigan 736 29%

Gibson township, Bay County, Michigan 457 36%

Hampton charter township, Bay County, Michigan 4,339 45%

Kawkawlin township, Bay County, Michigan 2,001 29%

Merritt township, Bay County, Michigan 554 21%

Monitor charter township, Bay County, Michigan 4,459 26%

Mount Forest township, Bay County, Michigan 542 31%

Pinconning city, Bay County, Michigan 564 47%

Pinconning township, Bay County, Michigan 949 28%

Portsmouth charter township, Bay County, Michigan 1,274 29%

Williams charter township, Bay County, Michigan 1,809 21%

Sources: ALICE Threshold, 2007-2019; American Community Survey, 2007-2019