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CITY

Houghton Lake

Michigan · 5,769 residents · 10.75 sq mi
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#177Oldest by median ageof 6,82654.8
The short version

Houghton Lake has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $50,305. The city has grown rapidly, with population up 54% since 2000. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $126,200. With a median age of 54.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 31% less than the Michigan median.

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

Total population
5,769
+54%since 2000
from 3,749 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
537 / sq mi
+59%since 2009
from 338 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
54.8
+24%since 2000
from 44.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K3K4K5K6K1990201020202024Houghton Lake
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.4%(198)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.9%(338)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.1%(238)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 192.9%(167)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.9%(282)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 348.2%(474)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.3%(652)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.6%(551)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.4%(886)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7420.6%(1,187)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 849.5%(546)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over4.3%(250)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,305
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,443 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,751
+88%since 2000
from $16,862 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
26.3%
+15.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.422
+13%since 2010
from 0.374 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade11.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$126,200
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $68,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$827
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $412 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
80.8%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 77.0% in 2000
19.2% rent
Vacancy rate
39.1%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.2%
−15.7 ptssince 2009
from 31.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.5%
−27.9 ptssince 2009
from 68.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
−26%since 2009
from 3.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
48
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Houghton Lake on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.3%(3,647)
Black0.3%(13)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(34)
Asian0.2%(7)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93%(5,368)
Black0.5%(30)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(78)
Asian0%(1)
Other5.1%(292)
Diversity Score
16
+297%since 2009
from 4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.4%(78)
Asian origin
Korean0%(1)
Ancestry
German21.9%(1,264)
English14.6%(843)
Polish12.3%(707)
Irish8.5%(492)
Scottish5.1%(292)
French4.3%(246)
American3.6%(206)
Ukrainian2.1%(121)
Italian1%(59)
Dutch0.9%(50)
Arab0.7%(43)
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.7%(40)
Finnish0.7%(39)
Russian0.4%(24)
Lebanese0.4%(23)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(18)
Hungarian0.3%(16)
Welsh0.2%(12)
Danish0.2%(10)
Norwegian0.2%(9)
Greek0.1%(7)
Belgian0.1%(6)
Slovak0.1%(6)
Slovene0.1%(5)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Polish population · Largest Irish population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.2%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 7.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.5%
+14.7 ptssince 2000
from 76.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.8%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.8 min
+71%since 2000
from 14.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
67.0%
−11.6 ptssince 2009
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
18.8%
+13.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
12.7%
+8.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.4%
−15.7 ptssince 2011
from 19.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
43.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2011
from 42.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
7.4%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
25.0%
−38.5 ptssince 2009
from 63.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
Female
49.4%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 52.5% in 2009
Foreign born
0.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
10.5%
−33.8 ptssince 2009
from 44.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.9%
−8.0 ptssince 2012
from 32.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.7%
−78.6 ptssince 2013
from 84.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
81.9%
+10.4 ptssince 2017
from 71.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 99.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married25.1%(643)
Married51.4%(1,316)
Widowed5.4%(138)
Divorced18.1%(465)
Women 15+
Never married20.1%(489)
Married51.7%(1,258)
Widowed11.9%(289)
Divorced16.3%(397)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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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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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →