Houghton, MI vs Romulus, MI

Houghton, MI and Romulus, MI have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.4% difference in their overall index. Houghton scores 78 while Romulus scores 78 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Houghton is $861/month compared to $1,050/month in Romulus — a 18% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Houghton has cheaper rent, Romulus actually has lower median home values ($149,100 vs $233,700).

Median household income in Houghton is $35,417 compared to $72,235 in Romulus (-51%). While Romulus 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 17.4% in Romulus.