With 8,474 people, Houghton is a city in Michigan. The median age is 21.7, younger than the US median of 38.9. 69% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 36% nationally. 40.1% of locals live below the federal poverty line. Owners hold 37% of the housing stock. 61% were living in the same home a year earlier.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $43,456, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 21.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
69% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 52%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Houghton
What changed most since 1990
Median home value (2024 dollars)$105,843 → $254,500(+140%)US over the same years: +67%
Adults with a bachelor's degree40.9% → 68.6%(+27.7 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Houghton's population equals 22% of Houghton County's. Its number of veterans equals 6.5% of the county's. Its number of foreign-born residents equals 67% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)32.3%(42)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)45.4%(59)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era16.2%(21)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War16.9%(22)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 130 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Houghton, decade by decade
Houghton population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
7,498
$38,543
$105,843
40.9%
18.7
2000
7,010
$38,594
$167,410
45.5%
25.9
2010
7,708
$31,638
$185,576
51.6%
35.3
2020
8,386
$26,425
$207,743
53.5%
41.1
2024
8,474
$43,456
$254,500
68.6%
45.3
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
