An overhead view of a small crowd crossing a street at a crosswalk, representing ALICE. Data markers connecting the crosswalk lines symbolize the latest State of ALICE research.

The State of ALICE in OREGON

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

Learn More: Hear From ALICE

Hear directly from ALICE or share your own ALICE story on the ALICE Voices page

The Cost of Basics

To capture the reality of household costs across Oregon, United For ALICE provides household budgets that are tailored by location and household type.

The ALICE Household Survival Budget

The Household Survival Budget reflects the minimum cost to live and work in today’s economy and includes housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and technologyplus taxes and a 10% miscellaneous category. This budget is the basis for determining whether households are above or below the ALICE Threshold by county.

Hover over a budget item below to see sources, descriptions, and updates (where applicable).

Housing

Housing

110% of Fair Market Rent (FMR) for an efficiency, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom apartment (based on family size), including utilities, adjusted in metro areas using Small Area FMR

Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Update: In 2023, housing costs are calculated using 110% of FMR, a metric now used for housing voucher programs. Small Area FMR is used in metro areas, where rents are higher than 110% of FMR. In prior years, costs used standard FMR and were adjusted in metro areas using ACS housing costs. To aid in the transition to this new methodology and to avoid reporting artificial rent decreases, 2022 rents are used if higher than 2023 rents.

Child Care

Child Care

Cost for registered Family Child Care Homes for infants (0–2 years), preschool-age children (3–4), and school-age children (5–12).

Source: State agency responsible for child care cost reporting

Food

Food

USDA Thrifty Food Plan by age, with county variation from Feeding America

Sources: Feeding America; U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Transportation

Transportation

Operating costs for a car (average daily miles by age, cost per mile, license, fees, and insurance), or public transportation where viable

Sources: AAA, Federal Highway Administration, National Association Of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) (car); Consumer Expenditure Survey (CEX) (public transportation)

Update: The source for insurance premiums changed from the Zebra to NAIC in 2023; rates are similar and updated more frequently

Health Care

Health Care

Health insurance premiums based on employer-sponsored plans plus out-of-pocket costs for households with $40,000–$69,999 annual income by age, weighted with the poor-health multiplier. For the ALICE 65+ Survival Budget, cost of Medicare Parts A and B, out-of-pocket costs, plus average out-of-pocket spending for the top five chronic diseases as reported by CMS.

Sources: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); CEX (health); Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)

Technology

Technology

Basic broadband internet at home and a smartphone plan with unlimited data for each adult in a household

Sources: Consumer Reports; USTelecom

Taxes

Taxes

Federal payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare) and federal, state, and local taxes owed on the amount of income to cover the Survival Budget, as well as the federal Child Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

Sources: Internal Revenue Service; Tax Foundation; calculated for United For ALICE by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (FRBA)

Note: Previous year (2022) tax data was revised by FRBA for this update.

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

Cost overruns estimated at 10% of the budget, excluding taxes, to cover one-time unanticipated costs in the other categories.

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

Use the interactive tables below to explore how basic costs vary based on location and the number and ages of household members. These ALICE Household Survival Budget figures default to state data.

In the Survival Budget table below, TYPE ONE OR MORE COUNTIES into the box to see costs for eight common household compositions by location. Click “X” to remove a county from the list.

SELECT COUNTY:
Household Survival Budget, Oregon, 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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View Notes
View Source
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 preschool-age child. The budget for Two Adults, Two in Child Care includes costs for two adults, one infant, and a preschool-age child. "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.

Learn More: Cost of Living by Location

See cost of living mapped by county using the ALICE Mapping Tool

The ALICE Household Survival Budget can also be calculated for additional household combinations, or compared to other counties in ALICE partner states. Use the interactive Survival Budget Calculator below to calculate budgets for households with up to six adults (including those under and over 65 years of age) and up to six children (under 18 years of age), and to compare costs across locations

Oregon
COUNTY

ADULTS (AGE 18–64)  (Max 6 over age 18)
ADULTS (AGE 65+)
INFANTS (AGE 0–2)  (Max 6 under age 18)
PRESCHOOLERS (AGE 3–4)
SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN (AGE 5–17)
ALICE Household Survival Budget Calculator, Oregon, 2023
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CategoriesMonthly Costs

Learn More: Comparing Costs to Income

Use the ALICE Budget and Income Status Tool to compare ALICE Household Survival Budget costs to income, tailored by location and household composition, to determine if a household is Poverty-Level, ALICE, or Above the ALICE Threshold.

The ALICE Household Stability Budget

The ALICE Household Stability Budget incorporates the higher costs for maintaining a more financially stable household over time, including a 10% savings category that can be used in an emergency or for longer-term goals like additional education or buying a home.

SELECT COUNTY:
ALICE Household Stability Budget, Oregon, 2023
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Monthly CostsSingle
Adult
Two
Adults
Two Adults
Two Children
Two Adults,
Two In
Child Care
download
View Notes
View Source
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 Stability Budget sources, see the Methodology Overview on the Methodology page.