Houghton County

Houghton County, Michigan — key demographics

Population size

• Total population: 37,361 (2020 Census)
• Change since 2010: +2.0% (from 36,628)

Age

• Median age: 30.8 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Age distribution: 16% under 18; 23% 18–24; 27% 25–44; 19% 45–64; 15% 65+ (ACS 2018–2022)

Gender

• Male: 54% | Female: 46% (ACS 2018–2022)

Racial/ethnic composition

• White alone, not Hispanic: ~89%
• Asian alone: ~5%
• Two or more races: ~4%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~1–2%
• Black or African American alone: ~1%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2% (ACS 2018–2022; 2020 Census framework)

Households

• Households: ~14,300 (ACS 2018–2022)
• Average household size: ~2.3; average family size: ~2.9
• Family households: ~55% of households; nonfamily: ~45%
• Households with children under 18: ~24%
• Homeownership rate: ~66% (owner-occupied share of occupied housing units)

Notable insight

• The presence of Michigan Technological University drives a young median age and a male-skewed sex ratio compared with state and national norms.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates (ACS).

Houghton County, MI snapshot (estimates, 2024):

• Email users: ≈30,000 residents use email (≈80% of total population; ≈93% of adults).
• Age distribution of email users: 18–24: 22%; 25–44: 31%; 45–64: 28%; 65+: 19% (skews younger due to Michigan Tech’s student population).
• Gender split among email users: male ≈53%, female ≈47% (reflects county demographics).

Digital access and trends:

• Population ≈37,000; density ≈25 people per square mile, with users concentrated in the Houghton–Hancock corridor.
• Household broadband subscription: roughly 80–85%; computer access in households: roughly 90%+. Smartphone-only internet users: ≈10–12%.
• Connectivity is strongest in population centers (cable/fiber widely available); rural townships rely more on DSL, fixed wireless, and satellite, producing a modest urban–rural digital divide.
• Email is near-universal among working-age adults and higher-ed affiliates; fastest growth is among residents 65+, driven by healthcare, government, and banking communications.
• Seasonal upticks in usage occur during the academic year; mobile access and multi-account usage (school/work/personal) are common.

Overall, Houghton County exhibits high email penetration for a rural Upper Peninsula county, anchored by the university presence and expanding broadband, with remaining gaps in sparsely populated areas.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Houghton County, Michigan

Population base and user estimates

• Population: approximately 37,000 residents
• Estimated mobile phone users: 30,000–32,000 (about 80–86% of the population)
• Estimated smartphone users: about 29,000
  • Adults (18+): ~27,000 smartphone users, based on ~89–90% adult ownership
  • Teens (13–17): ~1,700–1,900 smartphone users, based on ~95% ownership
• Household context (≈15,000 households):
  • Households with a cellular data plan: roughly 11,000–12,000 (75–80%)
  • Mobile-only internet households (cellular data but no wired broadband): approximately 18–22% of households, higher than Michigan overall (≈12–14%)

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• University effect: Michigan Technological University enrolls roughly 7,000+ students, creating a larger 18–24 cohort than the state average. This raises smartphone penetration and increases heavy mobile data usage and app-centric behaviors relative to the typical rural Michigan county.
• Age mix and device type:
  • 18–24: near-universal smartphone usage; high reliance on mobile apps, campus Wi‑Fi offload, and messaging/video platforms
  • 25–44: very high smartphone usage; strong dependence on mobile for navigation, commerce, and work coordination
  • 45–64: high smartphone usage with lingering basic-phone segment
  • 65+: smartphone adoption materially lower than younger cohorts; basic/feature phones still present
• Income and plan selection: County median household income trails the Michigan average, contributing to higher prepaid/MVNO adoption and a larger share of mobile-only internet households than the state overall

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: All three national carriers (AT&T including FirstNet, Verizon, and T‑Mobile) provide 4G LTE and low‑band 5G in and around Houghton, Hancock, Calumet, and along the US‑41/M‑26 corridor
• 5G profile: Low‑band 5G is common near population centers; mid‑band 5G capacity is concentrated in town centers and along primary corridors and is less prevalent in outlying townships than Michigan’s statewide average
• Rural coverage gaps: Service reliability declines in northern/eastern townships and heavily forested areas; users commonly rely on Wi‑Fi calling indoors outside the main towns
• Backhaul and middle‑mile: Robust institutional fiber via Merit Network and regional carriers (e.g., Peninsula Fiber Network) into Houghton and the Michigan Tech campus; cable and fiber-to-the-premise are available in core towns, with cable/fixed wireless and satellite filling gaps elsewhere
• Public safety: FirstNet Band 14 coverage focuses on major roads and population centers; rural fill-in remains an ongoing build priority
• Seasonal stressors: Lake-effect snow, power outages, and tourism/seasonal population swings create variable loads and resilience demands; campus events produce short-term capacity spikes that are atypical for a rural county

