City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Houghton Lake, MI

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

5,761
Residents
$50,861
Median income
$122,800
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Houghton Lake - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Houghton Lake places in the 21st percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

21st
percentile, household income
18th
percentile, home value
12th
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: Houghton Lake, MI

5,761 people live in Houghton Lake, Michigan - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Houghton Lake brings in $50,861 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 15.3%. Typical homes in Houghton Lake are valued around $122,800, and the median resident age is 54.5 years. Educational attainment runs 17.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 42.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 43.9°F with 32.4 inches of precipitation per year and 74.7 inches of snowfall.

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $973 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $238 across Michigan, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 56.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

5,761 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$50,861 /yr

Poverty 15.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Houghton Lake compare to other US cities?

Houghton 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 21% higher than other cities
Home value 18% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% 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 Houghton Lake against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Michigan-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Houghton Lake near the bottom of Michigan's cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Houghton Lake ranks #576 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Houghton Lake only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#500 of 718
30th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#576 of 727
0th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#453 of 721
37th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#153 of 727
79th percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#410 of 727
43rd 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.

21stIncome percentile

21st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Houghton Lake's home value compares nationally

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

$122,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 82% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Houghton 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 - Houghton Lake, MI Houghton Lake, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Houghton 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 Houghton Lake, MI median $50,861/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%
Houghton 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 Houghton Lake, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 17.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 42.8%

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

Population
5,761
Median Income
$50,861
Median Home Value
$122,800
Median Age
54.5
Poverty Rate
15.3%
Labor force participation
42.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
17.4%

Climate

Avg Temperature
43.9°F
Annual Precipitation
32.4"
Annual Snowfall
74.7"

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
66.8%
Carpool
17.8%
Public Transit
0.2%
Walk
2.4%
Work from Home
12.8%

Based on 2,052 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 Houghton Lake sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
56.7 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Zeeland
5,691 people
Richmond
5,839 people
Dowagiac
5,677 people
Petoskey
5,851 people
Swartz Creek
5,856 people
Buena Vista
5,904 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Houghton Lake's 5,761 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Plymouth, PA
5,761 people
Ettrick, VA
5,760 people
Jamesburg, NJ
5,763 people
Campbelltown, PA
5,759 people
Oxford, PA
5,763 people
San Leon, TX
5,764 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Houghton Lake's $50,861 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cade Lakes, TX
$50,862 median income
Beloit, KS
$50,865 median income
Fergus Falls, MN
$50,865 median income
Sharon Springs, NY
$50,865 median income
Austintown, OH
$50,855 median income
Maplewood Park, OH
$50,855 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Houghton 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 Houghton Lake, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.1% White 95.8% Black or African American 0.5% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.2% Two or more races 3.5% 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 Houghton 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
Houghton Lake (this city) 5,761 $50,861
Zeeland 5,691 $49,367
Richmond 5,839 $61,715
Dowagiac 5,677 $38,433
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Houghton Lake, MI?

What is the population of Houghton Lake, MI? +

5,761 people live in Houghton Lake, MI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Houghton Lake, the typical household earns $50,861 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Houghton Lake? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Houghton 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 Houghton Lake, MI? +

Houghton Lake's median home value sits at $122,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Houghton Lake? +

Houghton Lake has an average annual temperature of 43.9°F, 32.4 inches of precipitation, and 74.7 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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.