Population 8,762 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Alger County
Household size in Alger County
| Period | Alger County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.25 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.31 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.67 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.20 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Alger County is a place of small households, averaging 2.20 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 2.25 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the center.
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 Alger County
| Period | Alger County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.7 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.9 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.1 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.8 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.1 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 49.8, Alger County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 46.7, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the south, the oldest in the northeast.
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 Alger County
| Period | Alger County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.7% of households in Alger County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 3.4 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only two of Michigan's 83 counties have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Alger County
Renters in Alger County
| Period | Alger County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.3% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.0% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 13.7% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 13.7% of households in Alger County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 50.5% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the southwest. The renter share is down 4.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Alger County
| Period | Alger County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.4% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 43.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 53.5% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 41.9% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 41.9% of the housing in Alger County, 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. Vacancy is up 0.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Alger County
| Period | Alger County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1975 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +3 | +6 |
Housing in Alger County leans older: the median home dates to 1973, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the north has the oldest housing.
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 Alger County
| Period | Alger County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $543 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $579 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $750 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $625 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$82 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Alger County costs $625 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $82 a month since 2006–10, up 15%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 22.3% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the north and lowest in the southwest.
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 Alger County
Bachelor's degrees in Alger County
| Period | Alger County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.6% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.0% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.2% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.9% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Alger County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 20.9%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 4.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the south.
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 Alger County
| Period | Alger County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.7% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.2% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.8% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.8% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.1 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Alger County is above the national rate: 93.8% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 8.1 points, mirroring the country.
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 Alger County
| Period | Alger County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Alger County is close to the national rate: 5.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 4.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Alger County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alger County | 2.20 | 49.8 | 5.7% | 13.7% | 41.9% | 1973 | $625 | 20.9% | 93.8% | 5.9% |
| Marquette County | 2.26 | 40.5 | 6.9% | 30.4% | 13.2% | 1967 | $1,022 | 37.2% | 95.7% | 4.7% |
| Luce County | 2.13 | 45.6 | 10.4% | 17.4% | 31.2% | 1972 | $655 | 17.8% | 93.0% | 8.6% |
| Chippewa County | 2.40 | 42.6 | 10.9% | 25.0% | 20.9% | 1973 | $782 | 23.4% | 92.9% | 6.1% |
| Gogebic County | 2.04 | 49.4 | 8.1% | 19.0% | 29.4% | 1953 | $652 | 22.2% | 95.8% | 6.8% |
| Iron County | 1.97 | 54.1 | 7.9% | 11.5% | 38.7% | 1968 | $673 | 25.9% | 95.1% | 2.4% |
| Ashland County | 2.31 | 43.3 | 8.0% | 26.6% | 22.4% | 1969 | $742 | 25.4% | 95.7% | 3.8% |
| Crow Wing County | 2.28 | 46.3 | 8.3% | 23.0% | 23.3% | 1986 | $1,039 | 29.2% | 94.6% | 5.2% |
| Otter Tail County | 2.41 | 45.9 | 6.5% | 20.5% | 24.5% | 1978 | $900 | 27.7% | 94.0% | 4.5% |
| Wilkin County | 2.34 | 42.1 | 9.5% | 20.3% | 10.6% | 1968 | $1,167 | 22.1% | 93.2% | 4.3% |
| Richland County | 2.25 | 39.1 | 7.9% | 31.9% | 8.7% | 1971 | $697 | 25.4% | 94.4% | 1.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Bamberg County, SC · Divide County, ND · Lake County, OR · Clinch County, GA · Sioux County, ND · Oneida County, ID · Washington County, ID · Sierra County, NM · Sierra County, CA · Humboldt County, NV
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 Alger County. 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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