Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan
Joan and Sanford Weill HallThis map combines several indicators to provide a snapshot of poverty and well-being across Michigan. Learn more about map indicators and data sources, and download complete data below.
| East Central Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw |
South Central Clinton, Eaton, Ingham |
West Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, Ottawa |
| East Genesee, Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Tuscola |
Southeast Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, Washtenaw |
Detroit Metro Macomb, Oakland, Wayne |
| Northeast Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon |
Southwest Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Van Buren |
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| Northwest Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford |
Upper Peninsula Alger, Baraga, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon, Schoolcraft |
Population is a good way to make sure you’re comparing similarly sized counties in terms of poverty.
We use median income (and not average income) to demonstrate the typical income of a household in that county.
The percent of the population below the federal poverty line.
The percent of children under 18 who are in households under the poverty line.
ALICE is an indicator developed by the United Way. It stands for: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE is a way to get a snapshot of the working poor, a group that’s not captured in the percent below the poverty rate. This indicator is calculated at the household level, not the individual level. See the full United Way project here.
*For a full picture of the percent of people who are financially living on the edge, the percent ALICE and percent below poverty should be added together.
SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is the country’s most robust social safety net program. It is one of very few programs that families who apply and qualify are guaranteed to receive. All funding for SNAP comes from the federal government.
Defined as paying more than 30% of household income for housing costs (rent or mortgage and utilities).
Working-age individuals, ages 19 to 64, who do not have publicly or privately provided health insurance.
Studies show a strong relationship between the percent of single parent households and a lack of social mobility in a region. This indicator is pulled from the Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings.
Poverty Solutions may create tailored maps for additional categories of available
data, such as housing, health, and child-focused data. We also are able to
incorporate new sets of data into our existing dataset. Contact us at
povertysolutions@umich.edu.