City profile · New York · Census ACS 2023

Houghton, NY

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.

1,685
Residents
$87,188
Median income
$153,300
Median home
$974
Median rent (state)

Houghton - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Houghton places in the 68th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

68th
percentile, household income
28th
percentile, home value
17th
percentile, median rent
📝 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, NY

Houghton is a small town in New York, home to 1,685 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Houghton households earn a median of $87,188 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Typical homes in Houghton are valued around $153,300, and the median resident age is 21.2 years. Educational attainment runs 74.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 52.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

New York carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 107.9 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $974 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in New York run around $285, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 69.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

1,685 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New York

Median Household Income

$87,188 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.9 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New York average

How does Houghton compare to other US cities?

Here's how Houghton stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 68% higher than other cities
Home value 28% pricier than other cities
Median rent 17% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

New York-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Houghton near the bottom of New York's cities

Among the 1,246 New York cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Houghton ranks #1,032 - 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
#538 of 1,205
55th percentile in New York
Median Gross Rent
#1,217 of 1,256
2nd percentile in New York
Median Home Value
#850 of 1,202
29th percentile in New York
Poverty Rate
#1,032 of 1,246
0th percentile in New York
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#69 of 1,254
94th percentile in New York

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 New York only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

68thIncome percentile

68th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Houghton's home value compares nationally

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

$153,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 72% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $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, NY Houghton, NY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Houghton, NY-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, NY median $87,188/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, NY'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, NY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 74.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.5%

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

Population
1,685
Median Income
$87,188
Median Home Value
$153,300
Median Age
21.2
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
52.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
74.4%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
40.8%
Carpool
5.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
37.9%
Work from Home
15.1%

Based on 723 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New York - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$65
avg/month
Total Utilities
$285
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New York 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 New York 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
107.9
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$974/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
69.8 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New York

Oakfield
1,683 people
Clintondale
1,682 people
Morrisonville
1,688 people
Waterville
1,682 people
Painted Post
1,691 people
Milton CDP (Ulster County)
1,692 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Houghton's 1,685 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ridgely, MD
1,685 people
Santa Nella, CA
1,686 people
Mokuleia, HI
1,684 people
Wacousta, MI
1,686 people
Walnut Creek, NC
1,684 people
Orchard Hills, PA
1,686 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Houghton's $87,188 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Galena, MD
$87,188 median income
Lester Prairie, MN
$87,188 median income
Mayview, MO
$87,188 median income
Lequire, OK
$87,188 median income
Marquez, TX
$87,188 median income
Hatley, WI
$87,188 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Houghton, NY 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, NY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.8% White 91.6% Black or African American 3.9% Asian 2.5% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 1.1% 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 New York 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) 1,685 $87,188
Oakfield 1,683 $65,833
Clintondale 1,682 $58,627
Morrisonville 1,688 $83,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NY OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Houghton, NY?

What is the population of Houghton, NY? +

Houghton, NY counts 1,685 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Houghton, the typical household earns $87,188 per year, 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 New York state average, a cost of living index of 107.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New York vary by metro area.

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

Homes in Houghton carry a median value of $153,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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

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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.