Houghton, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Houghton, Michigan Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

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High PovertyPoverty rate of 40.1% is well above the state average

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Houghton, Michigan had a total population of 8,474, the 119th largest city in Michigan, with a median household income of $43,456, which is 40% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 40.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Household income is 40% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (40.1%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
68.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Michigan.
Unemployment rate of 10.3% is notably above the national average.

Houghton Quick Facts

Population 8,474

Median Household Income $43,456

Median Home Value $254,500

Poverty Rate 40.1%

Unemployment Rate 10.3%

Median Age 21.7 years

Homeownership Rate 36.9%

Affordability Ratio 5.9x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 68.6%

High School Graduation Rate 94.9%

Diversity Index 37/100

Population 8,474 119th of 745

Median Income $43,456 bottom 20%

Poverty Rate 40.1% 222% higher than national

Median Home Value $254,500 top 30%

How Houghton Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	8,341	8,474	+1.6%
Median household income	$35,417	$43,456	+22.7%
Median home value	$233,700	$254,500	+8.9%

How Houghton Compares

Median Household Income

Houghton

$43,456

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Houghton

$254,500

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 38.2%

$25K-$50K 19.0%

$50K-$100K 18.5%

$100K+ 24.3%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

12.4%

$10K-$15K

11.2%

$15K-$20K

11.9%

$20K-$25K

2.7%

$25K-$30K

4.7%

$30K-$35K

3.0%

$35K-$40K

1.7%

$40K-$45K

4.7%

$45K-$50K

4.8%

$50K-$60K

7.1%

$60K-$75K

1.9%

$75K-$100K

9.5%

$100K-$125K

4.3%

$125K-$150K

3.0%

$150K-$200K

4.8%

$200K+

12.3%

Employment

10.3% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

53.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 36.9%

Renter 63.1%

Affordability Index Expensive

5.9x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $978/mo 27.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

9.1%

18-34

69.4%

35-54

9.9%

55-74

7.2%

75+

4.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Houghton Rankings in Michigan

#119 Population of 745

#647 Median Income of 732

#31 Education of 745

#150 Home Value of 730

Explore Michigan Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Houghton County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Hancock	4,574	$59,519	19.1%	$165,600
Laurium	1,509	$54,167	16.0%	$126,100
Dollar Bay	1,049	$61,250	13.5%	$153,100
Lake Linden	1,020	$43,472	13.8%	$97,000
Chassell	899	$54,148	17.0%	$167,600
Hubbell	881	$53,333	4.4%	$85,400
Calumet	645	$26,667	42.6%	$84,400
Atlantic Mine	491	$55,481	16.5%	$103,500
South Range	482	$58,542	23.6%	$101,100
Painesdale	416	$63,750	13.3%	$92,800

Cities Similar to Houghton

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Big Rapids	8,477	$43,858	$156,400	26.9%	34.1%
Beecher	8,412	$37,515	$51,500	5.2%	31.3%
Menominee	8,326	$49,432	$104,400	18.7%	16.4%
Ecorse	9,064	$40,241	$65,400	8.4%	29.4%
Center Line	8,463	$54,703	$156,600	16.7%	16.8%

Population Overview

Houghton is a small city located in Michigan, within Houghton County. The total population is 8,474. It ranks as the 119th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Houghton is 21.7 years. This is 46% lower than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 9.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Houghton is $43,456. This is 40% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 46% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 40.1%. This is 203% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 10.3%. This is 81% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $254,500. Housing costs are 10% higher than the state median of $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.9x. 36.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 50% lower than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Houghton is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.0% of the population. Asian residents account for 9.1%. The Black or African American population (2.7%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (9.1% vs 3.4%).

Education

68.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Houghton in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 111% higher than the state rate of 32.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.9%. Notably, 47.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Houghton, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Houghton, Michigan?

Houghton, Michigan has a population of 8,474 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Houghton, MI?

The median household income in Houghton is $43,456, which is 46% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Houghton, MI?

The poverty rate in Houghton is 40.1%. This means approximately 1,965 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Houghton, Michigan?

Houghton's population is 79.0% White, 2.7% Black, 2.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 9.1% Asian.

What is the median home value in Houghton, MI?

The median home value in Houghton is $254,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.9x.

How educated is Houghton, Michigan?

68.6% of adults (25+) in Houghton hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 47.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.