2022 Point -in-Time Weld County Data
Population: 350,176
Number of Households: 123,825
Median Household Income: $91,565 (state average: $89,302)
Labor Force Participation Rate: 69.8% (state average: 68.9%)
ALICE Households: 26% (state average: 28%) • Households in Poverty: 9% (state average: 9%)
Financial Hardship Changes 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). Households below the ALICE Threshold — ALICE households plus those in poverty — can’t afford the essentials.
Households move below or above the ALICE Threshold as economic factors and circumstances change. This was especially true amid the economic crosscurrents of the COVID-19 pandemic, with higher wages, inflation, and additional pandemic assistance. By 2022, 43,784 households (35%) were below the ALICE Threshold in Weld County.
The Cost of Basics Outpaces Wages
The Household Survival Budget reflects the minimum cost to live and work in the current economy and includes housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, technology, and taxes. It does not
include savings for emergencies or future goals like college or retirement. The Household Survival Budget is calculated at the county level and by household composition, as costs can vary greatly
depending on location and household needs.
In 2022, household costs in Weld County were well above the Federal Poverty Level of $13,590 for a single adult and $27,750 for a family of four.
Financial Hardship is Not Evenly Distributed
Groups with the largest number of households below the ALICE Threshold tend to also be the largest demographic groups. However, when looking at the percentage of each group that is below the ALICE Threshold, some groups are more likely to be ALICE than others.
By addressing the disparities in financial hardship by county demographics, community members can move toward more equitable solutions. Visit UnitedForALICE.org/Colorado to view more national, state, and county data.
