COUNTY REPORT MI

Alpena County, Michigan

4 ZIP codes · Avg score 61/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Alpena County: 4 ZIP codes, mid-range safety grade.

How Alpena County Compares

Alpena County61/100
Michigan avg74/100
National avg68/100

How Alpena County Compares

C
County Grade
61/100
Avg Safety Score
4
ZIP Codes
5
Water Systems

Alpena County scores 13 points below the Michigan state average (74/100) and 7 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

C
County Grade
61
Avg Safety Score
4
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 49707 (76/100)
Lowest ZIP: 49747 (53/100)
$163K
Median Home Value
$1,075
Avg Remediation (66% of home value)

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 16.1 (asthma 11.9%, diabetes 14.2%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,058, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.393% avg pipe failure probability, 50% of ZIPs at high risk

72.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 11.9% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 14.2% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 41.3% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1967
Median Build Year
72.5%
Pre-1978 Housing
39%
Pipe Failure Probability
50%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,058

Energy Code Gap $405/yr
Underground Tanks $240/yr
Water / Lead $213/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

15,300 housing units in Alpena County

Pre-1940 15%
1940–1959 25%
1960–1979 34%
1980–1999 17%
2000+ 9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Alpena County

$163K
Median Home Value
$1,075
Est. Remediation Cost
0.7%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Alpena County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Alpena County residents

Asthma 11.9% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 14.2% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 41.3% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Alpena County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 City of Alpena, 10,128 7
2 Charter Township of Alpena 5,839 7
3 Orchard Place Manor Apartments 120 7
4 Sunset Estates Gaylord 50 7
5 Lincoln Estates 48 7

All ZIP Codes in Alpena County

4 ZIP codes tracked in Alpena County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 49707 Alpena 76 B 7 (2 health) $135K
2 49766 Ossineke 63 C 0 $155K
3 49744 Herron 53 D 0 $208K
4 49747 Hubbard Lake 53 D 0 $170K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Alpena County

Eight risk categories drive the selection — PFAS exceedance, lead above EPA action level, pre-1978 housing share, EPA Radon Zone 1, flood-top-risk, wildfire-top-risk, multi-contaminant load, and a baseline fallback — and each category maps to a specific buyer-guide track that surfaces when the county data hits its threshold for that hazard signal.

Overview

Alpena County in Michigan covers 4 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (61/100).

1 of 4 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Michigan water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Alpena County?
Alpena County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Alpena County?
Alpena County is served by 5 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 4 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Alpena County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Alpena County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,058 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Alpena County?
The median home build year in Alpena County is 1967. 72.5% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Alpena County compare to Michigan?
Alpena County has an average water safety score of 61/100, which is below the Michigan state average of 74/100.

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