Alger County, MI Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Alger County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,865 | 9,970,748 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 1.8 | 103.1 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.91% | 0.18% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 46.6 | 40.1 | 37.1 |
| Households | 3,490 | 4,038,037 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Alger County declined by 7.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 8,813 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Alger County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Alger County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,225 | $71,353 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.34% | 4.94% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Alger County is about 17% lower than in Michigan.
Housing
| Metric | Alger County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $169,166 | $134,610 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $711 | $1,084 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.3% | 72.9% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Alger County is about 19.8 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $711 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Alger County spend about 35 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 147 hours, about 6.1 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Alger County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 17.6 | 21.4 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 35.3 | 42.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 147 | 179 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,556 | $5,537 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 12.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,963 | 8,204 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 153 | 1,585 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Michigan:
Luce County (10.8 min), Dickinson County (12.6 min), Baraga County (13.1 min).
Slowest:
Lapeer County (31.2 min), Livingston County (30.1 min), Barry County (27.7 min).
The average commute time in Alger County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Alger County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Alger County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.0% | 28.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.23 | 2.43 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Michigan:
Washtenaw County (0.4), Oakland County (0.4), Leelanau County (0.4).
Lowest:
Lake County (0.2), Oscoda County (0.2), Kalkaska County (0.2).
Health
Alger County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Alger County | Michigan Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.2 | 78.3 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 16.7% | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 21.8% | 20.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Michigan:
Washtenaw County (0.8), Ottawa County (0.8), Livingston County (0.8).
Lowest:
Clare County (0.8), Oscoda County (0.8), Lake County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Alger County, Michigan.
What is the population of Alger County, Michigan?
The population of Alger County, Michigan is 8,865, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Alger County, Michigan?
The population density of Alger County, Michigan is 1.8 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Alger County, Michigan?
The median household income in Alger County, Michigan is $59,225, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Alger County, Michigan?
The median home price in Alger County, Michigan is $169,166, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Alger County, Michigan?
The unemployment rate in Alger County, Michigan is 6.3%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.