Alpena County, Michigan Income Statistics
Alpena 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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C
Alpena County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Alpena County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $54,138 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $50,247 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.0% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.0% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.8% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Alpena County is about 26% lower than in Michigan. Income has been growing slower in Alpena County (4.0%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Alpena 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 Alpena County, Michigan grew by 48.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $54,138 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.0% per year.
Alpena County has been far below the U.S. median household income in every year from 2009 to 2024. Even at its closest, in 2012, its income was 26% lower. The gap has widened from 29% in 2009 to 33% in 2024.
Income Distribution in Alpena County
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 3,086 households (23.7% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 31.8% of households in Alpena County had an income under $35,000 and 9.5% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., Alpena County has a larger share of households earning $35,000 to $49,999 (14.7% vs 10.1%) and a smaller share earning $200,000 or more (3.8% vs 13.2%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 681 | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 1,016 | 7.8% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 1,327 | 10.2% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 1,117 | 8.6% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 1,912 | 14.7% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 2,364 | 18.2% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 1,516 | 11.6% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 1,846 | 14.2% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 743 | 5.7% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 497 | 3.8% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 13,019 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 1,715 residents (7.0% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 7.6% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 8.3% of Alpena County residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 40.9% had some income but less than $25,000, and 13.0% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., Alpena County has a larger share of residents earning $10,000 to $14,999 (13.0% vs 7.0%) and a smaller share earning $100,000 or more (7.0% vs 13.9%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 2,034 | 8.3% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 3,072 | 12.5% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 3,190 | 13.0% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 3,800 | 15.4% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 2,554 | 10.4% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 3,529 | 14.3% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 3,218 | 13.1% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 1,489 | 6.1% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 1,715 | 7.0% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 24,601 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 8.3% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Alpena County
| Metric | Alpena County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.527 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,157 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,401 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.2% | 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 Alpena County, it is 0.527, lower than Michigan's 0.539, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 25% more than women's income in Alpena County, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $411,460 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Alpena County, Michigan has narrowed from about 34% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 9% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,014 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Alpena County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.8% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 804 people are unemployed in Alpena County, Michigan.
The average commute time in Alpena County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Alpena County, Michigan has fallen from 11.3% to 6.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 6.0% in 2018.
Alpena County has been above the U.S. unemployment rate in most years since 2011, but briefly dipped below it in 2017 (0.2 points lower). In 2024 its rate was 0.9 points higher.
Alpena County, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Alpena County, MI is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 28,880 residents against a local median of 10,397. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Alpena County, MI an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is income growth, 10% below the local median at 4.0%/yr against 4.4%/yr. Alpena County, MI has the 4th highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpena County, MI | 28,880 | $54,138 #3/6 | 4.0%/yr #4/6 | 6.2% #3/6 | 0.527 #6/6 |
| Alcona County, MI | 10,397 | $56,104 | 4.9%/yr | 4.5% | 0.489 |
| Presque Isle County, MI | 13,209 | $59,470 | 4.5%/yr | 6.5% | 0.494 |
| Iosco County, MI | 25,347 | $50,099 | 3.2%/yr | 6.5% | 0.516 |
| Montmorency County, MI | 9,516 | $49,764 | 3.8%/yr | 5.3% | 0.500 |
| Oscoda County, MI | 8,425 | $49,477 | 4.4%/yr | 8.0% | 0.516 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Alpena County, Michigan has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Michigan, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Alpena County, Michigan.
How Wealthy Is Alpena County, Michigan?
Alpena County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $54,138, about 26% lower than the Michigan average of $72,977.
How fast is household income rising in Alpena County, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Alpena County, Michigan rose 49%, from $36,421 to $54,138. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Michigan as a whole: +49% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Alpena County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Alpena County, Michigan was $52,536, up 7% from $49,105 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Alpena County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Alpena County, Michigan was $42,690. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $54,138.
What is the Gini coefficient in Alpena County, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Alpena County is 0.527. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Alpena County, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Alpena County, Michigan has narrowed from about 34% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 9% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,014 since 2009.
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