Alger County, Michigan Income Statistics
Alger County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Alger County Well below averageAmong the 3 least wealthy counties in Michigan
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Alger County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $62,450 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,726 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.4% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.2% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.3% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Alger County is about 14% lower than in Michigan. Income has been growing faster in Alger County (5.4%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Alger County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Michigan average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Alger County, Michigan grew by 51.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $62,450 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Alger County
| Metric | Alger County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.558 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $66,107 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $52,708 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.3% | 21.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Alger County, it is 0.558, higher than Michigan's 0.539, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 25% more than women's income in Alger County, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $468,965 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Alger County, Michigan has narrowed from about 31% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 34% in 2012, and was narrowest at 17% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,247 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Alger County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.2% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 216 people are unemployed in Alger County, Michigan.
The average commute time in Alger County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Alger County, Michigan has fallen from 13.5% to 6.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 4.7% in 2020.
Alger County, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Alger County, MI is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 8,761 residents against a local median of 25,954. Alger County, MI's unemployment, at 6.8%, runs 49% above the 4.6% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 6.3% on unemployment, so Alger County, MI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Alger County, MI has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alger County, MI | 8,761 | $62,450 #3/6 | 5.4%/yr #2/6 | 6.8% #5/6 | 0.558 #5/6 |
| Schoolcraft County, MI | 8,128 | $57,138 | 5.7%/yr | 6.2% | 0.504 |
| Luce County, MI | 6,271 | $55,506 | 4.9%/yr | 9.9% | 0.573 |
| Marquette County, MI | 66,775 | $66,054 | 4.4%/yr | 4.6% | 0.526 |
| Delta County, MI | 36,813 | $58,589 | 4.2%/yr | 4.2% | 0.516 |
| Dickinson County, MI | 25,954 | $65,732 | 5.2%/yr | 3.6% | 0.488 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Alger County, Michigan has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Michigan, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Alger County, Michigan.
How Wealthy Is Alger County, Michigan?
Alger County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $62,450, about 14% lower than the Michigan average of $72,977.
Are incomes growing in Alger County, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Alger County, Michigan rose 52%, from $41,202 to $62,450. Over the same years, income here outpaced Michigan as a whole: +52% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Alger County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Alger County, Michigan was $59,225, up 7% from $55,420 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Alger County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Alger County, Michigan was $45,257. By 2024 it had risen 38% to $62,450.
What is the Gini coefficient in Alger County, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Alger County is 0.558. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Alger County, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Alger County, Michigan has narrowed from about 31% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 34% in 2012, and was narrowest at 17% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,247 since 2009.
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