County profile · Michigan
Houghton County, MI market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Houghton County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 37,842
- +1.6% since 2020
- Households
- 14,305
- Median household income
- $58,899
- +36.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $159,900
- Jobs located here
- 11,811
- Highest market score
- 74
- Salons, barbers and spas, #185 of 2,385 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Houghton County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Houghton County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 37,842 people live in Houghton County, in 14,305 households. Population estimates show Houghton County grew 1.6% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Houghton County is $58,899 a year, 27% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 36.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Houghton County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 107, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (60).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Houghton County are for salons, barbers and spas (74); dentists and orthodontists (73); and hair salons (73). Houghton County ranks #185 of 2,385 scored counties for salons, barbers and spas.
Houghton County is part of the Houghton area. For its number of households, Houghton County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for chiropractors (69% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (60% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Houghton County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Houghton County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salons, barbers and spas | 74 | #185 of 2,385 | 36 | 25.2 | $356K | 167 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 73 | #196 of 1,886 | 9 | 6.3 | $2.1M | 210 | 8 |
| Hair salons | 73 | #208 of 2,339 | 21 | 14.7 | $610K | 142 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 72 | #211 of 1,656 | 6 | 4.2 | $3.1M | 174 | 12 |
| Spas and skin care | 66 | #319 of 1,769 | 7 | 4.9 | $1.8M | 209 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 66 | #489 of 2,087 | 13 | 9.1 | $2M | 156 | 4 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 66 | #490 of 2,210 | 19 | 13.3 | $1.4M | 154 | 4 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 63 | #386 of 1,707 | 5 | 3.5 | $7.1M | 149 | 10 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 61 | #519 of 2,176 | 18 | 12.6 | Index only | 190 | 3 |
| Barbershops | 57 | #518 of 1,356 | 5 | 3.5 | $2.6M | 136 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 57 | #593 of 1,530 | 5 | 3.5 | $2.9M | 117 | 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 56 | #905 of 2,222 | 16 | 11.2 | $3.1M | 102 | 23 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 56 | #924 of 2,394 | 83 | 58.0 | $224K | 147 | 34 |
| Real estate | 53 | #912 of 2,229 | 22 | 15.4 | Index only | 195 | 13 |
| Gyms | 50 | #934 of 1,792 | 11 | 7.7 | $980K | 75 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 48 | #1,192 of 2,200 | 15 | 10.5 | $719K | 82 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 48 | #1,269 of 2,378 | 29 | 20.3 | $506K | 114 | 22 |
| Convenience stores | 47 | #1,235 of 2,261 | 14 | 9.8 | $5.8M | 73 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 46 | #1,367 of 2,401 | 52 | 36.4 | $282K | 105 | 28 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 45 | #1,310 of 2,088 | 19 | 13.3 | $567K | 86 | 6 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 43 | #1,488 of 2,402 | 36 | 25.2 | $2.2M | 66 | 9 |
| Home repair trades | 42 | #1,401 of 2,057 | 16 | 11.2 | $2.2M | 91 | 24 |
| Gas stations | 42 | #1,506 of 2,358 | 20 | 14.0 | $1.9M | 79 | 18 |
| Pizza | 41 | #1,413 of 2,090 | 17 | 11.9 | $2.9M | 58 | 23 |
| Physical therapy | 39 | #1,016 of 1,422 | 11 | 7.7 | $1.7M | 70 | 6 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 39 | #1,444 of 2,063 | 17 | 11.9 | $2.9M | 79 | 7 |
| Funeral homes | 37 | #1,063 of 1,472 | 7 | 4.9 | $300K | 44 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 37 | #1,413 of 1,889 | 16 | 11.2 | $3.1M | 75 | 7 |
| Insurance agencies | 36 | #1,592 of 2,272 | 15 | 10.5 | $1.5M | 121 | 18 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 34 | #1,869 of 2,405 | 74 | 51.7 | $673K | 101 | 40 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 32 | #1,062 of 1,327 | 6 | 4.2 | $2.4M | 79 | 10 |
| Chiropractors | 30 | #1,280 of 1,490 | 13 | 9.1 | $1.4M | 60 | 8 |
| Grocery stores | 30 | #1,648 of 2,070 | 15 | 10.5 | $5.4M | 58 | 8 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 30 | #2,029 of 2,405 | 159 | 111.1 | $313K | 84 | 70 |
| Electricians | 29 | #1,009 of 1,160 | 8 | 5.6 | $4.4M | 37 | 8 |
| Child care and preschools | 26 | #1,402 of 1,611 | 8 | 5.6 | $621K | 62 | 13 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $2.7M | 134 | 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $2.7M | 106 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $2.7M | 99 | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $2.7M | 66 | 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $4.9M | 194 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $8.6M | 69 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $5.4M | 321 | 11 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $6.2M | 198 | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | Index only | 112 | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $11.8M | 140 | 6 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $8.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $6.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $7.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $5.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $16.2M | Too few | 11 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Houghton County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $14.7M | $1,025 | 107 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $37.6M | $2,629 | 101 |
| Food away from home | $49.8M | $3,482 | 86 |
| Groceries | $80.8M | $5,648 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $12.8M | $896 | 89 |
| Child care and other personal services | $5M | $347 | 60 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $10.8M | $754 | 77 |
| Medical and dental services | $18.6M | $1,300 | 101 |
| Pets | $10.8M | $753 | 83 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $25.8M | $1,805 | 88 |
| Vehicle insurance | $22.8M | $1,596 | 82 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $35.5M | $2,483 | 82 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $16.2M | $1,130 | 80 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $186.1M | $13,010 | 78 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Houghton County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 37,842+1.6% since 2020
- Households
- 14,305
- Median age
- 36.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 72%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 1,009 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 37
- Median household income
- $58,899+36.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $80,899
- Median home value
- $159,900
- Jobs located here
- 11,811
- Daytime population
- 36,847Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Houghton County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Houghton County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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Questions
How fast is Houghton County, MI growing?
Population estimates put Houghton County at 37,842 people in 2025, up 1.6% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 14,305 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 36.4%, before inflation.
How much do households in Houghton County, MI spend?
Households in Houghton County spend about $186.1M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $80.8M on groceries and $49.8M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Houghton County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 107, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (60).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Houghton County, MI?
Of the business types scored in Houghton County, salons, barbers and spas (74); dentists and orthodontists (73); and hair salons (73) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For salons, barbers and spas, that ranks #185 of 2,385 scored counties.
How does Houghton County, MI compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Houghton County is $58,899, 27% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $159,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for chiropractors (69% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (60% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 36 of the 56 business types have a score in Houghton County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Houghton County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Houghton County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Houghton County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.