The Town FilesHoughton, Michigan
City in Houghton County · population 8,386 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $254,500
- Household income
- $43,456
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 77°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 21.7
Houghton is a city of 8,386 people in Houghton County, Michigan. The median home is worth $254,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Michigan towns, hipper than 100% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 100% of Michigan towns.
- #2 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Professionals in Michigan
- #2 in The 25 Hippest Small Towns in Michigan
- #5 in The 50 Hippest Small Towns in America
- #5 in 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #8 in The 25 Best College Small Towns in Michigan
- #17 in 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Coolest Summers
How Houghton ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Houghton is worth $254,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 5.9 times the median household income of $43,456, which is more affordable than 1% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $978 a month. 36.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Houghton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $254,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $978 | $955 |
| Median household income | $43,456 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 36.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Houghton
| People | Houghton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 9.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 68.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 40.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 1.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 10.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Houghton
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 9.1°F. About 31.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 194 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Houghton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F0, struck on July 11, 1987 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 1987.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 16, 2006.
Severe weather in Houghton County since 1996
Houghton County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| August 2, 2018 | Flood | DR-4381: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Houghton County
Houghton County had 12,124 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,867 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Houghton itself the ACS puts it at 10.3%.
Public schools in Houghton
3 public schools with 1,478 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton Elementary School | K-5 | 654 | 18.2 |
| Houghton Central High School | 9-12 | 478 | 15.4 |
| Houghton Middle School | 6-8 | 346 | 17.3 |
Towns near Houghton
- Hancock, MI2.2 mi · 4,501 people · home $165,600
- Adams, MI6.7 mi · 2,540 people · home $118,000
- Portage, MI10.4 mi · 3,189 people · home $204,700
- Calumet, MI11.6 mi · 6,263 people · home $99,800
- Baraga, MI25.3 mi · 3,478 people · home $133,300
- L'Anse, MI29.9 mi · 3,551 people · home $122,700
Houghton questions
Is Houghton, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Houghton scores better for retirees than 8% of Michigan towns and quieter than 4%. 7.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 21.7).
How much does a house cost in Houghton?
The median owner-occupied home in Houghton is valued at $254,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,456, so homes cost about 5.9 times income. Median rent is $978 a month.
What is the weather like in Houghton?
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 9.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.6 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Houghton get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Houghton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on July 11, 1987. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)