Alpena County, Michigan Demographics 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
Alpena County, Michigan has a population of 28,880, the 50th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $53,950 and the median home value is $153,900. The poverty rate is 18.0%.
Alpena County Quick Facts
How Alpena 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 | 28,520 | 28,880 | +1.3% |
| Median household income | $53,367 | $53,950 | No clear change (+1.1%) |
| Median home value¹ | $118,763 | $153,900 | +29.6% |
| Median gross rent | $734 | $673 | -8.2% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 92.4%
- Black: 1.0%
- Hispanic: 1.7%
- Asian: 0.2%
- Other: 0.5%
Diversity Index
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+)
- < HS: 7.4%
- HS Diploma: 34.7%
- Some College: 25.0%
- Associate's: 14.5%
- Bachelor's: 11.5%
- Graduate+: 6.9%
Cities & Places in Alpena County
Explore Michigan Rankings
Population Overview
Alpena County is located in Michigan with a total population of 28,880. It is the 50th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Alpena County is 47.8 years. This is 19% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 10.3% 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 Alpena County is $53,950. This is 26% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.0%. This is 36% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 6.2%. This is 8% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $153,900. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Alpena County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 73.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Alpena County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.7%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.
Education
18.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% 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 92.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Alpena 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 Alpena County, Michigan?
Alpena County has a population of 28,880, making it the 50th most populous county in Michigan.
What is the median income in Alpena County?
The median household income in Alpena County is $53,950 with a poverty rate of 18.0%.
How many cities are in Alpena County, Michigan?
Alpena County contains 3 Census-designated places.