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The State of ALICE in TENNESSEE

2025 REPORT
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DATA SHEET
Introducing ALICE
Key Findings
The Cost of Basics
Costs Over Time
Demographics
ALICE in the Labor Force
County Reports
Indicators of Well-Being

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ALICE County Reports with ZIP and Place Data

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

Use the interactive charts below to see an overview of financial hardship by county. This profile highlights key aspects of local economies, including details related to demographics, the cost of living, the labor landscape, and variation by ZIP code, Census County Subdivision, and Census Designated Place.

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To see combined data for two or more counties, use the ALICE Budgets, Demographics, and Labor Force pages

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Financial Hardship Has Changed Over Time in Tennessee

As circumstances change, households may find themselves below or above the ALICE Threshold at different times. Use the buttons below to switch between ALICE data over time by number and percentage.

0001111HouseholdsPovertyALICE
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Sources: ALICE Threshold, 2010-2022; American Community Survey, 2010-2022

Financial Hardship is Not Equally Distributed

By total number, groups with the largest population of households below the ALICE Threshold tend to also be in the largest demographic groups. However, when looking at the proportion of each group that is below the ALICE Threshold, it is clear that some groups are more likely to be ALICE than others.

Households by Race/Ethnicity, Tennessee, 2023

AsianBlackHawaiianHispanicAI/ANWhite2+ RacesTotal Households0%20%40%60%80%100%Total Households By Race/EthnicityPovertyALICEAbove ALICEAsianBlackHawaiianHispanicAI/ANWhite2+ Races
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All racial categories except Two or More Races are for one race alone. Race and ethnicity are overlapping categories; the AI/AN (American Indian/Alaska Native), Asian, Black, Hawaiian (includes other Pacific Islanders), and Two or More Races groups may include Hispanic households. The White group includes only White, non-Hispanic households. The Hispanic group may include households of any race. Because household poverty data is not available for the American Community Survey's race/ethnicity categories, annual income below $15,000 is used as a proxy. In 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau changed how it asked about race/ethnicity and how responses are coded. Due to this change, the Census Bureau recommends caution in comparing racial/ethnic data from before and after 2020.
Sources: ALICE Threshold, 2022; American Community Survey, 2023

There were also differences in financial hardship by household type and age of householder.

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Sources: American Community Survey, 2023; ALICE Threshold, 2022

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. In 2023, household costs in every county in Tennessee were well above the Federal Poverty Level of $14,580 for a single adult and $30,000 for a family of four.

Household Survival Budget, Tennessee, 2023
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Monthly CostsSingle
Adult		One Adult,
One Child		One Adult,
One In
Child Care		Two
Adults		Two Adults
Two Children		Two Adults,
Two In
Child Care		Single
Adult 65+		Two
Adults 65+
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The budget for One Adult, One Child includes costs for one adult and a school-age child. The budget for One Adult, One in Child Care includes costs for an adult and an infant. The budget for Two Adults, Two in Child Care includes costs for two adults, one infant, and one preschooler. "Hourly Wage" shows the full-time wage needed to support each budget.
Sources: For ALICE Survival Budget sources, see the Methodology Overview on the Methodology page.

The Labor Landscape is Challenging for ALICE Workers

A small portion of adults (16 years and older) in Tennessee were unemployed and a large number were working in 2023. However, a substantial portion of both 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.

Labor Status, Population 16 and Over, Tennessee, 2023

0%20%40%60%80%100%Full-Time SalaryFull-Time HourlyPart-Time HourlyPart-Time SalaryUnemployedNot In Labor Force/OtherNot In Labor Force/Retired
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Data for hourly full- and part-time jobs is only available at the national level; these national rates have been applied to the workforce at the county-level to calculate the breakdown shown in this figure. Because the labor status 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 at the state level. Full-time represents 35 hours per week or more at one or more jobs for 48 weeks per year.
Sources: American Community Survey, 2023; Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 2023

Financial Hardship Varies by Location in Tennessee

There is substantial variation in the number of households who live below the ALICE Threshold within the county. Explore the map and table below to learn more. The map is shaded to show the percentage of households that are below the ALICE Threshold (poverty-level and ALICE households combined). The darker the blue, the higher the percentage.

ADDITIONAL GEOGRAPHIES:
Counties, Tennessee, 2023
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Sources: American Community Survey, 2023; ALICE Threshold, 2022

Learn More

See what partners across the country are doing to improve life for ALICE households on our ALICE in Action page.