CensusEasy
MICROPOLITAN AREA

Alpena Micro

Alpena, MI · 1 counties · 28,853 residents (2025 est.) · 571.899 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
Notable rankings
#38Highest homeownership rateof 92580.0%
The short version

Alpena has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,950. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $153,900. With a median age of 47.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
28,880
−8%since 2000
from 31,314 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
50 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 55 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
47.8
+18%since 2000
from 40.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:28,853 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
28K29K30K31K32K1990201020202024Alpena
202429K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,950
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,177 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,583
+97%since 2000
from $17,566 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
35.3%
+18.4 ptssince 2009
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.0%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 10.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.468
+9%since 2010
from 0.430 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade13.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$153,900
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $78,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$673
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $370 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
80.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 79.1% in 2000
20.0% rent
Vacancy rate
17.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.3%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.7%
−10.5 ptssince 2009
from 53.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.9
+24%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
17
RELATED:See current rent listings in Alpena on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.8%(30,626)
Black0.2%(73)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(181)
Asian0.3%(102)
Other0%
Diversity Score2.8%(892)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic92.4%(26,675)
Black1%(291)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(477)
Asian0.2%(53)
Other4.8%(1,384)
Diversity Score18%(5,206)
Segregation Score24.3%(7,009)
Diversity Score
18
+532%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
24
+62%since 2020
from 15 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.3%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.6%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 83.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.9%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.5 min
+52%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.3%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 81.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.8%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.2%
−5.2 ptssince 2011
from 11.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
53.9%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 57.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.1%
−29.1 ptssince 2009
from 62.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.8%
−38.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.1%
+4.7 ptssince 2012
from 17.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.2%
−82.0 ptssince 2013
from 87.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.1%
+14.7 ptssince 2017
from 70.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 97.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 1.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

AlpenaCENTRAL10,088
What's inside

1 component county

Alpena CountyCENTRAL28,853
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Alpena

Bainbridge
Pop 29,432
Alamosa
Pop 27,896
Gallipolis
Pop 29,072
Elkins
Pop 26,882
Places similar to Alpena
Head to head

Compare Alpena side by side

ALPENA VS
Bainbridge
Income$53,317−1%
Home value$158,800+3%
Population29,432+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALPENA VS
Alamosa
Income$51,784−4%
Home value$219,606+43%
Population27,896−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALPENA VS
Gallipolis
Income$56,830+5%
Home value$155,600+1%
Population29,072+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALPENA VS
Elkins
Income$52,757−2%
Home value$144,800−6%
Population26,882−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Alpena, MI?

Alpena, MI has about 28,880 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Alpena, MI?

The typical household in Alpena, MI earns about $53,950 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Alpena, MI expensive?

In Alpena, MI, the median home is worth about $153,900, and the typical rent is about $673 a month.

How educated are people in Alpena, MI?

About 18.3% of adults age 25 and over in Alpena, MI hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Alpena, MI?

About 18.0% of people in Alpena, MI live below the federal poverty line.

Has Alpena, MI grown since 1990?

Yes, Alpena, MI has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,725 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Metro rankings
Largest US metrosHighest income metrosFastest growing metros
Compare
Compare Alpena with another metro

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →