Houghton is a small town of 77 in Iowa, with a median household income of $107,917
and a 5.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Houghton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Houghton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Houghton city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 89.8
Houghton's overall cost of living index is 89.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Houghton costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Houghton, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$171,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$675
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$107,917
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Houghton's violent crime rate is 261.5 per 100,000 residents
— 31% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
261.5 /100k
Property Crime
1206.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Houghton, IA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
30.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
100.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Houghton sees average highs of 32.8°F in January
and 86.4°F in July,
with 38.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 26.6 inches of snow per year.
Houghton's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Houghton roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $171,900 and median rent is $675/month.
Houghton's violent crime rate is 261.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1206.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Houghton, IA has a population of 77, a median household income of $107,917, and an unemployment rate of 5.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Houghton averages 32.8°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.5 inches
with about 26.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Houghton, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52631.
The population of Houghton, Iowa is 77 with a median age of 53.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Houghton: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $171,900, median household income $107,917, crime index 64 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Houghton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
