Population
37,842
2025
+1.6% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Houghton County, MI: population growth, jobs and income
Houghton County gained 139 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.4%).
Houghton County had an estimated 37,842 residents in 2025, up 1.6% (586 more people) since 2020. That is faster than Michigan as a whole (+0.6%), and the 35th fastest growth of 83 counties in Michigan.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Houghton County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Houghton County, ranked against Michigan and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$840/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes24.2%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months1262025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−39
2025
−1.0 per 1,000 residents
−115 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
5.7%
2025
+0.7 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
170
2025
+0.6% since 2021
4.5 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$58,899
2020–24
+31.4% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
9,246
2023
+1.6% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 39 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 9,246 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +1.6% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 5.7% in 2025, 0.7 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 170 new homes in 2025, or 4.5 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $58,899 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +31.4% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 1,410th.
Part of the Houghton, MI micro area.
Get Houghton County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Houghton County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Houghton County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37,842 | +139 |
| 2024 | 37,703 | +32 |
| 2023 | 37,671 | −57 |
| 2022 | 37,728 | +180 |
| 2021 | 37,548 | +292 |
| 2020 | 37,256 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Houghton County
Houghton County grew by 586 people since 2020 even though 115 more residents moved to other U.S. counties than came from them: deaths outnumbered births by 75, and net international migration added 780.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −14 | −75 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +193 | +780 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −39 | −115 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | −1 | −4 | |
| Total change | +139 | +586 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Michigan | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 35th of 83 | 1,410th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 71st of 83 | 2,083rd of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 50th of 83 | 1,645th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 59th of 83 | 2,156th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 38th of 83 | 2,809th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 10th of 83 | 709th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Houghton County, MI as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Houghton County's population change (+1.6%) was ahead of 3 of its 5 neighbouring counties and behind 2 (Keweenaw County and Marquette County).
Only Marquette County had a higher median household income (2020–24) among its 5 neighbouring counties; Houghton County's was $58,899.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton County, MI This county | 37,842 | +1.6% | −1.0 | 4.5 | $58,899 |
| Baraga County, MI | 8,169 | +0.3% | −5.8 | 1.5 | $55,327 |
| Ontonagon County, MI | 5,823 | +0.4% | 4.5 | 1.7 | $54,398 |
| Keweenaw County, MI | 2,186 | +6.2% | 12.8 | 2.7 | $52,583 |
| Iron County, MI | 11,757 | +1.1% | 6.5 | 13.7 | $55,940 |
| Marquette County, MI | 68,064 | +2.3% | 5.5 | 1.6 | $65,429 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Houghton County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 1.6% between 2020 and 2025, about 586 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Michigan as a whole changed +0.6% over the same years. That ranks 35th of 83 counties in Michigan for population growth.
How many people moved to Houghton County?
On net, none in 2025: about 39 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Houghton County?
It averaged 5.7% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Houghton County?
About 37,842 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Houghton County?
Private employers there had 9,246 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +1.6% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Michigan
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Michigan county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Houghton County data alerts
Email me when Houghton County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.