The Town FilesAlpine, Michigan
Township in Kent County · population 14,079 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $233,900
- Household income
- $67,807
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 36.9
Alpine is a township of 14,079 people in Kent County, Michigan. The median home is worth $233,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 91% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 90% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 90% of Michigan towns.
How Alpine ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Alpine is worth $233,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $67,807, which is more affordable than 22% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,172 a month. 60.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alpine | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $233,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,172 | $955 |
| Median household income | $67,807 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 60.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Alpine
| People | Alpine | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Alpine
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 13.7°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alpine since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1956 about 5.3 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 274 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 24, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 15, 1961.
Severe weather in Kent County since 1996
Kent County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Kent County
Kent County had 415,565 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,288 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Alpine itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Towns near Alpine
- Comstock Park, MI3.9 mi · 10,500 people · home $235,300
- Sparta, MI5.5 mi · 4,244 people · home $215,400
- Sparta, MI5.7 mi · 9,395 people · home $231,600
- Walker, MI5.8 mi · 25,132 people · home $295,200
- Wright, MI5.8 mi · 3,190 people · home $321,000
- Plainfield, MI6.4 mi · 33,535 people · home $326,900
- Northview, MI7.3 mi · 15,301 people · home $289,300
- Tallmadge, MI8.2 mi · 8,802 people · home $366,100
Alpine questions
Is Alpine, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alpine scores better for retirees than 5% of Michigan towns and quieter than 7%. 15.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Alpine?
The median owner-occupied home in Alpine is valued at $233,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,807, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,172 a month.
What is the weather like in Alpine?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 13.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 48.0 inches of snow.
Does Alpine get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alpine since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1956. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)