Alpena, MI vs Benton Heights, MI

Benton Heights is moderately more affordable than Alpena, with a 9% lower cost of living index. Alpena scores 60 compared to 55 for Benton Heights, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Alpena can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Alpena is $599/month compared to $546/month in Benton Heights — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Benton Heights is more affordable at $87,500 median vs $110,400.

Median household income in Alpena is $47,604 compared to $33,871 in Benton Heights (+40.5%). While Alpena is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Alpena spend roughly 15.1% of their income on rent, less than the 19.3% in Benton Heights.