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CITY

Houghton

Michigan · 8,560 residents (2025 est.) · 4.384 sq mi
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#33Shortest commutesof 6,82610.7#56Youngest by median ageof 6,82621.7
The short version

Houghton has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $43,456. Population has grown 21% since 2000. 69% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $254,500. At a median age of 21.7, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 40% less than the Michigan median.

At a glance
Lower income
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
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
8,474
+21%since 2000
from 7,010 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,933 / sq mi
+24%since 2009
from 1,564 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
21.7
Unchangedsince 2000
from 21.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:8,560 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K7K8K8K9K1990201020202024Houghton
20248K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 52.4%(206)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 92.1%(176)
US avg: 6%
10 to 142.3%(193)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1927.4%(2,325)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2431.4%(2,657)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413%(1,100)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 445.2%(443)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 544.7%(398)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 644.2%(359)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 743%(250)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843%(251)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.4%(116)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$43,456
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $21,186 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,716
+127%since 2000
from $11,750 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.8%
+16.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
40.1%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 36.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.576
+4%since 2010
from 0.555 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade5.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance3.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services1.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade1.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$254,500
+52%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $91,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$978
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $362 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
36.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 36.4% in 2000
63.1% rent
Vacancy rate
7.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
11.1%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
67.1%
−8.0 ptssince 2009
from 75.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.9
+6%since 2009
from 5.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
84
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Houghton on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic88.7%(6,221)
Black1.9%(131)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(54)
Asian6.8%(475)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic79%(6,691)
Black2.7%(226)
Hispanic / Latino2.9%(247)
Asian9.1%(771)
Other6.4%(539)
Diversity Score
45
+64%since 2009
from 28 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.5%(127)
Cuban0.3%(26)
Spaniard0.2%(20)
Puerto Rican0.2%(17)
Venezuelan0.1%(11)
Peruvian0.1%(9)
Argentine0.1%(6)
Colombian0.1%(6)
Asian origin
Asian Indian3.8%(325)
Chinese2%(170)
Bangladeshi0.7%(62)
Pakistani0.6%(52)
Vietnamese0.6%(47)
Korean0.4%(30)
Japanese0.3%(22)
Filipino0.1%(6)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German20.5%(1,734)
Irish10%(844)
Polish8%(682)
Finnish6.8%(572)
English6.5%(551)
Italian5.7%(479)
French2.8%(240)
Swedish2.7%(229)
Dutch2.2%(186)
Norwegian2%(169)
Scottish1.9%(162)
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data
American1.6%(136)
Hungarian1.5%(131)
Nigerian1.3%(106)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(95)
Iranian0.8%(70)
Lithuanian0.8%(66)
Kenyan0.7%(61)
Russian0.6%(53)
Ukrainian0.6%(48)
Welsh0.5%(40)
Croatian0.5%(39)
Arab0.4%(34)
Lebanese0.4%(34)
Macedonian0.3%(29)
Turkish0.3%(29)
Austrian0.3%(28)
Czech0.3%(27)
Slovak0.2%(15)
Belgian0.1%(10)
Danish0.1%(10)
Slovene0.1%(9)
Canadian0.1%(7)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Polish population · Largest Finnish population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
68.6%
+23.1 ptssince 2000
from 45.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.9%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 92.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
47.3%
+21.8 ptssince 2000
from 25.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
10.7 min
+30%since 2000
from 8.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
43.4%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.1%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
9.4%
+8.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.2%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
28.7%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 27.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.0%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
10.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 10.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
53.7%
+1.8 ptssince 2011
from 51.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
20.2%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 18.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
50.0%
−19.0 ptssince 2009
from 69.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
62.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 64.4% in 2009
Female
38.0%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 35.6% in 2009
Foreign born
15.9%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
1.7%
−64.0 ptssince 2009
from 65.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
7.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2012
from 8.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.1%
−87.6 ptssince 2013
from 90.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.2%
+5.1 ptssince 2017
from 79.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
82.7%
−1.8 ptssince 2016
from 84.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 1.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married80.4%(4,046)
Married16.5%(828)
Widowed1%(52)
Divorced2.1%(107)
Women 15+
Never married68.8%(1,973)
Married21.5%(616)
Widowed2.3%(65)
Divorced7.4%(212)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Houghton, Michigan?

Houghton, Michigan has about 8,474 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Houghton, Michigan?

The typical household in Houghton, Michigan earns about $43,456 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Houghton, Michigan expensive?

In Houghton, Michigan, the median home is worth about $254,500, and the typical rent is about $978 a month.

How educated are people in Houghton, Michigan?

About 68.6% of adults age 25 and over in Houghton, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Houghton, Michigan?

About 40.1% of people in Houghton, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Houghton, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Houghton, Michigan has grown since 1990. The population has added about 976 residents, a change of about 13 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →