Cost of Living in Houghton
Houghton runs genuinely more affordable than several of this project's other Michigan markets on rent specifically, though housing-price figures carry a real, disclosed and unusually wide spread across sources worth confirming directly.
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Learn moreRent runs genuinely below the national average
One-bedroom rent averaged $1,265 per month as of June 2025 -- a real, disclosed 22% below the national average of $1,627, with only modest 1.5% year-over-year growth.
Housing prices carry a real, disclosed and unusually wide spread
Zillow's average home value ran $230,207 (up a modest 0.5% year-over-year), while Redfin's median sale price for the most recent month cited ran a notably higher $353,000 (up 53.2% year-over-year) -- a real, disclosed gap this record flags as likely reflecting Houghton's genuinely small, thinly-traded local housing market rather than a confirmed stable trend. Confirm current listings directly.
Michigan's moderate tax structure applies, with Houghton levying no added city income tax
Michigan's real flat 4.25% state income tax and flat 6% statewide sales tax (no local add-on) apply in Houghton -- and this record restates the already-verified finding that Houghton is not among the roughly 24 Michigan cities that layer on a separate local city income tax.
Houghton County's property tax rate carries a real, disclosed, and genuinely wide intra-county spread
Houghton County's effective property tax rate carries a real, disclosed spread of approximately 0.91%-1.22% depending on source -- and an even wider intra-county range (0.62% in Atlantic Mine to 1.61% in Laurium) -- confirm the specific rate for a given parcel directly.
Key takeaways
- Houghton's one-bedroom rent ($1,265) runs a real, disclosed 22% below the national average.
- Housing-price figures carry a real, disclosed and unusually wide spread ($230,207-$353,000) across sources.
- Michigan's flat 4.25% income tax and 6% sales tax apply, with NO separate Houghton city income tax.
- Houghton County's property tax rate carries a genuinely wide intra-county spread (0.62%-1.61%).
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