Alger County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

Alger County, Michigan has a population of 8,762, the 77th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $61,286 and the median home value is $176,200. The poverty rate is 10.4%.

Alger County Quick Facts

Population 8,762

Median Household Income $61,28690% MOE ±$1,930

Median Home Value $176,20090% MOE ±$10,899

Poverty Rate 10.4%90% MOE ±1.8 pts

Unemployment Rate 6.8%90% MOE ±2.3 pts

Median Age 49.1 years90% MOE ±0.5 years

Homeownership Rate 86.3%90% MOE ±2.6 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.9x

Bachelor's Degree+ 21.0%90% MOE ±2.2 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 93.9%

Cities/Places 3

Population 8,762 77th of 83

Median Income $61,286 16% lower than state

Poverty Rate 10.4%

Unemployment 6.8%

How Alger County Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	9,151	8,762	-4.3%
Median household income	$56,083	$61,286	No clear change (+9.3%)
Median home value¹	$167,622	$176,200	No clear change (+5.1%)
Median gross rent	$800	$714	-10.7%

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

Alger

$61,286

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Alger

$176,200

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.7%

$25K-$50K 21.9%

$50K-$100K 37.4%

$100K+ 23.1%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

6.7%

$10K-$15K

3.8%

$15K-$20K

3.1%

$20K-$25K

4.2%

$25K-$30K

5.1%

$30K-$35K

2.6%

$35K-$40K

3.9%

$40K-$45K

4.3%

$45K-$50K

6.0%

$50K-$60K

7.9%

$60K-$75K

15.5%

$75K-$100K

14.0%

$100K-$125K

7.7%

$125K-$150K

6.9%

$150K-$200K

5.1%

$200K+

3.3%

Employment

6.8% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

41.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 86.3%

Renter 13.7%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.9x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $714/mo 14.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

14.6%

18-34

19.3%

35-54

22.6%

55-74

33.3%

75+

10.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Alger County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Munising	1,975	$59,808	4.2%	$117,300
Grand Marais	153	$49,625	0.0%	$166,700
Chatham	135	$48,438	15.7%	$131,300

Explore Michigan Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Alger County is located in Michigan with a total population of 8,762. It is the 77th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Alger County is 49.1 years. This is 22% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 14.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Alger County is $61,286. This is 16% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.4%. This is 22% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 6.8%. This is 19% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $176,200. Housing costs are 24% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Alger County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Alger County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 7.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

21.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% lower than the state rate of 32.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Alger County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Michigan and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Alger County, Michigan?

Alger County has a population of 8,762, making it the 77th most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Alger County?

The median household income in Alger County is $61,286 with a poverty rate of 10.4%.

How many cities are in Alger County, Michigan?

Alger County contains 3 Census-designated places.