Alden station building, July 2017, 2017
Alden’s story
158 years in pictures
The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2017 and 2 maps from 1957 on.
- 1868Alden is settled
AldenMI
A town of 133, settled in 1868.
Population
133
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$407K
+6.2% in a year
Household income
$56K
median
Median age
59.9
years
Land area
0 sq mi
Is Alden a good place to live?
Alden’s trail network density is 3.3 miles per square mile, above both Michigan’s towns (0.3) and U.S. towns (0.4). Alden has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
133 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Alden: who provides what
Alden is unincorporated, so Antrim County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerDTE20.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet3 providers92% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesAntrim CountyAntrim County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereHelena Township ClerkHelena Township; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code4961249612 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Alden.
Housing
Zillow puts the typical Alden home at about $407K
The share of households in Alden who are owner-occupiers is 85%, near the Michigan town median (84%) and above the median of U.S. towns (73%). In the year to September 2026, typical home values climbed 6.2%.
$407KZillow home value
Typical home value
Alden$407K
Michigan$264K
+6.2%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
Alden faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Of the losses FEMA expects in Alden, 60% come from inland flooding and 28% from cold waves. Storm and flood damage is expected to run lower than in 88% of U.S. communities.
12risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
The median age in Alden is higher than in most of Michigan or the rest of the country
Adults 18 to 34 are 6% of residents (22% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 53% of residents (38% statewide). Michigan has nearly a third of adults 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or more; here it is 30%.
59.9median age · MI 40.2
| Alden | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.9 years | 42.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 30% | 26% | 29% |
AldenMichiganUnited States
Ages · share of residents
45%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma0%
High school27%
Some college41%
Associate’s3%
Bachelor’s6%
Graduate24%
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 41% and 73% women
The Census survey reached too few of Alden’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±16.3 points. Across Michigan, 50.4% of residents are women.
| Alden | MI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 0% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 12.8% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 0% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 8.3% | 12.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 0% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 45.1% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 15.8% | 7.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 0% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 26.9% | 28% | 26% |
| Some college | 40.7% | 21.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 2.8% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 5.6% | 19.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 24.1% | 12.7% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 100, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Alden
The typical July afternoon high for Alden comes to 81°F.
132″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–31°
Spring31–54°
Summer55–79°
Fall40–58°
Oct 19
typical first frost
May 13
typical last frost
+2.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
A smaller share of adults in Alden binge drink than in the typical Michigan or U.S. town
In Alden, 34% of adults have obesity. No town among the 702 in Michigan we compare has a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than Alden. On the CDC’s 32 measures, Alden is ahead of Michigan on 14 and behind on 5.
| Alden | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 17% | 16% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 87% | 80% | 79% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 34% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 18% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
14 better13 too close to call5 worse
| What stands out | Alden | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 4.4% | 8.7% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 6.2% | 11.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 15.7% | 8.9% |
Kalkaska Memorial Health Center
10.8 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
1.2%conserved
1.2%
conserved · 3 of 255 acres
1.3 mi
of trails · 3.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Alden Depot Park | — | 3 |
| 2. Tennis Court Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Alden
16pages on Alden
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Alden; the nearest are
Northwestern Michigan CollegeCommunity college · Public · Traverse City17.2 mi$5,860 in-state tuitionKirtland Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Grayling33.8 mi$5,190 in-state tuitionFerris State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Big Rapids83 mi$14,778 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Alden residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
About Alden
Census-designated place & unincorporated community in Michigan, United States
Alden is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located in Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located within Helena Township, the community is located upon the shores of Torch Lake. The population of the CDP was 123 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 604 ft
- ZIP code
- 49612
Questions about Alden
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Alden, MI a good place to live?
Alden has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.