Population 267 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Houghton
Household size in Houghton
| Period | Houghton | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.74 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.29 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.32 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.74 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Houghton holds 2.74 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Houghton
| Period | Houghton | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.7 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.6 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 54.3 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.3 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.6 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Houghton is 43.3 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 39.7 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Houghton
| Period | Houghton | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 0.9% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 1.7% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 1.8% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Houghton: 4.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Houghton
Renters in Houghton
| Period | Houghton | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.8% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.2% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.5% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −19.7 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 5.1% of households in Houghton rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over six in ten owners (62.1%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Houghton
| Period | Houghton | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 1.9% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.8% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Houghton is close to the national rate: 9.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6%.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Houghton
| Period | Houghton | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1952 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1954 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1953 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +14 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Houghton is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1966, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Houghton
| Period | Houghton | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $687 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $663 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $728 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,091 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$405 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Houghton runs $1,091 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in Iowa overall ($1,020). The typical renter here spends 14.2% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Houghton
Bachelor's degrees in Houghton
| Period | Houghton | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.0% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.3% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.2% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.3 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Houghton as nationally: 34.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Houghton
| Period | Houghton | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.1% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.6% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.1% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −8.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Houghton have finished high school as nationally: 90.1%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Iowa as a whole (93.0%).
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Houghton
| Period | Houghton | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 0.3% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.4% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Houghton has been low: just 0.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Houghton compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton | 2.74 | 43.3 | 4.4% | 5.1% | 9.9% | 1966 | $1,091 | 34.3% | 90.1% | 0.4% |
| Mount Hamill | 2.67 | 42.9 | 4.7% | 6.3% | 11.2% | 1961 | $981 | 32.2% | 92.8% | 0.2% |
| Salem | 2.62 | 42.0 | 13.3% | 9.9% | 1.4% | 1973 | $920 | 24.5% | 97.1% | 1.3% |
| St. Paul | 2.70 | 44.2 | 4.3% | 4.8% | 10.0% | 1966 | $1,065 | 34.3% | 90.6% | 0.3% |
| Hillsboro | 2.27 | 45.0 | 8.0% | 26.8% | 7.5% | 1963 | $775 | 13.2% | 88.0% | 3.0% |
| Primrose | 2.44 | 42.2 | 7.9% | 10.4% | 9.1% | 1965 | $728 | 23.6% | 98.1% | 0.0% |
| Franklin | 2.52 | 42.1 | 5.2% | 9.2% | 15.5% | 1948 | $722 | 27.1% | 99.5% | 0.0% |
| Oakland Mills | 2.45 | 43.9 | 9.3% | 20.7% | 9.8% | 1975 | $828 | 23.3% | 96.8% | 1.6% |
| West Point | 2.09 | 52.5 | 7.2% | 12.9% | 7.5% | 1977 | $635 | 28.5% | 94.9% | 1.1% |
| Donnellson | 2.25 | 44.1 | 7.0% | 15.7% | 7.2% | 1970 | $685 | 21.2% | 96.9% | 3.3% |
| Bonaparte | 2.79 | 40.5 | 8.5% | 18.3% | 23.0% | 1970 | $597 | 28.9% | 89.3% | 7.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Jones Mill, TN · Jasper, OH · Jeannette, TN · Jearoldstown, TN · Jeddo, AL · Jenny Lind, NC · Jet, OK · Jewell, OH · Jonathan, MS · Jardin, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Houghton. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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