County population in 2016: 36,759 (62% urban, 38% rural); it was 36,016 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 5,494 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 4,343 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 9,865 Renter-occupied apartments: 4,395 (it was 3,928 in 2000)
% of renters here:
28%
State:
28%
Land area: 1012 sq. mi.
Water area: 489.8 sq. mi.
Population density: 36 people per square mile (low).
March 2019 cost of living index in Houghton County: 76.7 (low, U.S. average is 100)
Industries providing employment: Educational, health and social services (24.0%), Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (19.1%), Manufacturing (13.0%).
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2017: $1,625 (1.2%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2017: $1,276 (1.3%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2017: 19.8%
Houghton County:
19.8%
Michigan:
14.2%
(18.1% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 41.7% for Black residents, 34.5% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 7.2% for American Indian residents, 32.7% for other race residents, 35.1% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2017: 33.3 years old
(Males: 29.4 years old, Females: 38.3 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 35.2 years old, Black residents: 29.4 years old, American Indian residents: 34.1 years old, Asian residents: 25.1 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 27.5 years old, Other race residents: 23.1 years old)
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Houghton County is $418 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $503 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $654 a month.
Current college students: 6,142 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 93.0% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 32.7%
Number of foreign born residents: 1,931 (23.8% naturalized citizens)
Houghton County:
5.3%
Whole state:
7.1%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1,4912010 or later
4312000 to 2009
2031990 to 1999
1301980 to 1989
501970 to 1979
196Before 1970
Mean travel time to work (commute): 15.6 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 92.9%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 13,986
One, attached: 225
Two: 639
3 or 4: 644
5 to 9: 976
10 to 19: 606
20 to 49: 296
50 or more: 397
Mobile homes: 1,082
Housing units in Houghton County with a mortgage: 4,977 (50 second mortgage, 445 home equity loan, 12 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 4,608
Here:
50.0% with mortgage
State:
60.2% with mortgage
Religion statistics for Houghton County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Catholic
8,374
9
Mainline Protestant
4,026
20
Evangelical Protestant
2,841
30
Other
356
7
Orthodox
100
1
None
20,931
-
Houghton County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 11
Houghton County:
3.15 / 10,000 pop.
State:
2.34 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 4
This county:
1.14 / 10,000 pop.
Michigan:
1.52 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 16
Houghton County:
4.58 / 10,000 pop.
Michigan:
2.99 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 40
This county:
11.44 / 10,000 pop.
State:
6.80 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Houghton County:
9.4%
Michigan:
9.7%
Adult obesity rate:
Houghton County:
28.8%
State:
29.7%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
10.6%
State:
13.4%
Agriculture in Houghton County:
Average size of farms: 164 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $17,853 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $158.62 The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 2.01% The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 51.56% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $16,563 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 33.32% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 1.22% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $41,237 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 93.67% Average age of principal farm operators: 52 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 6.84 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 26.91% Vegetables: 16 harvested acres Land in orchards: 32 acres
Earthquake activity:
Houghton County-area historical earthquake activity is significantly below Michigan state average. It is 97% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 7/9/1975 at 14:54:15, a magnitude 4.6 (4.6 MB, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 367.1 miles away from Houghton County center On 6/28/2004 at 06:10:52, a magnitude 4.2 (4.0 MB, 4.2 MW, Depth: 6.2 mi) earthquake occurred 385.7 miles away from the county center On 6/5/1993 at 01:24:53, a magnitude 4.1 (4.1 LG, Depth: 6.2 mi) earthquake occurred 378.7 miles away from the county center On 1/31/1986 at 16:46:43, a magnitude 5.0 (5.0 MB, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 525.7 miles away from the county center On 9/25/1998 at 19:52:52, a magnitude 5.2 (4.8 MB, 4.3 MS, 5.2 LG, 4.5 MW, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 558.3 miles away from Houghton County center On 7/12/1986 at 08:19:37, a magnitude 4.5 (4.5 MB) earthquake occurred 496.4 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
Michigan Flooding, Incident Period: April 16, 2013 to May 15, 2013, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4121: June 18, 2013, FEMA Id: 4121, Natural disaster type: Flood
Michigan Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3225: September 07, 2005, FEMA Id: 3225, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Michigan Flooding, Incident Period: April 10, 2002 to May 09, 2002, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1413: May 06, 2002, FEMA Id: 1413, Natural disaster type: Flood
Michigan Severe Freeze, Incident Period: January 10, 1994 to June 10, 1994, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1028: May 10, 1994, FEMA Id: 1028, Natural disaster type: Freeze
Michigan Blizzards and Snowstorms, Incident Period: January 27, 1978, Emergency Declared EM-3057: January 27, 1978, FEMA Id: 3057, Natural disaster type: Snowstorm, Blizzard
Michigan Drought, Incident Period: March 02, 1977, Emergency Declared EM-3035: March 02, 1977, FEMA Id: 3035, Natural disaster type: Drought
The number of natural disasters in Houghton County (6) is smaller than the US average (13). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 3 Emergencies Declared: 3
Education, training, and library occupations (11%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (10%)
Management occupations (9%)
Construction and extraction occupations (9%)
Production occupations (8%)
Sales and related occupations (6%)
Office and administrative support occupations (6%)
Office and administrative support occupations (17%)
Education, training, and library occupations (12%)
Sales and related occupations (10%)
Management occupations (9%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (9%)
Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (7%)
Healthcare support occupations (6%)
China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (25%)
India (17%)
Canada (7%)
Germany (5%)
Israel (5%)
Philippines (3%)
Mexico (3%)
Finnish (31%)
American (10%)
German (9%)
French (except Basque) (4%)
English (3%)
Irish (3%)
Italian (3%)
People in group quarters in Houghton County, Michigan in 2000:
2,264 people in college dormitories (includes college quarters off campus)
359 people in nursing homes
235 people in state prisons
63 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
58 people in other group homes
46 people in homes for the mentally retarded
43 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
13 people in homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse
12 people in military barracks, etc.
