2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Shawano, WI vs Alpena, MI

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Highlights
Are people in Alpena older or younger than people in Shawano?
- The Median Age in Alpena is 7.8 years older than in Shawano.

Are housing costs cheaper in Alpena or Shawano?
- Alpena housing costs are 19.2% less expensive than Shawano housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Alpena or Shawano?
- The average commute for residents of Alpena is 7.5 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Shawano.

Things to do in Shawano?
Living in Shawano, WI is a unique experience. With a population of just over 10,000, it is small enough to feel like a tight-knit community, but has all the amenities of larger cities. The downtown area is bustling with shops and restaurants, with plenty of outdoor activities nearby such as hiking and kayaking. The people of Shawano are friendly and welcoming and everyone looks out for each other. The schools provide quality education and there are many organized activities for children of all ages. The cost of living is low, making it an attractive place to live for those on a budget. All in all, Shawano is a safe and friendly place to call home.

Things to do in Alpena?
Alpena stands out as Michigan's only natural deep water harbor conveniently situated near Lake Huron's Thunder Bay . With over 10000 inhabiting citizens this area provides tremendous recreational variety from boating expeditions to world class scuba diving dives & almost infinite outdoors fishing very popular among vacationers coming from all over United States .

 Shawano, WIAlpena, MIUnited States
 Population  Unlock10,181329,725,481
 Median Income$50,300  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock4438.4
 Avg. Home Price$176,400  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.0%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time19.46  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Shawano    4 Reviews

Shawano, Wisconsin is between the Wolf River and Shawano Lake. There's plenty to do here all year! If you like fishing, swimming, hunting, boating, biking, or just about  More

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Over 14 years ago

Good retirement town not much in the way of industry. Summer Activities include Fishing, Boating and Jet Skiing, Fall activities include hunting and fishing and winter  More

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When I lived in Shawano I developed a slogan there. "Come to Shawano on vacation, leave on probation" I put it on bumper stickers and sold a ton of them. Shawano  More

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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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