Data
Data is a powerful tool for advancing housing development. From initial market data to building and demographic data, all stakeholders have more productive conversations with up-to-date data. This page contains some of the most common data sources used for housing development and discussions, including local market data.
​
A word of caution: Raw data can be self-fulfilling in the sense that any point of view can be justified or refuted with the right data. This data serves as a starting point for discussion and research but any conclusions should also factor in data not in here such as building costs, labor accessibility, and local factors that may not show up in aggregated data.
Target Market Analysis - 2024
In 2023, the Marquette County Land Bank Authority, the LSCP, and Marquette County Intergovernmental Housing Task Force members secured funds to complete a Target Market Analysis. A TMA aims to better understand existing demand for housing in an area, putting real data on paper to support or refute anecdotal evidence that otherwise can be widely used in housing discussions. The study suggests Marquette County can absorb up to 980 new units a year and rehabilitate up to 1,445 units a year. The TMA includes data on a countywide scale as well as seven local government units.
​
The full TMA documents are available below. To discuss the data in further detail, you can also contact cgermain@marquette.org or aadan@mqtco.org.
Marquette County Housing Target Market Analysis tutorial, presented by: Sharon Woods, LandUseUSA
Marquette County Housing Needs Assessment - 2024
In 2020, the Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission (CUPPAD) completed Housing Needs Assessments for each of the six counties in the region. Many of the trends found in this assessment ring true today. Maintaining access to older sets of data helps build the long-term case for proactive action to build more housing.
Marquette County Data Book
Compiled annually by the Lake Superior Community Partnership (LSCP), the Marquette County Data Book provides a snapshot of the county’s economy and demographics, including housing, education, wages, gross regional product, and key trends/opportunities like childcare, trails, and air service. The book is updated annually in late summer to include data from the previous year.
U.P. Data Center (InvestUP) | Labor Market Study
As the Upper Peninsula’s regional economic development organization, our friends at InvestUP have built a data center on their website to help understand opportunities in our region. Of particular note, in 2024 InvestUP released the U.P. Labor Market Study which includes detailed information on wages, skills, job trends, and more.
State of Michigan Housing Data Portal – 2023, Updated as available
The State of Michigan Housing Data Portal is a collective effort between the Michigan Municipal League, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to make almost 80 points of data readily available. From basic demographic data and homeownership rates to rental affordability and health-related factor, the portal can assist with conversations and initial research.
Michigan Labor Market Information
Hosted by the Department Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB), the Michigan Labor Market Information portal includes Michigan-specific information on key demographics and labor data including employment, jobs, postings, economic trends, projections, demographics, and more.
U.S Census & U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
The U.S. Census is the gold standard for data used in businesses across the nation. While many complex software tools exist that slice and dice data into more readable and usable tools, they’re heavily based on U.S. Census and other government sources. The U.S. Census’ main portal is data.census.gov. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides detailed statistics based on reports from businesses across the nation, including local-level data.