Signals
Alpena
Canton
Growth
42 · Bottom 36%
vs31 · Bottom 21%
Climate
55 · Bottom 11%
vs61 · Bottom 32%
Physical resilience
94 · Top 2%
vs80 · Top 14%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
94 · Top 17%
vs85 · Top 33%
Economic stability
18 · Bottom 8%
vs36 · Bottom 30%
Measured values
| Metric | Alpena | Canton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,880 | 33,020 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $53,950 | $60,599 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,583 | $32,918 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 50/sq mi | 38/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $153,900 | $107,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $673 | $785 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 80.0% | 76.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.3% | 18.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.0% | 13.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 49 | 19 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.7 | 0.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 8.9% | 72.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 77°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 13°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 31.9" | 37.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 30 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 26.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 47.8 | 43.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Alpena
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Canton
Elevated or high exposure: hail, strong wind, tornado.
Full profiles: Alpena, MI Micro Area · Canton, IL Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology