Population 18,421 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Alpena
Household size in Alpena
| Period | Alpena | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.16 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.20 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.13 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.10 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Alpena is a place of small households, averaging 2.10 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.16, as it has nationally. Of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people, only 14 have smaller households.
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 Alpena
| Period | Alpena | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.5 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.9 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.6 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.1 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.6 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Alpena skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 44.5 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Alpena
| Period | Alpena | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.7% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Alpena (10.8%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Alpena has a higher share of single-parent households than most Michigan cities.
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 Alpena
Renters in Alpena
| Period | Alpena | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.6% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.1% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.2% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.9% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Alpena own their homes; 24.9% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 52.3% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the north and least common in the southwest. The renter share has edged up 1.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Alpena
| Period | Alpena | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.9% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.5% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Alpena: 12.2% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones.
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 Alpena
| Period | Alpena | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1962 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +3 | +6 |
Alpena is a place of older homes: half were built before 1962, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the east.
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 Alpena
| Period | Alpena | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $486 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $560 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $584 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $709 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$223 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in Alpena pays $709 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $223 a month since 2006–10, up 46%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 35.0% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the south and lowest in the north.
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 Alpena
Bachelor's degrees in Alpena
| Period | Alpena | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.9% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.6% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.2% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.4% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Alpena: 18.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Alpena has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Michigan cities.
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 Alpena
| Period | Alpena | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.0% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.0% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.7% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.5% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Alpena is a bit above the national rate: 92.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Michigan. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.5 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 Alpena
| Period | Alpena | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Alpena is close to the national rate: 5.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 4.4 points, in line with the national trend. 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).
Alpena 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpena | 2.10 | 48.1 | 10.8% | 24.9% | 12.2% | 1962 | $709 | 18.4% | 92.5% | 5.8% |
| Alpena Junction | 2.41 | 47.9 | 14.8% | 17.6% | 19.0% | 1979 | $673 | 19.0% | 95.2% | 8.2% |
| Cathro | 2.32 | 47.8 | 10.4% | 13.0% | 22.8% | 1973 | $705 | 14.1% | 93.1% | 8.1% |
| Herron | 2.42 | 48.8 | 10.5% | 6.2% | 19.9% | 1977 | $899 | 11.5% | 92.2% | 6.0% |
| Ossineke | 2.49 | 46.8 | 4.5% | 9.6% | 13.1% | 1973 | $892 | 18.4% | 94.0% | 8.3% |
| Bell | 2.07 | 58.5 | 4.4% | 4.9% | 34.0% | 1977 | $683 | 37.7% | 97.3% | 3.6% |
| Hubbard Lake | 2.50 | 42.5 | 4.5% | 6.1% | 31.3% | 1972 | $1,101 | 19.9% | 92.2% | 2.8% |
| Spratt | 2.23 | 55.3 | 6.6% | 6.3% | 37.1% | 1977 | $956 | 18.2% | 89.1% | 6.2% |
| Lachine | 2.24 | 55.2 | 7.6% | 7.4% | 33.9% | 1978 | $849 | 16.9% | 89.2% | 6.3% |
| Presque Isle | 1.84 | 62.7 | 1.4% | 5.2% | 43.1% | 1985 | $932 | 34.6% | 97.6% | 5.1% |
| Spruce | 2.10 | 56.9 | 5.2% | 3.9% | 48.7% | 1975 | $1,014 | 30.1% | 94.9% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Douglas, AZ · Winthrop Town, MA · Newberry, SC · Havelock, NC · Northfield, OH · Santa Fe Springs, CA · Santa Rosa Beach, FL · Norton, MA · Pikeville, KY · Godfrey, IL
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 Alpena. 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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