Houghton, MI
Census place 2639360 · pop 8,474
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
40.1% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.58 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
22.9% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
36.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$43,456 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
5.6% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
84.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.76% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$254,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities
771 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
11.0% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+7.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
30.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
7.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
19.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities
35 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
68.6% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
11 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
5/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Not measured for Houghton: Air, Bad air, Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Houghton, MI a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Houghton scores 51/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 19 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is natural disaster risk and its weakest is poverty rate. Michigan overall ranks #42 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Houghton, MI?
- Houghton reports 35 violent crimes per 100k and 771 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Houghton, MI expensive to live in?
- Houghton has a median home value of $254,500 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Houghton, MI?
- Its weakest measured area is poverty rate (40.1%) — 0/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Houghton, MI best at?
- Its strongest measured area is natural disaster risk (5/100) — 100/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.