1st Advantage MortgageHoughton County households have a median income of $58,899 and median rent of $840 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Houghton County
- Income in Houghton County compared with Michigan
- What it costs to live in Houghton County
- How Houghton County residents earn a living
- Houghton County and the counties next door
- Houghton County towns compared
- Who lives in Houghton County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Houghton County
- What a median Houghton County budget can carry
- Steps before you apply in Houghton County
- Licensing and complaints for Houghton County
- More guides for Houghton County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Houghton County
With an estimated 37,693 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Houghton County ranks 42nd of 83 in Michigan for population. It covers 1,009 square miles of land, or about 37 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Houghton is the biggest of its 15 Census places, at roughly 8,474 people (22% of the county total).
Income in Houghton County compared with Michigan
Half of Houghton County households take in less than $58,899 a year and half take in more, 19% below the Michigan median of $72,875.
| Households earning | Houghton County | +/- vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.5% | +6.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.0% | +2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.0% | -5.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.6% | -3.0 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 27% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 16.5%, 3 points higher than the state's 13.2%. A household earning below the $58,899 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Houghton County
Renters in Houghton County pay a median of $840 a month, 26% below the Michigan figure of $1,129. By the Census definition, 57% of Houghton County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $159,900, or 2.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 72% of homes. The median home was built in 1960, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Houghton County | Michigan | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $840/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $159,900 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 24% | 12% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
How Houghton County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 33% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 12%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 33% locally and 23% for Michigan. The survey's unemployment rate for Houghton County averages 5.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.7%). About 64% drive to work alone and 4% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Houghton County | Difference from Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 33.4% | +10.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.2% | +3.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.7% | -7.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | -0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | -2.0 pts |
| Construction | 6.6% | +0.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Houghton County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Houghton County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 25 to 64 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $52,583 in Keweenaw County to $65,429 in Marquette County; 1 of these neighbors top Houghton County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton County | - | $58,899 | $840/mo | 72% |
| Baraga County, MI | 25 mi | $55,327 | $616/mo | 79% |
| Keweenaw County, MI | 29 mi | $52,583 | $688/mo | 91% |
| Ontonagon County, MI | 32 mi | $54,398 | $540/mo | 87% |
| Marquette County, MI | 56 mi | $65,429 | $949/mo | 70% |
| Iron County, MI | 57 mi | $55,940 | $716/mo | 84% |
| Gogebic County, MI | 64 mi | $52,732 | $623/mo | 81% |
Houghton County towns compared
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 15 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 57% of Houghton County residents live in one of the 15. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $26,667 in Calumet to $61,250 in Dollar Bay. Median rent ranges from $543 in Lake Linden to $1,047 in Hubbell. No Houghton County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 15.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton | city | 8,474 | $43,456 | $978 | 9 mi |
| Hancock | city | 4,574 | $59,519 | $835 | 10 mi |
| Laurium | village | 1,509 | $54,167 | $808 | 19 mi |
| Dollar Bay | CDP | 1,049 | $61,250 | $825 | 11 mi |
| Lake Linden | village | 1,020 | $43,472 | $543 | 18 mi |
| Chassell | CDP | 899 | $54,148 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Hubbell | CDP | 881 | $53,333 | $1,047 | 16 mi |
| Calumet | village | 645 | $26,667 | $667 | 20 mi |
| Atlantic Mine | CDP | 491 | $55,481 | n/a | 7 mi |
| South Range | village | 482 | $58,542 | $817 | 5 mi |
| Painesdale | CDP | 416 | $63,750 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Dodgeville | CDP | 409 | n/a | $763 | 7 mi |
| Copper City | village | 253 | $51,250 | $817 | 23 mi |
| Trimountain | CDP | 196 | $44,673 | n/a | 4 mi |
Who lives in Houghton County, in numbers
College graduates make up 37% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Houghton County | Michigan statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.2 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 37.2% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.5% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 55.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.8% |
| 60+ min | 2.5% |
Borrowing situations common in Houghton County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Houghton County borrowers.
- Renters under pressure. When 57% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Houghton County borrower sees (free reports).
- Consolidating cards in Houghton County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
What a median Houghton County budget can carry
How much room does a median Houghton County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,908 before taxes
- 17% goes to median rent ($840)
- Under a 36% cap, $1,767 total minus rent leaves $927
- Under a 43% cap, $2,111 total minus rent leaves $1,271
If your rent is above $840, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Steps before you apply in Houghton County
Quick steps for Houghton County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Michigan borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Licensing and complaints for Houghton County
Houghton County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Michigan state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Houghton County
The Michigan guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Houghton County a high-income county?
Its $58,899 median ranks 59th of 83 Michigan counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Houghton County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $840 a month; 57% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Houghton County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 72% of Houghton County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Houghton?
Yes, along with the other 14 Census places in Houghton County, such as Hancock, Laurium, Dollar Bay.
Does living in Houghton County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Houghton County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.