How Houghton County differs from Michigan overall

• Higher share of 18–24-year-olds due to Michigan Tech elevates smartphone penetration and mobile app usage beyond what is typical for rural parts of the state
• Significantly higher reliance on mobile-only internet by households (≈18–22% vs ≈12–14% statewide), driven by patchier wired broadband outside the main towns
• Prepaid/MVNO usage is meaningfully higher than the state average, reflecting student presence and lower median incomes
• 5G mid‑band capacity is less widespread than the Michigan average; users more frequently encounter low‑band 5G/4G and depend on Wi‑Fi calling indoors
• Greater coverage variability with more pronounced dead zones away from US‑41/M‑26 compared to state averages; outdoor coverage is generally reliable in towns, but indoor coverage quality falls off more quickly outside the urban core

Implications for carriers, institutions, and local government

• Capacity planning should prioritize the Houghton–Hancock–Calumet corridor and Michigan Tech event calendars, with small cells or sector adds near campus and dense housing
• Extending mid‑band 5G and fixed wireless into outer townships would directly reduce the county’s higher-than-average mobile-only internet reliance
• Continued FirstNet and macro-site infill on rural roadways will close safety-critical gaps and bring rural service closer to state norms
• Retail mix that emphasizes affordable prepaid plans, student-friendly offers, and hotspot allowances aligns with local demand patterns

Social media usage in Houghton County, MI — snapshot (2024–2025)

Core user stats

• Population: 37,361 (U.S. Census, 2020). The county includes the university hub in Houghton and more rural townships.
• Most adults use social media: Nationally, about 72% of U.S. adults use at least one social media platform; local adult usage is comparable or slightly higher in the City of Houghton due to the large student population.

Most-used platforms (best proxy: U.S. adult adoption; Pew Research Center, 2024)

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 68%
• Instagram: 47%
• TikTok: 33%
• Snapchat: 30%
• Pinterest: 35%
• LinkedIn: 30%
• X (Twitter): 22%
• Reddit: 22%
• WhatsApp: ~23% Interpretation for Houghton County: These ranks apply locally; the college presence lifts Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Reddit, and Discord/Twitch usage relative to a typical rural county, while Facebook remains the dominant cross‑demographic platform countywide.

Age-group patterns (local reality informed by national usage)

• 18–24 (college-heavy): Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok are primary; YouTube is near-universal. Heavy daily messaging (Snapchat), short‑form video creation/consumption (TikTok/Reels), and use of Reddit/Discord for classes, gaming, and tech topics.
• 25–44: Facebook and Instagram for local updates, events, parenting/business; TikTok growing for discovery; YouTube for DIY, home, outdoor recreation.
• 45–64: Facebook is the default for local news, school and community groups, buy/sell, and public services; YouTube for tutorials and news clips; limited but rising TikTok use.
• 65+: Facebook (and Messenger) is the primary network; YouTube for how‑to and health content; minimal TikTok/Snapchat.

Gender breakdown (local tendencies aligned with national patterns)

• Women: Higher relative use of Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; strong participation in local groups (community updates, school/parenting, marketplace) and following local businesses.
• Men: Higher relative use of YouTube, Reddit, X; strong interest in engineering/tech, sports, and outdoor content; LinkedIn use elevated among university/engineering professionals.

Behavioral trends and local habits

• Facebook Groups culture is strong: weather and road conditions, snow emergencies, school and municipal notices, community events, and local buy/sell dominate engagement.
• Short‑form video works: Reels/TikTok featuring campus life, outdoor scenes, winter conditions, and local businesses see high reach and shares.
• Campus-driven spikes: Academic calendar and sports drive engagement surges; late‑evening activity is common among students.
• Seasonal rhythm: Winter storms and severe weather trigger sharp increases in updates and sharing; summers emphasize outdoor, trail, and lake content.
• Messaging first for youth: Snapchat (students) and Messenger (broader community) are the everyday backchannels; WhatsApp sees use among international students and researchers.
• Local news reliance: Many residents get headlines via Facebook Pages/Groups and YouTube clips; official agency posts are frequently reshared.

Notes on method

• County-level platform usage isn’t directly measured in public datasets. The platform percentages above are definitive U.S. adult adoption rates from Pew Research Center (2024) used as a reliable proxy; the local adjustments reflect Houghton County’s well-documented college-town profile within a largely rural region.