Population 1,658 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Alden
Household size in Alden
| Period | Alden | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.27 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.22 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.19 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.11 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.16 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Alden is a place of small households, averaging 2.11 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.27 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Alden
| Period | Alden | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.1 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 51.8 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 55.0 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 53.7 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.6 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 53.7, Alden is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Alden
| Period | Alden | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.6% of households in Alden, well below the national share of 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Alden
Renters in Alden
| Period | Alden | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.0% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Alden is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 44.8% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Alden
| Period | Alden | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 45.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 45.2% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.9% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.3 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 35.9% of the housing in Alden, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Alden
| Period | Alden | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +3 | +6 |
Homes in Alden are the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1980. Homes here are newer than in Michigan overall, where the median home dates to 1972.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Alden
| Period | Alden | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $789 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $646 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $772 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $833 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$43 | +$395 | +$606 |
Rent in Alden runs $833 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 24.7% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Alden
Bachelor's degrees in Alden
| Period | Alden | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.8% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.9% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.1% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.7% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.0 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a third of adults 25 and older in Alden (36.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is higher than in Michigan overall (32.7%).
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Alden
| Period | Alden | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.0% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.3% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.1% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.8% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Alden: 94.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Alden
| Period | Alden | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.5% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −9.0 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Alden than nationally: unemployment was 3.9%, against 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Alden compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alden | 2.11 | 53.7 | 6.6% | 14.0% | 35.9% | 1980 | $833 | 36.7% | 94.8% | 3.9% |
| Rapid City | 2.31 | 46.7 | 9.5% | 10.2% | 27.6% | 1982 | $923 | 28.8% | 94.3% | 2.8% |
| Torch River | 2.21 | 54.1 | 7.7% | 8.6% | 41.2% | 1981 | $876 | 45.1% | 96.7% | 2.6% |
| Clam River | 2.17 | 58.1 | 9.5% | 7.5% | 45.8% | 1984 | $1,248 | 41.9% | 94.1% | 2.6% |
| Bellaire | 2.03 | 56.1 | 7.8% | 11.8% | 42.9% | 1977 | $837 | 42.8% | 96.9% | 3.8% |
| North Arms | 1.92 | 56.1 | 12.2% | 17.9% | 32.8% | 1973 | $823 | 46.8% | 96.6% | 3.2% |
| Elk Rapids | 1.86 | 57.8 | 5.2% | 20.3% | 32.2% | 1967 | $1,030 | 43.4% | 98.3% | 1.1% |
| Mancelona | 2.37 | 43.5 | 10.7% | 15.4% | 19.8% | 1982 | $887 | 17.4% | 88.2% | 5.4% |
| Kewadin | 2.10 | 60.3 | 6.2% | 12.9% | 40.6% | 1985 | $1,205 | 51.7% | 96.0% | 2.0% |
| Green River | 2.52 | 43.3 | 5.2% | 11.7% | 30.5% | 1979 | $1,199 | 22.6% | 91.9% | 4.0% |
| Wetzel | 2.21 | 48.0 | 12.1% | 14.4% | 26.2% | 1989 | $1,009 | 16.2% | 93.7% | 6.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Cape Vincent, NY · Bratenahl, OH · Rucker, CA · Edisto Island, SC · Kimper, KY · Marcus, IA · Leesville, TX · Mathias, WV · Fannett, TX · Valles Mines, MO
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Alden. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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