2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Alpena, MI vs West Branch, MI

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Highlights
- Household income in West Branch, is 20% less than it is in Alpena and is 115% below the National Average.
- Alpena unemployment rate is 6.0%.
- West Branch unemployment rate is 8.5%.
 Alpena, MIWest Branch, MIUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock8.5%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock0.5%1.6%
 Future Job Growth22.6%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes6.0%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock4.3%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$28,089  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$32,172$69,021
 Family Median Income$52,074  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 Alpena, MIWest Branch, MIUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock12.3%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K8.7%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock20.3%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K12.1%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock6.8%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K6.5%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock6.7%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K12.8%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock5.5%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K1.5%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock0.5%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 Alpena, MIWest Branch, MIUnited States
 Management, business, finance11.2%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock4.6%6.5%
 Community, social services2.2%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock0.0%1.2%
 Education, library5.8%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock0.0%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology4.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock9.1%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement2.0%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock5.5%5.4%
 Building maintenance5.8%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock1.9%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support19.7%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.0%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair7.3%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock16.2%13.1%
Reviews for Alpena    5 Reviews

One of the ten best places to visit in Michigan. I was born and raised in Michigan but now live in Seattle. I get back to Michigan frequently because my brother  More

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Over 12 years ago

Alpena is 740 ft above sea leval and gets 72 in. of snow every year. That's a good thing and Alpena is a winter wonderland for me . Clean and crisp with the lake frozen  More

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Alpena is a town for all ages, with plenty to do, more than one person could attend. I think the events are varied and offer something for everyone. The town is  More

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Reviews for West Branch    1 Reviews

Over 16 years ago

pros: affordable cost of living, close to Michigan's lakes and forests cons: no jobs, small town atmosphere, sequestered location, bad winters, I lived in West  More

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