Cost Of Living
The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.
Housing
This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.
Amenities
A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.
Commute
Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.
Employment
A low score in the employment category could indicate that this area struggles with high unemployment rates and low household income and income per capita levels.
Ratings
AreaVibes conducted surveys and polls with locals who live in the area. The results were not favorable for walkability of amenities, parks, public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.
Located in the state of Michigan, Alpena is a small-sized city with a population of 9,987 inhabitants. At 96%, the majority of the Alpena population is White; this is followed by 1% Black and 0% Asian. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Alpena offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 10 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Alpena could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Michigan if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, crime, health & safety, education, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Alpena and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Alpena to Michigan and the national average.
The livability score in Alpena is 68 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 73rd percentile of all cities across America. There are nine total categories that create the livability score. Alpena ranks well for housing (B+) Alpena does not fare well for the following: amenities (D-), education (D) and employment (F). It might be a good idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Alpena excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Alpena is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Alpena come in at $82,200, which is 35.7% lower than the Michigan average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Alpena, the home price to income ratio is 2.2, which is 12% lower than the Michigan average.
| Statistic | Alpena | Michigan | National |
| Average one way commute | 10min | 24min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 79.0% | 82.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.2% | 8.8% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.2% | 1.4% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 2.3% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 4.0% | 2.2% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 5.3% | 3.7% | 4.6% |
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