Alpena, MI vs Imlay City, MI

Alpena is moderately more affordable than Imlay City, with a 12.7% lower cost of living index. Alpena scores 60 compared to 69 for Imlay City, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Imlay City 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 $764/month in Imlay City — a 22% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Alpena is more affordable at $110,400 median vs $137,800.

Median household income in Alpena is $47,604 compared to $55,061 in Imlay City (-13.5%). While Imlay City 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 16.7% in Imlay City.