Houghton, MI housing market
The typical Houghton home is worth about $279,000, up 8.7% in a year, close to the Michigan typical home.
Home values, sales, trends and how Houghton compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Houghton at a glance
Only 3 sales in May 2026: in a market this size, monthly medians swing a lot, so the typical value above is the steadier guide.
Typical home value, 2016–2026
Show as a table
| January | Houghton | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $167,000 | $144,000 |
| 2018 | $179,000 | $155,000 |
| 2019 | $185,000 | $165,000 |
| 2020 | $191,000 | $175,000 |
| 2021 | $199,000 | $194,000 |
| 2022 | $228,000 | $217,000 |
| 2023 | $234,000 | $230,000 |
| 2024 | $236,000 | $241,000 |
| 2025 | $249,000 | $253,000 |
| 2026 | $274,000 | $262,000 |
| August 2026 | $279,000 | $266,000 |
No new homes permitted in 2018
No permits for new homes were issued in Houghton in 2018. The last year with any was 2017 (70 new homes).
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 70 | 12 | 58 | $4 million |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $1.1 million |
| 2014 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $1.5 million |
| 2013 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $1.5 million |
| 2012 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $225,000 |
| 2011 | 8 | 3 | 5 | $650,000 |
| 2010 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $1.2 million |
| 2009 | 14 | 6 | 8 | $1.8 million |
| 2008 | 17 | 5 | 12 | $1.7 million |
| 2007 | 26 | 6 | 20 | $2.4 million |
| 2006 | 16 | 14 | 2 | $2.4 million |
| 2005 | 17 | 15 | 2 | $2.6 million |
| 2004 | 17 | 17 | 0 | $2.5 million |
| 2003 | 19 | 19 | 0 | $3.3 million |
| 2002 | 15 | 15 | 0 | $2.3 million |
| 2001 | 18 | 14 | 4 | $1.8 million |
| 2000 | 29 | 29 | 0 | $3.5 million |
Houghton's permit office didn't report to the Census in 2018, so the 2018 figures are Census estimates.
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey.
Houghton and its neighbors
| Town | Typical value | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | New homes 2018 | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton | $279K | +8.7% | $1,120 | 0 | $43,456 |
| Portage | — | −1.1%† | $1,020 | — | $66,652 |
| Stanton | — | +1.6%† | $1,060 | — | $85,800 |
| Adams | — | +0.4%† | $1,060 | — | $63,914 |
| Franklin | — | +2.9%† | $970 | — | $78,155 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
6.4 years of income
The typical Houghton home costs about 6.4 years of the town's median household income, more than across Michigan (3.7 years).
How Houghton ranks on affordability →
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $1,120
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Houghton is $1,120 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Houghton pay a median of $978, so moving in tends to cost more than staying put. A two-bedroom takes about 31% of the town's median household income, above the 30% guideline for affordable housing.
Studio $910 · 4 bedrooms $1,880
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (49931; Houghton County, MI), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research, August 2026. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center, May 2026. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.