Change Indicator

Living wage in New Hampshire

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Why This Indicator Matters

According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, "Analysts and policy makers often compare income to the federal poverty threshold in order to determine an individual’s ability to live within a certain standard of living. However, poverty thresholds do not account for living costs beyond a very basic food budget. The federal poverty measure does not take into consideration costs like childcare and health care that not only draw from one’s income, but also are determining factors in one’s ability to work and to endure the potential hardships associated with balancing employment and other aspects of everyday life. Further, poverty thresholds do not account for geographic variation in the cost of essential household expenses."1

MIT's living wage model, first created by Dr. Amy K. Glasmeier, provides an alternative to the federal poverty threshold that more fully accounts for a family's basic needs.

1 Glasmeier, Amy K. About the Living Wage Calculator. 2020. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. livingwage.mit.edu
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Definition and Source

PROVIDER

Definition

This indicator reports on a living wage calculated for each county using an online tool developed by the Living Wage Project. A living wage is the hourly pay rate that an individual must earn to support a family working full time, year-round (40 hours per week for 52 weeks a year). It is based on estimates of the cost of living in each county using a set of typical expenses for the location, including food, child care, health care, housing, transportation, other necessities, and taxes.

The category "2 adults 2 children" reflects the living wage when both adults in the household are working. Read more about the MIT Living Wage model and access the technical notes for 2021-2022 here.

Data Source

Glasmeier, Amy K. Living Wage Calculator. 2021. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. livingwage.mit.edu.

Notes

Updated January 2023.

Last Updated

January 2023