LIFE Report 

The 2026 Marathon County Local Indicators for Excellence (LIFE) Report is a data-driven depiction about the quality of life in Marathon County. Powered by Marathon County Pulse, the 2026 LIFE Report exists exclusively online, providing the community an immersive experience in local data, community context, and story.

In 2025, the LIFE Survey shifted to a new and improved community engagement and perception survey to allow for increased participation from Marathon County residents. In total, just under 1,800 Marathon County residents completed the survey and offered their perspective on what issues are most important for each of the seven sections of the LIFE Report.

The 2026 LIFE Report is broken down into seven sections:

• Basic Needs
• Connected
• Education
• Economic Environment
• Energy & Environment
• Health & Wellness
• Safety -  that encompass nearly every aspect of life in Marathon County.

Each section of the report was developed by a subcommittee comprised of local experts. These subcommittees examined and selected local data, developed narratives based on community context, and identified 25 Calls to Action and 31 Local Wins to be included in their respective section of the LIFE Report.

Through a facilitated prioritization process, the Community Advisory Committee and the LIFE Steering Committee selected the top Calls to Action and Local Wins to be highlighted in the 2026 LIFE Report.

WHO IS ALICE?

According to the latest 2026 ALICE Report, 30% of households in Marathon County are living below the ALICE threshold. That represents more than 17,000 households, or 41,000 individuals, who are working or living in poverty, but still do not earn enough to afford household essentials: housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and a basic smart phone plan.

Although Marathon County has seen a decrease from 32% to 30% of households living below the ALICE threshold, many continue to struggle as wages fail to keep pace with the rising cost of household essentials.

United Way of Marathon County continues to focus on our Bold Goal of lifting community members to financial stability. We invest in local programs that help further our goal, with priority on serving families and individuals living in ALICE so they can have a chance at a thriving future.

Communities with ALICE percentages higher than Marathon County include:

• Athens – 49%
• Unity – 46%
• Wausau – 41%
• Spencer – 40%
• Stratford – 38%
• Edgar – 37%
• Schofield – 34%
• Weston – 33%
• Hatley – 31%
   

Statistical highlights:

• 54% of single-female headed households with children, or 1 in 2 single moms, do not earn enough to meet their basic needs.
• 47% or nearly 1 in 2 seniors age 65 and older do not have adequate income to support their basic needs.
• Communities of color (includes Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, 2 races or more) are disproportionately living in ALICE, with 34% of households identified as ALICE compared with 31% of white households.
• Individuals living in ALICE in Marathon County come from different backgrounds and have different lived experiences. They are farmers, administrative assistants, factory workers, custodians, nursing assistants, early childhood teachers, older adults, single moms, refugees, and so many others.

United Way of Marathon County’s focus on lifting community members to financial stability remains as important as ever.

Local United Ways across Wisconsin are committed to improving the lives of families and individuals living below the ALICE threshold by investing in and promoting resources that offer pathways toward stability. When we help advance the quality of life for those experiencing financial hardship, we uplift communities.

To learn more about ALICE visit https://www.unitedforalice.org/wisconsin