City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Houghton, MI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Houghton - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

8,341
Residents
$35,417
Median income
$233,700
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Houghton - the verdict

Houghton ranks in the 5th percentile for household income and the 72nd percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

5th
percentile, household income
52nd
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
72nd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Houghton, MI

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 8,341 residents in Houghton, a small town within Michigan. Median household income here is $35,417 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 17.3%. Home values in Houghton run a median of $233,700, and the median resident age is 21.9 years. Educational attainment runs 65.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 47.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Houghton reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 794.0 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Michigan scores 96.2 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $973 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Michigan run around $238, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 24.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

8,341 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$35,417 /yr

Poverty 17.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Houghton compare to other US cities?

Houghton measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 5% higher than other cities
Home value 52% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities
Safety 72% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Michigan and the picture shifts: Houghton ranks #84 of 254 Michigan cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Houghton against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Michigan-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Houghton near the bottom of Michigan's cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Houghton ranks #576 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Houghton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#691 of 718
4th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#576 of 727
0th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#154 of 721
79th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#112 of 727
84th percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#32 of 727
96th percentile in Michigan

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Michigan only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

5thIncome percentile
72ndSafety percentile

5th percentile nationally for median household income · 72nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Houghton's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Houghton's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 48 Avg. percentile National median
Houghton's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Houghton's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$233,700 48th percentile more affordable than 48% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Houghton $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Houghton, MI Houghton, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Houghton, MI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Houghton, MI median $35,417/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Houghton, MI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Houghton, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 65.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 17.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
8,341
Median Income
$35,417
Median Home Value
$233,700
Median Age
21.9
Poverty Rate
17.3%
Labor force participation
47.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
65.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
794.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
35.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
759.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
8,300 residents8,400 residents8,500 residents8,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 8,368 residents 8,560 residents ▲ +2.3%
Houghton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
45.8%
Carpool
6.4%
Public Transit
8.8%
Walk
29.0%
Work from Home
7.4%
Other
2.6%

Based on 3,581 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Michigan - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$238
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Michigan state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Michigan state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Houghton sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
24.3 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Flushing
8,323 people
Menominee
8,370 people
Mason
8,239 people
Center Line
8,448 people
Temperance
8,495 people
Beecher
8,507 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Houghton's 8,341 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Waite Park, MN
8,341 people
Fort Stockton, TX
8,340 people
Kenilworth, NJ
8,339 people
Shiprock, NM
8,339 people
Newton, NJ
8,336 people
Clinton, NC
8,336 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Houghton's $35,417 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cottonwood, AL
$35,417 median income
Section, AL
$35,417 median income
Watson, AR
$35,417 median income
Buttonwillow, CA
$35,417 median income
Ambrose, GA
$35,417 median income
Elk City, KS
$35,417 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Houghton, MI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Houghton, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 79.9% 8.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.5% White 79.9% Black or African American 2.8% Asian 8.9% American Indian 1.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.1% Two or more races 4.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Houghton compares to nearby Michigan cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Houghton (this city) 8,341 $35,417
Flushing 8,323 $77,372
Menominee 8,370 $49,646
Mason 8,239 $79,521
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Houghton, MI?

What is the population of Houghton, MI? +

Houghton, MI counts 8,341 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Houghton, MI? +

Houghton households earn a median of $35,417 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Houghton? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Houghton; the closest available measure is the Michigan state average, a cost of living index of 96.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Michigan vary by metro area.

Is Houghton, MI safe? +

Houghton has a total crime rate of 794.0 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Houghton, MI? +

A typical home in Houghton is worth $233,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.