United States › Michigan › Houghton Lake CITY
Houghton Lake Michigan · 5,769 residents · 10.8 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 5,769 people, Houghton Lake is a city in Michigan. The median age is 54.8, about 16 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 15% of adults. The population has risen by half since 2000, adding 2,020 people. Owners hold 81% of the housing stock. The typical home is worth $126,200, having more than doubled since 2000.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 54.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth 537 / sq mi
+59%since 2009
from 338 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 44.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 3K 4K 5K 6K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Houghton Lake Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $50,305
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,443 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,862 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.374 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 5.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.2%
Transportation & warehousing 1.8%
Public administration 1.1%
Education & health services 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$126,200
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $68,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$827
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $412 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 77.0% in 2000
19.2% rent
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.00 people
−13%since 2009
from 2.30 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 31.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 68.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 97.3%(3,647)
Hispanic / Latino 0.9%(34)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 93%(5,368)
Hispanic / Latino 1.4%(78)
from 4 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data from 7.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 76.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 14.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 19.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 42.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 67.2% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 32.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 15.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 71.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 84.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 83.1% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 99.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 15.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 43.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 13.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 37.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 29.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 58.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 59.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 11.4%(59)
Gulf War (1990s) 31.4%(162)
Share of the 516 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Houghton Lake Head to head
Compare Houghton Lake to nearby cities HOUGHTON LAKE VS
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HOUGHTON LAKE VS
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HOUGHTON LAKE VS
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HOUGHTON LAKE VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Houghton Lake, Michigan? Houghton Lake, Michigan has about 5,769 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Houghton Lake, Michigan? The typical household in Houghton Lake, Michigan earns about $50,305 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Houghton Lake, Michigan expensive? In Houghton Lake, Michigan, the median home is worth about $126,200, and the typical rent is about $827 a month.
How educated are people in Houghton Lake, Michigan? About 15.2% of adults age 25 and over in Houghton Lake, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Houghton Lake, Michigan? About 19.0% of people in Houghton Lake, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.
Has Houghton Lake, Michigan grown since 1990? Yes, Houghton Lake, Michigan has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,416 residents, a change of about 72 percent over that period.
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