What are the schools like in Alpena, MI?

Alpena is served primarily by Alpena Public Schools. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.7:1.

What is the median household income in Alpena?

The median household income in Alpena, MI is $43,613 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.9%.

What is the weather like in Alpena, MI?

Alpena has an average high temperature of 27.1°F in January and 77.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 31.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 59.4 inches.

Alpena, MI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Alpena, MI affordable or expensive?

Alpena's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Alpena is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $105,400 and the median rent is $569 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Alpena, MI?

Alpena has a violent crime rate of 514.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 989.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Alpena, MI a Good Place to Live?

Alpena is a small city of 10,200 in Michigan, with a median household income of $43,613 and a 8.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Alpena stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Alpena is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Alpena city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 88.6

Alpena's overall cost of living index is 88.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Alpena costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Alpena, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$105,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$569	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	63.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$43,613	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Alpena's violent crime rate is 514.4 per 100,000 residents — 35% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

514.4 /100k

Property Crime

989.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Alpena is served primarily by Alpena Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.7:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Alpena, MI	National Avg
School District	Alpena Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Alpena sees average highs of 27.1°F in January and 77.1°F in July, with 31.9 inches of annual precipitation and 59.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Alpena, MI
Average High — January	27.1°F
Average High — July	77.1°F
Annual Precipitation	31.9"
Annual Snowfall	59.4"

Demographics

Metric	Alpena, MI	National Avg
Population	10,200	—
Median Age	44.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	11.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	18.2%	22.2%
65 and over	21.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ossineke, MI 11 mi Presque Isle Harbor, MI 17 mi Posen, MI 18 mi Hubbard Lake, MI 18 mi Lost Lake Woods, MI 19 mi

ZIP Codes in Alpena

Alpena, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49707

Alpena vs Other Cities

Alpena, MI vs Ossineke, MI Alpena, MI vs Presque Isle Harbor, MI Alpena, MI vs Posen, MI Alpena, MI vs Hubbard Lake, MI Alpena, MI vs Lost Lake Woods, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alpena, MI affordable or expensive?

Alpena's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Alpena roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $105,400 and median rent is $569/month.

What is the crime rate in Alpena, MI?

Alpena's violent crime rate is 514.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 989.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Alpena?

Public schools in Alpena are operated by Alpena Public Schools. The district has 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.7:1. 13.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Alpena, MI a good place to live?

Alpena, MI has a population of 10,200, a median household income of $43,613, and an unemployment rate of 8.9%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Alpena?

Alpena averages 27.1°F in January and 77.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.9 inches with about 59.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Alpena?

Alpena, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49707.

What is the population of Alpena?

The population of Alpena, Michigan is 10,200 with a median age of 44.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Alpena?

Key numbers for living in Alpena: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $105,400, median household income $43,613, crime index 100 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Alpena side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.