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CITY

Central Lake

Michigan · 987 residents (2025 est.) · 1.111 sq mi
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The short version

Central Lake has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $63,269. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $167,100.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 25%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,051
+6%since 2000
from 990 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
946 / sq mi
+6%since 2000
from 891 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.4
−9%since 2000
from 38.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:987 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
8639341K1K1K1990201020202024Central Lake
20241K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,269
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,173 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,664
+36%since 2000
from $18,133 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.5%
+22.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.7%
−3.4 ptssince 2000
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.291
−36%since 2010
from 0.457 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade26.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information15.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services1.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing0.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$167,100
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $73,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,008
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $415 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.3%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 72.9% in 2000
24.7% rent
Vacancy rate
29.5%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
4.7%
−45.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
13.4%
−34.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+38%since 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
76
RELATED:See current rent listings in Central Lake on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.2%(962)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(5)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score1.3%(13)
2024
White, non-Hispanic97.5%(1,025)
Black0.1%(1)
Hispanic / Latino1%(11)
Asian0%(0)
Other1.3%(14)
Diversity Score6.1%(64)
Diversity Score
6
+372%since 2000
from 1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.3%
+12.2 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.0%
+11.5 ptssince 2000
from 84.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.5%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.6 min
+73%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
67.2%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 71.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
19.7%
+13.0 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−10.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
6.7%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.0%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.3%
−14.0 ptssince 2011
from 16.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.7%
+15.3 ptssince 2011
from 43.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.2%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.5%
−16.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
55.5%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 57.8% in 2009
Female
44.5%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 42.2% in 2009
Foreign born
0.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.9%
−54.2 ptssince 2009
from 61.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.1%
−3.5 ptssince 2012
from 24.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.7%
−82.2 ptssince 2013
from 87.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.2%
+9.2 ptssince 2017
from 77.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
100.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2016
from 98.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Central Lake to nearby cities

CENTRAL LAKE VS
Traverse City
Income$74,087+17%
Home value$415,400+149%
Population15,832+1504%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENTRAL LAKE VS
Cadillac
Income$51,773−18%
Home value$134,300−20%
Population10,438+958%
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CENTRAL LAKE VS
Alpena
Income$47,545−25%
Home value$118,700−29%
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CENTRAL LAKE VS
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Income$43,858−31%
Home value$156,400−6%
Population8,623+774%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Central Lake, Michigan?

Central Lake, Michigan has about 1,051 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Central Lake, Michigan?

The typical household in Central Lake, Michigan earns about $63,269 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Central Lake, Michigan expensive?

In Central Lake, Michigan, the median home is worth about $167,100, and the typical rent is about $1,008 a month.

How educated are people in Central Lake, Michigan?

About 24.3% of adults age 25 and over in Central Lake, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Central Lake, Michigan?

About 8.7% of people in Central Lake, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Central Lake, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Central Lake, Michigan has grown since 1990. The population has added about 97 residents, a change of about 10 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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