Signals
Escanaba
Alpena
Growth
47 · Bottom 45%
vs42 · Bottom 36%
Climate
51 · Bottom 3%
vs55 · Bottom 11%
Physical resilience
91 · Top 4%
vs94 · Top 2%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
69 · Bottom 36%
vs94 · Top 17%
Economic stability
30 · Bottom 21%
vs18 · Bottom 8%
Measured values
| Metric | Escanaba | Alpena | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 36,813 | 28,880 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $57,809 | $53,950 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,649 | $34,583 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 31/sq mi | 50/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $157,100 | $153,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $692 | $673 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 82.0% | 80.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.6% | 18.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 18.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 71 | 49 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 31.5% | 8.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 77°F | 77°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 8°F | 13°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 28.8" | 31.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 44 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 18.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 48.0 | 47.8 | 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
Escanaba
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Alpena
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Escanaba, MI Micro Area · Alpena, MI Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology