The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Houghton County, MI: Crime Maps and Statistics

Crime per Capita in Houghton County

The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Houghton County.

 

Houghton County, MI Map of Crime Rates
Click the map to explore
A+ B C D F
Safest Highest crime
Colorblind friendly off

C+

Overall Crime Grade™

C-
C-
Other Crime Grade
B

$21.5 million

Cost of Crime™ for Houghton County, MI

In 2025, crime will cost $1,297 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Houghton County in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is Houghton County, MI Safe?

The C+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is about the same as that of the average US county. Houghton County ranks in the 48th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 48% of counties but less safe than 52%. This analysis applies only to Houghton County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Houghton County is 31.12 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Houghton County Residents generally consider the southeast part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Houghton County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 27 in the northeast areas to 1 in 56 in the southeast.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Houghton County, MI see the most incidents - about 503 per year. In contrast, the northwest part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 9 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Houghton County, MI

The total projected cost of crime in Houghton County for 2025 is $21,453,072. This translates to approximately $539 per resident and $1,297 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.7% of the median household income in Houghton County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 52.8%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 35.0%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.1%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Houghton County Compared to Other Counties?

Houghton County, MI: $539
Wayne County, MI: $853
Ottawa County, MI: $197
Michigan: $487
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Houghton County is $539 per year, which is $75 more than the national average and $53 more than Michigan's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Houghton County:
  • In Wayne County, MI, crime costs $853 per person, which is $314 more than in Houghton County.
  • In Ottawa County, MI, crime costs $197 per person, which is $342 less than in Houghton County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Houghton County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Houghton County
Cost per Houghton County Resident
Murder
$7.63 million
$192
Rape/Sexual Assault
$2.37 million
$60
Robbery
$487,611
$12
Assault
$3.64 million
$91
Kidnapping
$195,043
$5
Vehicle Theft
$584,482
$15
Burglary
$1.31 million
$33
Theft
$2.81 million
$71
Arson
$89,139
$2
Vandalism
$1.50 million
$38
Animal Cruelty
$26,005
$1
Drug Crimes
$515,941
$13
Identity Theft
$286,956
$7
Total Cost of Crime
$21,453,072
$539

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Houghton County, MI

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Houghton County totals $63,047,295 ($1,585 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $84,500,367 ($2,125 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the Houghton County crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the central part of the county has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Houghton County has 16, have the same problem. Of Houghton County’s 39,769 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Houghton County, MI at ISP Reports.

Houghton County Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Houghton County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
3.185
Robbery
0.3898
Rape
0.9849
Murder
0.1021
Total Violent Crime
4.662 (C-)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
13.64
Vehicle Theft
0.9491
Burglary
3.643
Arson
0.0928
Total Property Crime
18.33 (C-)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.0809
Drug Crimes
1.754
Vandalism
5.276
Identity Theft
0.9322
Animal Cruelty
0.0884
Total "Other" Rate
8.131 (B)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Houghton County is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Houghton County.

Nearby County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
C-
D+
C-
C-
C-
D+
B-
D+
B-
C
B+
C-
C-
B
C-
D-
C-
D-
C-
B
D
C-
B
D
B-
C+
C+
D-
C-
F

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Houghton County is similar versus other counties of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.

Similar County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
C
B
B
A
A-
A-
C+
B-
B-
A
B+
B+
A-
A
A
C+
B-
B-
C
D
D
D-
D-
D-
C-
D
D
C+
B-
B-

Considering only the crime rate, Houghton County is less safe than the Michigan state average and as safe as the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Houghton County, MI average SchoolGrade of B-, with 41% actual proficiency versus 38% projected; overall, schools exceed expectations. See Houghton County schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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Home Security

A crime occurs on average every 7 hours 4 minutes in Houghton County. Want to protect your home?

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.