Cost of Living in Alger County, Michigan
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Alger County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Alger County ranks #811 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 26%)
Sourced county brief
Alger County Median Gross Rent Percentage Below State Unweighted Mean
Alger County, Michigan, recorded an official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) of 21.9% in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey estimates. This canonical rent-to-income percentage is 7.0 percentage points below the Michigan unweighted county mean of 28.9%. The median gross rent for the county was $714 per month, while the state unweighted county mean was $906. For owner-occupied housing, the median home value was estimated at $176,200, which is $21,093 lower than the state unweighted county mean of $197,293. Median selected monthly owner costs were $795 per month, below the state unweighted mean of $918. Renter-household income in the county was estimated at $28,654. These statistics are part of the acs5-2020-2024 data version and methodology version cost-brief-v1. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Alger County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 21.9% of renter household income in Alger County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $714 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $795. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $28,560 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Michigan unweighted mean of county median rents is $906 per month. Alger County's $714 median is 21.2% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Alger County
Rent Burden
14.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,430
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.6%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Alger County
Median home value is $176,200. Estimated monthly cost: $1,407 vs. your max of $1,430.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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