The Town FilesLong Rapids, Michigan
Township in Alpena County · population 977 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $134,100
- Household income
- $60,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 78 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 53.6
Long Rapids is a township of 977 people in Alpena County, Michigan. The median home is worth $134,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks quieter than 98% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 97% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 90% of Michigan towns.
How Long Rapids 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 Long Rapids is worth $134,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $60,000, which is more affordable than 89% of Michigan towns. 92.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Long Rapids | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $134,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $60,000 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.2% | — |
Who lives in Long Rapids
| People | Long Rapids | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Long Rapids
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 11.9°F. About 29.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 77.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Long Rapids since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 18, 2007 about 3.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 18, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 20, 2022.
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 Long Rapids itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Towns near Long Rapids
- Maple Ridge, MI6.3 mi · 1,559 people · home $166,000
- Posen, MI6.7 mi · 808 people · home $121,900
- Krakow, MI10.4 mi · 666 people · home $237,200
- Wilson, MI10.5 mi · 1,972 people · home $165,400
- Green, MI11.7 mi · 1,117 people · home $167,100
- Hillman, MI12.0 mi · 605 people · home $87,000
- Alpena, MI12.8 mi · 10,197 people · home $118,700
- Belknap, MI13.6 mi · 686 people · home $154,500
Long Rapids questions
Is Long Rapids, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Long Rapids scores better for retirees than 90% of Michigan towns and quieter than 98%. 34.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.6).
How much does a house cost in Long Rapids?
The median owner-occupied home in Long Rapids is valued at $134,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,000, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Long Rapids?
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 11.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.7 inches of precipitation a year and 77.6 inches of snow.
Does Long Rapids get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Long Rapids since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 18, 2007. 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)