Signals
Escanaba
Alpena
Opportunity
16 · Bottom 1%
vs18 · Bottom 1%
Climate
51 · Bottom 1%
vs55 · Bottom 4%
Physical resilience
91 · Top 10%
vs93 · Top 8%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 8%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools
55 · Top 46%
vs47 · Bottom 45%
Access
69 · Bottom 11%
vs95 · Top 40%
Economic stability
31 · Bottom 8%
vs33 · Bottom 10%
Measured values
| Metric | Escanaba | Alpena | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,354 | 10,154 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $45,369 | $47,545 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,014 | $35,201 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 969/sq mi | 1,243/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $125,200 | $118,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $657 | $625 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.9% | 66.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -6.5% | -6.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.8% | 16.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 21.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| 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 | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 12.6 min | 12.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.4 | 46.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 8 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.35 | 16.55 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 32.0% | 27.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 57.3% | 46.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 55.8% | 62.5% | 2024-25 school 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 · Alpena, MI · How this is calculated: methodology