County profile · Michigan
Alpena County, MI market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Alpena County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 28,853
- −0.1% since 2020
- Households
- 13,019
- Median household income
- $53,950
- +24.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $153,900
- Jobs located here
- 11,363
- Highest market score
- 53
- Real estate agents and brokers, #876 of 2,176 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Alpena County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Alpena County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 28,853 people live in Alpena County, in 13,019 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Alpena County declined 0.1%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Alpena County is $53,950 a year, 33% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 24.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Alpena County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 96, where 100 is the U.S. average, so still below it) and the least on child care and other personal services (53).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Alpena County are for real estate agents and brokers (53), chiropractors (50) and spas and skin care studios (50). Alpena County ranks #876 of 2,176 scored counties for real estate agents and brokers.
Alpena County is part of the Alpena area. For its number of households, Alpena County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for electricians (3.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (57% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Alpena County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Alpena County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate agents and brokers | 53 | #876 of 2,176 | 17 | 13.1 | Index only | 174 | 3 |
| Chiropractors | 50 | #732 of 1,490 | 7 | 5.4 | $2.3M | 95 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 50 | #860 of 1,769 | 5 | 3.8 | $2.2M | 250 | 4 |
| Real estate | 49 | #1,132 of 2,229 | 25 | 19.2 | Index only | 149 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 48 | #996 of 1,889 | 10 | 7.7 | $4.2M | 102 | 4 |
| Insurance agencies | 48 | #1,167 of 2,272 | 11 | 8.4 | $1.7M | 138 | 9 |
| Funeral homes | 47 | #799 of 1,472 | 6 | 4.6 | $378K | 56 | 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 45 | #1,207 of 2,063 | 12 | 9.2 | $3.5M | 95 | 4 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 45 | #1,302 of 2,210 | 21 | 16.1 | $1.1M | 119 | 7 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 45 | #1,335 of 2,222 | 15 | 11.5 | $2.8M | 93 | 21 |
| Pizza | 44 | #1,262 of 2,090 | 10 | 7.7 | $4.2M | 83 | 21 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 44 | #1,518 of 2,385 | 46 | 35.3 | $238K | 112 | 8 |
| Physical therapy | 43 | #893 of 1,422 | 7 | 5.4 | $2.3M | 94 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 43 | #1,091 of 1,707 | 7 | 5.4 | $4.3M | 91 | 9 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 41 | #1,358 of 2,087 | 17 | 13.1 | $1.3M | 102 | 7 |
| Convenience stores | 39 | #1,521 of 2,261 | 15 | 11.5 | $4.7M | 60 | 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 39 | #1,645 of 2,405 | 116 | 89.1 | $365K | 98 | 50 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 38 | #1,713 of 2,405 | 57 | 43.8 | $743K | 112 | 25 |
| Hair salons | 36 | #1,851 of 2,339 | 36 | 27.7 | $304K | 71 | 4 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 34 | #1,942 of 2,394 | 117 | 89.9 | $135K | 89 | 35 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 32 | #1,583 of 1,886 | 17 | 13.1 | $931K | 95 | 12 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 32 | #1,725 of 2,088 | 15 | 11.5 | $566K | 86 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | 31 | #1,195 of 1,485 | 7 | 5.4 | $1.3M | 48 | 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 31 | #1,548 of 1,771 | 13 | 10.0 | $1.1M | 63 | 10 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 31 | #1,923 of 2,402 | 33 | 25.3 | $2.1M | 63 | 9 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 30 | #1,281 of 1,493 | 9 | 6.9 | $1.5M | 53 | 7 |
| Gyms | 30 | #1,491 of 1,792 | 9 | 6.9 | $944K | 73 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 28 | #1,697 of 2,070 | 12 | 9.2 | $5.9M | 64 | 6 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 26 | #1,129 of 1,302 | 7 | 5.4 | $2.3M | 72 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 25 | #1,182 of 1,327 | 5 | 3.8 | $2.4M | 78 | 7 |
| Gas stations | 25 | #2,116 of 2,358 | 28 | 21.5 | $1.1M | 47 | 16 |
| Home repair trades | 24 | #1,948 of 2,057 | 20 | 15.4 | $1.5M | 62 | 20 |
| Pet businesses | 21 | #2,101 of 2,200 | 24 | 18.4 | $378K | 43 | 7 |
| Electricians | 20 | #1,103 of 1,160 | 10 | 7.7 | $3M | 25 | 8 |
| Car washes and detailing | 20 | #1,366 of 1,451 | 9 | 6.9 | $1.3M | 53 | 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 15 | #2,331 of 2,378 | 47 | 36.1 | $255K | 57 | 23 |
| Auto repair and car care | 15 | #2,349 of 2,401 | 74 | 56.8 | $162K | 60 | 31 |
| Property management | 13 | #904 of 910 | 5 | 3.8 | Index only | 58 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 13 | #1,427 of 1,461 | 10 | 7.7 | $906K | 36 | 4 |
| Pet stores | 12 | #946 of 974 | 5 | 3.8 | $1.8M | 40 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.1 | $993K | 99 | 6 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.1 | $4M | 222 | 16 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $4.6M | 72 | 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $2.8M | 140 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $10.1M | 120 | 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $4M | 159 | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $2.8M | 70 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $5.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $5.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $22.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $22.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $12M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $13.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $15.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
Household spending in Alpena County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $12M | $920 | 96 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $31.4M | $2,410 | 93 |
| Food away from home | $42.3M | $3,252 | 80 |
| Groceries | $70.8M | $5,440 | 86 |
| Personal care products and services | $10.9M | $841 | 84 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4M | $305 | 53 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $8.5M | $653 | 66 |
| Medical and dental services | $15.8M | $1,216 | 94 |
| Pets | $9.1M | $696 | 77 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $22.1M | $1,694 | 82 |
| Vehicle insurance | $19M | $1,462 | 75 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $30.3M | $2,330 | 77 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $13.8M | $1,063 | 75 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $161.3M | $12,389 | 74 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Alpena County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 28,853−0.1% since 2020
- Households
- 13,019
- Median age
- 47.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 80%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 572 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 50
- Median household income
- $53,950+24.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $74,418
- Median home value
- $153,900
- Jobs located here
- 11,363
- Daytime population
- 29,194Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Alpena County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Alpena County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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Questions
How fast is Alpena County, MI growing?
Population estimates put Alpena County at 28,853 people in 2025, down 0.1% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 13,019 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 24.4%, before inflation.
How much do households in Alpena County, MI spend?
Households in Alpena County spend about $161.3M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $70.8M on groceries and $42.3M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Alpena County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 96, where 100 is the U.S. average, so still below it) and lowest on child care and other personal services (53).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Alpena County, MI?
Of the business types scored in Alpena County, real estate agents and brokers (53), chiropractors (50) and spas and skin care studios (50) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For real estate agents and brokers, that ranks #876 of 2,176 scored counties.
How does Alpena County, MI compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Alpena County is $53,950, 33% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 0.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $153,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for electricians (3.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (57% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 40 of the 56 business types have a score in Alpena County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Alpena County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Alpena County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Alpena County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.