Census-designated place · Michigan
Houghton Lake, Michigan
Houghton Lake, census-designated place, in Roscommon County, Michigan. Houghton Lake had 5,769 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±402). GEOID 2639400.
Residents, 2020-2024
5,769
±402 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 5,294
Median household income
$50,305
±$4,780 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875
Median home value
$126,200
±$24,463 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600
Median gross rent
$827
±$67 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129
Where is Houghton Lake and what county is it in?
Houghton Lake is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Roscommon County, Michigan. It covers 10.8 square miles of land, 492 residents per square mile in 2020.
Houghton Lake lies mostly within Roscommon Township and reaches into Denton Township and Lake Township (Roscommon County), towns or townships with their own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Houghton Lake, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Houghton Lake's population at 5,769 (±402). The 2020 Census counted 5,294 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Houghton Lake is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Houghton Lake | Roscommon County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,769 ±402 | 23,737 | +2,419 |
| Households | 2,832 ±260 | 11,579 | +1,260 |
| Average household size | 2.00 ±0.17 | 2.03 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,648 ±204 | 23,213 | +1,534 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Houghton Lake?
The median resident of Houghton Lake is 54.8 years old; 15.0% are under 18 and 34.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.0%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 4.9%.
| Measure | Houghton Lake | Roscommon County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.8 ±4.8 | 57.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 15.0% ±3.9 pts | 14.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 34.4% ±4.8 pts | 34.5% | – |
| Male | 50.6% ±3.0 pts | 50.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.4% ±1.2 pts | 2.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.0% ±3.3 pts | 92.4% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.9% ±2.9 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.6% ±0.7 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.9% ±1.0 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.5% ±3.1 pts | 10.1% | – |
| With a disability | 24.9% ±4.9 pts | 24.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.7% ±3.0 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.5% ±3.2 pts | 91.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 15.2% ±4.3 pts | 20.2% | +5.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.8% ±3.0 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 81.8% ±6.5 pts | 88.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.0% ±1.8 pts | 1.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Houghton Lake earn?
Half of Houghton Lake's 2,832 households earn less than $50,305 a year (±$4,780), against $55,246 in Roscommon County and $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 the median was $35,464 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $14,841 after inflation. 19.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Houghton Lake | Roscommon County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,305 ±$4,780 | $55,246 | +$14,841 |
| Mean household income | $63,641 ±$7,590 | $77,936 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,751 ±$4,634 | $38,044 | +$8,053 |
| People below the poverty line | 19.0% ±6.6 pts | 15.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 31.9% ±22.3 pts | 26.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 16.3% ±4.2 pts | 16.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 89.9% ±4.3 pts | 92.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 81.9% ±5.2 pts | 87.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Houghton Lake?
Owners occupy 80.8% of Houghton Lake's occupied homes and renters 19.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $126,200 by its owner (±$24,463). The median renter pays $827 a month including utilities, and 39.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Houghton Lake | Roscommon County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $126,200 ±$24,463 | $158,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $827 ±$67 | $816 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.0% ±15.3 pts | 42.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,076 ±$131 | $1,145 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 80.8% ±4.7 pts | 85.4% | +18.3 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 19.2% ±4.7 pts | 14.6% | – |
| Housing units | 4,648 ±204 | 23,213 | +1,534 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.0% ±1.6 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±5.4 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 83.3% ±3.8 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 11.9% ±3.3 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.8% ±0.8 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.2% ±2.0 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.7% ±2.6 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 12.7% ±6.2 pts | 6.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Houghton Lake work and get to work?
67.0% of Houghton Lake's workers drive alone and 13.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.8 minutes.
| Measure | Houghton Lake | Roscommon County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 43.9% ±5.2 pts | 42.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% ±2.5 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 67.0% ±8.2 pts | 74.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 18.8% ±7.0 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1% ±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.0% ±0.9 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.0% ±6.2 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.8 min ±4.6 | 24.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Houghton Lake?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Houghton Lake, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $46,201 (Tract 9710.02) to $70,046 (Tract 9710.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9712Roscommon County | 2,836 | $48,288 |
| Tract 9710.03Roscommon County | 1,564 | $70,046 |
| Tract 9710.02Roscommon County | 1,491 | $46,201 |
| Tract 9710.01Roscommon County | 1,488 | $56,500 |
| Tract 9707Roscommon County | 2,444 | $53,500 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Houghton Lake) · Census block assignment files
How does Houghton Lake compare with other places in Michigan?
Houghton Lake ranks 1,229th of 1,354 places in Michigan with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 355th | 1,356 |
| Residents per square mile | 472nd | 1,356 |
| Median household income | 1,229th | 1,354 |
| Per capita income | 958th | 1,355 |
| Median home value | 1,212th | 1,354 |
| Median gross rent | 919th | 1,212 |
| Poverty rate | 176th | 1,213 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,063rd | 1,350 |
| Median age | 105th | 1,356 |
| Owner-occupied share | 880th | 1,356 |
| Work from home | 351st | 1,062 |
| Travel time to work | 710th | 1,356 |
Houghton Lake's figures with every place in Michigan (CSV)
Every place in Michigan, sortable · Compare Houghton Lake with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Houghton Lake?
17 of the 57 figures for Houghton Lake on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Houghton Lake are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.