What are the schools like in Houghton, MI?

Houghton is served primarily by Houghton-Portage Township School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.0:1.

What is the median household income in Houghton?

The median household income in Houghton, MI is $29,821 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.9%.

What is the weather like in Houghton, MI?

Houghton has an average high temperature of 22.2°F in January and 75.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 31.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 207.8 inches.

Houghton, MI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Houghton, MI affordable or expensive?

Houghton's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Houghton is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $203,900 and the median rent is $819 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Houghton, MI?

Houghton has a violent crime rate of 35.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 759.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Houghton, MI a Good Place to Live?

Houghton is a small town of 8,303 in Michigan, with a median household income of $29,821 and a 11.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Houghton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, 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: 94.8

Houghton's overall cost of living index is 94.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Houghton costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Houghton, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$203,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$819	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	35.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$29,821	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Houghton's violent crime rate is 35.0 per 100,000 residents — 91% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

35.0 /100k

Property Crime

759.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Houghton is served primarily by Houghton-Portage Township School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1 .

Metric	Houghton, MI	National Avg
School District	Houghton-Portage Township School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	63.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Houghton sees average highs of 22.2°F in January and 75.4°F in July, with 31.6 inches of annual precipitation and 207.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Houghton, MI
Average High — January	22.2°F
Average High — July	75.4°F
Annual Precipitation	31.6"
Annual Snowfall	207.8"

Demographics

Metric	Houghton, MI	National Avg
Population	8,303	—
Median Age	22.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	11.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	79.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.4%	18.9%
Asian	9.1%	6.3%
Under 18	11.5%	22.2%
65 and over	8.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hurontown, MI 0 mi Dodgeville, MI 2 mi Hancock, MI 2 mi Atlantic Mine, MI 3 mi Dollar Bay, MI 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Houghton

Houghton, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49931

Houghton vs Other Cities

Houghton, MI vs Hurontown, MI Houghton, MI vs Dodgeville, MI Houghton, MI vs Hancock, MI Houghton, MI vs Atlantic Mine, MI Houghton, MI vs Dollar Bay, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Houghton, MI affordable or expensive?

Houghton's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Houghton roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $203,900 and median rent is $819/month.

What is the crime rate in Houghton, MI?

Houghton's violent crime rate is 35.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 759.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Houghton?

Public schools in Houghton are operated by Houghton-Portage Township School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1. 63.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Houghton, MI a good place to live?

Houghton, MI has a population of 8,303, a median household income of $29,821, and an unemployment rate of 11.9%. 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.

What is the weather like in Houghton?

Houghton averages 22.2°F in January and 75.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.6 inches with about 207.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Houghton?

Houghton, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49931.

What is the population of Houghton?

The population of Houghton, Michigan is 8,303 with a median age of 22.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Houghton?

Key numbers for living in Houghton: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $203,900, median household income $29,821, crime index 20 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. 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.