A nature-based community on the banks of Lake Huron
Alpena rests on the shores of Lake Huron, built around a river and a wildlife preserve. “We are a nature-based community with a slower pace of life, freedom of movement and fresher air,” says President of the Alpena Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Mary Beth Stutzman. “But we still have all the modern conveniences of city living.” Although the population remains steady at around 10,000, Alpena is the largest commercial hub in northeast Michigan. Though tourism is a significant part of the economy, the largest employer is the Alpena Regional Medical Center.
Explore the NOAA center which covers the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena.
Alpena is home to Besser and several other large concrete manufacturing companies.
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Older homes with a high demand
The median home price in Alpena is $170,000, well below the state and national median. Homes along the lakeshore can be $500,000 or more. “There is a large demand, but inventory can be limited,” says Bill Houston, a Realtor with Re/Max New Horizons who has worked in the city for over 45 years. “So, we often see multiple offers on homes.” It's common to see bungalows from the 1920s and ranch-style houses from the 1950s to the 1990s. “Like many northern Michigan cities, we are lagging behind in terms of new construction,” Houston says. Because of all the surrounding waterways, many homes are at risk of flooding and may require additional insurance.
Large lakefront homes can be found in small quantities in and around Alpena.
Historic bungalow, ranch, and national style homes are found throughout Alpena.
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Shipwrecks, stargazing, fossil hunting and more outdoor attractions
Rockport State Recreation Area is a 300-acre limestone quarry and designated dark sky zone, meaning it has some of the lowest light pollution on the Great Lakes. Visitors can watch meteor showers and glimpse the northern lights, and the rocky beaches are popular for fossil hunting. “You literally trip over the fossils because there are so many,” Stutzman says. Alpena's coastline is also home to over 200 shipwrecks, preserved in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The wrecks can be viewed via glass-bottom boat tours and scuba diving expeditions.More traditional outdoor recreation is almost at every corner. “We are surrounded by water and every kind of outdoor recreation,” Houston says. “Hiking, biking, skiing, kayaking, snowmobiling — you name it, we’ve got it.” During chilly winters, the city has a large athletic center and an indoor hockey rink.
Observe the night sky unimpeded by light pollution at Rockport State Recreation Area.
Cross country skiers flock to Thunder Bay River State Forest for its well-groomed trails.
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Alpena Public Schools teaches environmental stewardship
Alpena Public Schools gets a C rating from Niche. “Our district has a lot of unique programs about environmental celebration and preservation,” Stutzman says. “Kids get to watch salmon grow from eggs or take field trips to clean up the riverside.” Alpena High offers Career & Technical Education courses. A dual credit program with the local Alpena Community College allows students to graduate with an associate degree.
Alpena High School has 1,101 students and earned a B- rating in 2025 according to Niche.com.
Alpena Community College is home to Kaiser Paul, a Paul Bunyan statute made from car parts.
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Home-grown businesses bring local flair
Alpena’s riverside downtown district is the city’s hub for shopping and dining. “Downtown is truly the heart of the community for people who live here,” says Anne Gentry, executive director of the downtown development authority. “It’s where they go to meet up with friends for dinner or a drink, or to peruse locally owned stores and galleries.”
“We have a lot of local home-grown businesses that bring their special passion to Alpena,” Stutzman says. “Whether that’s a cider tasting room, an authentic Polish restaurant, or a comic bookstore serving gourmet hot dogs.” Although the Alpena Mall closed in 2022, the city still has brand-name grocers.
Downtown Alpena is home to several locally owned breweries, like Presque Isle Farm Cider.
Gather with friends after work for craft cocktails at Red Brick Tap & Barrel in Alpena.
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Festivals center around the arts and the outdoors
The city hosts the annual Brown Trout Festival, the longest-running fishing tournament in the Great Lakes. During the Alpena Flower Festival, local businesses decorate with elaborate floral displays. More than 30 ice sculptures are set up around town for the Alpena Ice Festival. The Besser Planetarium showcases the stars and Thunder Bay Theater hosts year-round performances.
Religion also plays an important role in the community. There are more than 20 houses of worship in the Alpena area, most of them Christian denominations. The city also has one of the only synagogues in northern Michigan.
Alpena’s airport has flights to Detroit
Unlike most northern Michigan cities, Alpena has its own commercial airport, but the Alpena County Regional Airport only offers flights to Detroit. The city is at the intersection of U.S. Route 23, which runs along the coast of Lake Huron, and Michigan Route 32. A few bus services run through Alpena, connecting south Detroit and north to the Canadian border.
Important to know
According to Michigan State Police, both violent and property crime rates in Alpena are below the state average.
Summers are warm, and winters can be long and cold. According to the National Weather Service, the city's average annual snowfall is more than 6 feet.
Written By
Catherine Lashley
Photography Contributed By
Owen Kaufman
Video By
Derek Fowler
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jacqueline Kimball,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Alpena, MI sell after 32 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Alpena, MI over the last 12 months is $173,000, up 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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