8 people in other types of correctional institutions
5 people in religious group quarters
People in group quarters in Houghton County, Michigan in 2010:
2,164 people in college/university student housing
377 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
46 people in group homes intended for adults
32 people in emergency and transitional shelters (with sleeping facilities) for people experiencing homelessness
28 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
19 people in workers' group living quarters and job corps centers
17 people in residential treatment centers for adults
16 people in other noninstitutional facilities
8 people in group homes for juveniles (non-correctional)
8 people in residential treatment centers for juveniles (non-correctional)
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2010 was $53,079.
5.38% of this county's 2011 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2010 ($46,067 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
5.38%
Michigan average:
5.43%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
2.47% relocated from other counties in Michigan ($20,073 average AGI)
2.91% relocated from other states ($25,994 average AGI)
Houghton County:
2.91%
Michigan average:
1.59%
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2010 and 2011:
6.17% of this county's 2010 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2011 ($40,319 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
6.17%
Michigan average:
5.69%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
2.54% relocated to other counties in Michigan ($14,849 average AGI)
3.62% relocated to other states ($25,470 average AGI)
Houghton County:
3.62%
Michigan average:
1.85%
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2010 and 2011:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 11.3 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 11.1
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 11.5 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 10.9 Deaths per 1000 population from 2007 to 2014: 9.8
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 5.4 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 4.7
Population without health insurance coverage in 2013: 15.0% Persons under 19 years old without health insurance coverage in 2013: 5.6%
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Houghton County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 6,329 (5,272 aged, 1,057 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 712 (10%)
Most common underlying causes of death in Houghton County, Michigan in 1999 - 2014:
Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified (654)
Atherosclerotic heart disease (573)
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (325)
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (296)
Unspecified diabetes mellitus, without complications (88)
Pneumonia, unspecified (84)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 12% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 10%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 5.62 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 9,405 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 256 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 34,492
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,106 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,171 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 6
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 48 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 45
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 11
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 104.6. This is less than state average.
Household type by relationship:
Households: 36,759
In family households: 25,486 (4,533 male householders, 3,220 female householders)
6,273 spouses, 9,486 children (8,847 natural, 168 adopted, 471 stepchildren), 382 grandchildren, 257 brothers or sisters, 350 parents, 293 other relatives, 666 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 9,112 (3,292 male householders (2,301 living alone)), 2,587 female householders (2,093 living alone)), 3,234 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 2,254
Size of family households: 4,164 2-persons, 1,551 3-persons, 950 4-persons, 510 5-persons, 264 6-persons, 369 7-or-more-persons.
5,348 married couples with children.
1,398 single-parent households (416 men, 982 women).
93.0% of residents of Houghton speak English at home.
1.0% of residents speak Spanish at home (81% speak English very well, 6% speak English well, 13% speak English not well).
2.1% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (71% speak English very well, 21% speak English well, 6% speak English not well, 2% don't speak English at all).
2.1% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (37% speak English very well, 28% speak English well, 31% speak English not well, 4% don't speak English at all).
1.4% of residents speak other language at home (85% speak English very well, 14% speak English well, 2% speak English not well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $223,554,000 ($6,285 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $15,157,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $87,053,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $49,936,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $589,000 Federal grants: $57,937,000 Federal procurement contracts: $15,478,000 ($9,680,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $12,560,000 ($1,124,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $20,235,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $3,286,000 Federal Government insurance: $642,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 2,087
Here:
58 per 1000 residents
State:
68 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 2,015
Here:
56 per 1000 residents
State:
45 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +380
Here:
+11 per 1000 residents
State:
+12 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: -730
Here:
-20 per 1000 residents
State:
-16 per 1000 residents
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 4.25 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
6.4
State:
6.5
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.0
State:
4.4
Year house built in Houghton County, Michigan
3022014 or later
2582010 to 2013
1,4592000 to 2009
1,6681990 to 1999
1,4531980 to 1989
2,0901970 to 1979
1,5541960 to 1969
1,3211950 to 1959
9401940 to 1949
7,8241939 or earlier
Rooms in houses/apartments in Houghton County, Michigan
Cars and other vehicles available in Houghton County in owner-occupied houses/condos
304no vehicle
2,7191 vehicle
4,3022 vehicles
1,6003 vehicles
4274 vehicles
1655+ vehicles
Cars and other vehicles available in Houghton County in renter-occupied apartments
845no vehicle
1,8781 vehicle
8772 vehicles
2173 vehicles
1944 vehicles
705+ vehicles
83.1% of Houghton County residents lived in the same house 1 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 33% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 62% lived in Michigan.
Houghton County:
83.1%
State average:
85.8%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 27,556
Other state: 7,040
Northeast: 636
Midwest: 4,225
South: 963
West: 1,241
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Houghton County
(54.3%)
(45.7%)
, Grant County, Washington 
0.37% ($31,205 average AGI)
-16 per 1000 residents
