Houghton, MI vs Marquette, MI

Houghton is moderately more affordable than Marquette, with a 5.6% lower cost of living index. Houghton scores 78 compared to 83 for Marquette, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Marquette can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Houghton is $861/month compared to $958/month in Marquette — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Houghton is more affordable at $233,700 median vs $254,100.

Median household income in Houghton is $35,417 compared to $55,825 in Marquette (-36.6%). While Marquette is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Houghton spend roughly 29.2% of their income on rent, more than the 20.6% in Marquette.