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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Houghton Micro

Houghton, MI · 2 counties · 40,028 residents (2025 est.) · 1,549.213 sq mi
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Houghton has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $58,561. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $160,430. At a median age of 33.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
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
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
39,826
+4%since 2000
from 38,317 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
26 / sq mi
+4%since 2000
from 25 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
33.5
−3%since 2000
from 34.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:40,028 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
37K38K38K39K40K1990201020202024Houghton
202440K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$58,561
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,776 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,600
+115%since 2000
from $15,180 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.7%
+25.4 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 16.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.466
+2%since 2010
from 0.456 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade10.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$160,430
+56%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,538 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$832
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $362 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 72.5% in 2000
27.2% rent
Vacancy rate
25.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.5%
−9.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.5%
−7.6 ptssince 2009
from 57.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+39%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
88
RELATED:See current rent listings in Houghton on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95%(36,416)
Black1.1%(413)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(269)
Asian1.7%(645)
Other0%
Diversity Score8.6%(3,287)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91%(36,247)
Black1%(416)
Hispanic / Latino1.9%(739)
Asian2.7%(1,084)
Other3.4%(1,340)
Diversity Score21.2%(8,430)
Segregation Score26.9%(10,714)
Diversity Score
21
+147%since 2000
from 9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
27
−20%since 2020
from 33 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
37.5%
+14.7 ptssince 2000
from 22.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.5%
+10.0 ptssince 2000
from 84.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
16.7%
+7.9 ptssince 2000
from 8.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.9 min
+47%since 2000
from 10.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
63.9%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 68.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.4%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
10.3%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.5%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 8.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 58.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.9%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
42.4%
−20.4 ptssince 2009
from 62.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
54.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 53.8% in 2009
Female
45.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 46.2% in 2009
Foreign born
5.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.0%
−47.3 ptssince 2009
from 54.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2012
from 12.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.3%
−84.1 ptssince 2013
from 89.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.6%
+16.4 ptssince 2017
from 72.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 93.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.9%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

HoughtonCENTRAL8,560
What's inside

2 component counties

Houghton CountyCENTRAL37,842Keweenaw County2,186
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Houghton

Cambridge
Pop 38,379
Alexander City
Pop 40,953
Española
Pop 39,832
Bucyrus
Pop 41,896
Places similar to Houghton
Head to head

Compare Houghton side by side

HOUGHTON VS
Cambridge
Income$58,478same
Home value$157,700−2%
Population38,379−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOUGHTON VS
Alexander City
Income$59,356+1%
Home value$158,500−1%
Population40,953+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOUGHTON VS
Española
Income$57,155−2%
Home value$243,700+52%
Population39,832same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOUGHTON VS
Bucyrus
Income$58,044−1%
Home value$136,700−15%
Population41,896+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Houghton, MI?

Houghton, MI has about 39,826 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Houghton, MI?

The typical household in Houghton, MI earns about $58,561 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Houghton, MI expensive?

In Houghton, MI, the median home is worth about $160,430, and the typical rent is about $832 a month.

How educated are people in Houghton, MI?

About 37.5% of adults age 25 and over in Houghton, MI hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Houghton, MI?

About 16.4% of people in Houghton, MI live below the federal poverty line.

Has Houghton, MI grown since 1990?

Yes, Houghton, MI has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,679 residents, a change of about 7 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →