United States › Michigan › Houghton Lake CITY · 2020 ACS
Houghton Lake Michigan · 5,294 residents · 10.8 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 5,294 people, Houghton Lake is a city in Michigan. The median age is 54.1, about 15 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 15% of adults. Growth has run 41% since 2000, or 1,545 more people. Households here earn about 36% less than in Michigan as a whole. The typical home is worth $110,500, having risen by half since 2000.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 54.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 44.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 3K 4K 5K 6K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Houghton Lake Age distribution, 2020
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $38,150
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,443 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,862 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 5.1%
Public administration 4.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.3%
Transportation & warehousing 0.9%
Education & health services 0.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$110,500
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $68,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$646
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $412 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 77.0% in 2000
26.0% rent
1.96 people
−15%since 2009
from 2.30 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 97.3%(3,647)
Hispanic / Latino 0.9%(34)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 93%(4,923)
Hispanic / Latino 1.9%(98)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data from 7.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 76.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 14.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 19.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 42.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 15.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 15.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 8%(39)
Share of the 486 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.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Houghton Lake Head to head
Compare Houghton Lake to nearby cities HOUGHTON LAKE VS
Cadillac
Income $51,773 +36%
Home value $134,300 +22%
Population 10,438 +81%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOUGHTON LAKE VS
Mount Pleasant
Income $44,706 +17%
Home value $173,100 +57%
Population 20,925 +263%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOUGHTON LAKE VS
Traverse City
Income $74,087 +94%
Home value $415,400 +276%
Population 15,832 +174%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HOUGHTON LAKE VS
Midland
Income $73,325 +92%
Home value $203,900 +85%
Population 42,806 +642%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Houghton Lake, Michigan? Houghton Lake, Michigan has about 5,294 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Houghton Lake, Michigan? The typical household in Houghton Lake, Michigan earns about $38,150 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 $110,500, and the typical rent is about $646 a month.
How educated are people in Houghton Lake, Michigan? About 15.1% 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 21.1% 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 1,941 residents, a change of about 58 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 