PlainZIP

Houghton, MI · standard

ZIP Code 49931

Houghton County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

9,630
132/sq mi
$50,408
Median income
$232,800
Median home value
62.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Houghton pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.

15th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 47%
home value, US ZIPs
132
people per sq mi
44%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 49931 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 49931 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Houghton, Houghton County, Michigan, home to 9,630 residents across 73.2 square miles, a density of 132 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.

ZIP 49931 reports a modest median household income of $50,408 (31% below the Michigan average), while per-capita income is $27,865. Poverty here runs at 31.1%, with unemployment measured at 8.2%. The typical home here is valued at $232,800 (6% above the state average); renters pay a median of $972 monthly, and 44.1% of units are owner-occupied.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 62.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 22.1, and the average commute is 12 minutes. To put 49931 in local context, 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Houghton County, for a geography-aware comparison.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 49931

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Houghton, MI

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 49931.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 49931, Houghton, MI · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

9,630

Population

73.2

Area (sq mi)

132

People / sq mi

Detroit

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 49931?

22.1

Median Age

59.0%

Male

41.0%

Female

13.0%

Foreign-Born

White 82.7%
African American 2.3%
Asian 7.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.7%
Hispanic or Latino 2.4%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$50,408

Median Household Income

-31% vs state

$27,865

Per Capita Income

31.1%

Poverty Rate

8.2%

Unemployment Rate

11.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 49931 ranks nationally

Houghton, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$50,408 15th percentile higher than 15% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 77.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 62.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

3,507

Total Housing Units

3,049

Occupied Units

458

Vacant Units

2.21

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 44.1%
Renter 55.9%

$232,800

Median Home Value

+6% vs state

$972

Median Rent

1976

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+15.1%

YoY Change (2024)

271

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+171%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 49931 have increased 15.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +171% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.2% 164
2021 +10.9% 181
2022 +20.1% 218
2023 +8.4% 236
2024 +15.1% 271

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 287 business establishments in ZIP 49931, employing approximately 3,727 people with a combined annual payroll of $149,144,000.

287

Businesses

3,727

Employees

$149.1M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 58 20.2%
Accommodation and food services 48 16.7%
Health care and social assistance 36 12.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 29 10.1%
Other services (except public administration) 28 9.8%
Finance and insurance 18 6.3%
Construction 12 4.2%
Information 11 3.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 11 3.8%
Manufacturing 10 3.5%
Wholesale trade 6 2.1%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 6 2.1%
Transportation and warehousing 4 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 1.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 49931 vs 49921 →

ZIP 49931 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 49931 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 49931 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 49931 ranks #7 of 7 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
49921 Dodgeville, MI 360 2.8 mi
49930 Hancock, MI 6,987 3.7 mi
49905 Atlantic Mine, MI 2,005 5.3 mi
49963 South Range, MI 1,024 6.1 mi
49922 Dollar Bay, MI 1,043 5.9 mi
49955 Painesdale, MI 371 10.0 mi
49913 Calumet, MI 7,248 10.4 mi

More ZIP Codes in Houghton County

49913 standard
Calumet, MI
Pop: 7,248
49930 standard
Hancock, MI
Pop: 6,987
49916 standard
Chassell, MI
Pop: 2,765
49945 standard
Lake Linden, MI
Pop: 2,621
49905 standard
Atlantic Mine, MI
Pop: 2,005
49958 standard
Pelkie, MI
Pop: 1,270

Related Areas

Houghton County Houghton, MI Michigan

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 49931 in? ▼
ZIP code 49931 (Houghton) is located in Houghton County, Michigan. Houghton County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/houghton-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 49931? ▼
ZIP code 49931 in Houghton, MI has a population of 9,630 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 49931? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 49931 is $50,408, which is 34% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 49931? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 49931 is $232,800, which is 16% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 49931? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 49931 is White at 82.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 49931? ▼
ZIP code 49931 has 287 business establishments employing approximately 3,727 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 49931? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 49931 are: Retail trade (58), Accommodation and food services (48), Health care and social assistance (36). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 49931? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 49931 increased by 15.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 171%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 49931? ▼
In ZIP code 49931, 77.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 62.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 49931? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 49931 is 11.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 49931? ▼
In ZIP code 49931, approximately 44.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 55.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 49931? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 49931 is 31.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.