City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Central Lake, MI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Central Lake - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

976
Residents
$58,900
Median income
$152,800
Median home
$1,162
Median rent (state)

Central Lake - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Central Lake places in the 34th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

34th
percentile, household income
28th
percentile, home value
33rd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Central Lake, MI

Michigan's Central Lake is a small town, with 976 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $58,900 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.9%. Central Lake's housing stock carries a median value of $152,800, and the median resident age is 31.2 years. 23.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 61.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Michigan scores 96.2 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,162 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Michigan run around $238, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Central Lake report an average commute of 21.8 minutes, with 74.8% driving alone and 5.6% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 25.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

976 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$58,900 /yr

Poverty 4.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Central Lake compare to other US cities?

Central Lake measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 34% higher than other cities
Home value 28% pricier than other cities
Median rent 33% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Central Lake against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Michigan-relative analysis

Poverty Rate sits close to the middle of Michigan's city distribution

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Central Lake ranks #479 - the 34th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Central Lake only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#380 of 718
47th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#352 of 727
47th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#360 of 721
50th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#479 of 727
34th percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#287 of 727
60th percentile in Michigan

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Michigan only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

34thIncome percentile

34th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Central Lake's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$152,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 72% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Central Lake $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Central Lake, MI Central Lake, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Central Lake, MI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Central Lake, MI median $58,900/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Central Lake, MI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Central Lake, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
976
Median Income
$58,900
Median Home Value
$152,800
Median Age
31.2
Poverty Rate
4.9%
Labor force participation
61.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.7%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
920 residents940 residents960 residents980 residents1,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 940 residents 987 residents ▲ +5.0%
Central Lake's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
21.8 minutes
Drive Alone
74.8%
Carpool
16.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.6%
Work from Home
5.6%

Based on 412 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Michigan - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$238
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Michigan state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Michigan state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Central Lake sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,162/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
25.8 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Hubbard Lake
976 people
Lewiston
980 people
Mayville
971 people
Au Gres
982 people
Hubbell
970 people
Napoleon
969 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Central Lake's 976 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Baileyton, AL
976 people
Terramuggus, CT
976 people
Atwood, IL
976 people
Burlingame, KS
976 people
Barker Ten Mile, NC
976 people
Roan Mountain, TN
976 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Central Lake's $58,900 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Folcroft, PA
$58,899 median income
Windsor, PA
$58,895 median income
Stuttgart, AR
$58,906 median income
Richmond, MO
$58,906 median income
Gordon, NE
$58,906 median income
Lyons Falls, NY
$58,906 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Central Lake, MI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Central Lake, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.2% White 97.0% Black or African American 0.1% Asian 0.0% American Indian 1.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 1.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Central Lake compares to nearby Michigan cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Central Lake (this city) 976 $58,900
Hubbard Lake 976 $67,841
Lewiston 980 $41,266
Mayville 971 $50,735
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Central Lake, MI?

What is the population of Central Lake, MI? +

Central Lake, MI has a population of 976 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Central Lake, MI? +

Median annual household income in Central Lake runs $58,900, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Central Lake? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Central Lake; the closest available measure is the Michigan state average, a cost of living index of 96.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Michigan vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Central Lake, MI? +

Central Lake's median home value sits at $152,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.