The Town FilesAlpena, Michigan
City in Alpena County · population 10,197 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $118,700
- Household income
- $47,545
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 59 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 46.0
Alpena is a city of 10,197 people in Alpena County, Michigan. The median home is worth $118,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 93% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 92% of Michigan towns.
How Alpena ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Alpena is worth $118,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $47,545, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $625 a month. 66.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alpena | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $118,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $625 | $955 |
| Median household income | $47,545 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 66.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.4% | — |
Who lives in Alpena
| People | Alpena | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 11.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Alpena
July highs average 77.1°F and January lows 13.4°F. About 31.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 59.4 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alpena since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 7, 1971 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 9, 2001.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 7, 2025.
Severe weather in Alpena County since 1996
Alpena County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Alpena County
Alpena County had 12,191 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,642 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Alpena itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Public schools in Alpena
7 public schools with 3,087 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpena High School | 8-12 | 1,096 | 18.0 |
| Thunder Bay Junior High School | 6-8 | 803 | 16.1 |
| Besser Elementary School | K-5 | 493 | 19.7 |
| Ella M White Elementary | K-5 | 453 | 18.1 |
| Lincoln Elementary | K-5 | 131 | 14.6 |
| ACES Academy | 7-12 | 71 | 8.9 |
| Pied Piper School | PK-12 | 40 | 5.7 |
Towns near Alpena
- Alpena, MI2.1 mi · 9,116 people · home $183,600
- Maple Ridge, MI6.8 mi · 1,559 people · home $166,000
- Wilson, MI9.8 mi · 1,972 people · home $165,400
- Ossineke, MI11.5 mi · 932 people · home $159,200
- Presque Isle, MI12.3 mi · 1,698 people · home $239,000
- Sanborn, MI12.4 mi · 2,084 people · home $155,700
- Long Rapids, MI12.8 mi · 977 people · home $134,100
- Krakow, MI16.9 mi · 666 people · home $237,200
Alpena questions
Is Alpena, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alpena scores better for retirees than 19% of Michigan towns and quieter than 19%. 23.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.0).
How much does a house cost in Alpena?
The median owner-occupied home in Alpena is valued at $118,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,545, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $625 a month.
What is the weather like in Alpena?
July highs average 77.1°F and January lows 13.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.9 inches of precipitation a year and 59.4 inches of snow.
Does Alpena get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alpena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 7, 1971. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)