Alpena, SD vs Howard, SD

Howard is moderately more affordable than Alpena, with a 12.4% lower cost of living index. Alpena scores 62 compared to 55 for Howard, 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 $867/month compared to $516/month in Howard — a 68% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Howard has cheaper rent, Alpena actually has lower median home values ($46,100 vs $93,200).

Median household income in Alpena is $65,417 compared to $54,792 in Howard (+19.4%). 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 15.9% of their income on rent, more than the 11.3% in Howard.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.9°F vs 47.7°F). Alpena receives more rainfall at 23.3" per year compared to 21.1" in Howard.