Houghton is a metro area of 39,826 people. The median age is 33.5, younger than the US median of 38.9. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $160,430. The average commute runs 16 minutes. There are 26 people per square mile. 5% of people across the metro were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $58,561, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.5
US median: 38.9
Average education
37% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 56%, 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)$66,028 → $160,430(+143%)US over the same years: +67%
White share97.2% → 91.0%(−6.2 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Median household income (2024 dollars)$41,940 → $58,561(+40%)US over the same years: +14%
Among the 33 metro and micro areas based in Michigan
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)16.8%(379)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)20.2%(455)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era38.7%(872)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.6%(103)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.5%(34)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 2,254 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
37,147
$41,940
$66,028
17.7%
6.8
2000
38,317
$52,421
$102,992
22.7%
12.0
2010
38,784
$49,537
$123,517
26.6%
14.7
2020
39,407
$54,782
$139,577
33.7%
21.6
2024
39,826
$58,561
$160,430
37.5%
21.2
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.
