Houghton Lake, MI

Full City Profile · Michigan · Roscommon County County

3.6 /5.0
B+ Good
5,761 Population 536/sq mi density
$50,861 Median Income $30,791 per capita
$122,800 Home Value $200,117 Zillow
$791 Median Rent 31.8% income on rent
44°F Avg Temperature
B+
Overall
3.6 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.4 / 5.0
$50,861 median income, 2.7% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$122,800 home value, $791/mo rent
C
Education
2.4 / 5.0
17.4% bachelor's degree or higher

Houghton Lake, MI

At a Glance

Median Income
$50,861
32% below
$30,791 per capita
Home Value
$122,800
56% below
Zillow: $200,117
Median Rent
$791/mo
32% below
31.8% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
17.4%
48% below
89.7% high school+
Unemployment
2.7%
25% below
15.3% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.2%
22% above
17.9% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
44°F

How Houghton Lake Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Houghton Lake's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
68%
Home Value
44%
Rent
68%
Poverty
123%
Bachelor's
52%
Unemployment
75%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Houghton Lake a Good Place to Live?

B+
3.6 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Houghton Lake residents earn a median household income of $50,861 , which is 32% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $30,791. The unemployment rate stands at 2.7% (25% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 15.3% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 583 business establishments, including 74 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Houghton Lake is $122,800 , 56% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $200,117. Median rent is $791/month, with 31.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 96.2 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1975.

Education

17.4% of adults in Houghton Lake hold a bachelor's degree or higher (48% below the national average). 89.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.0/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Houghton Lake has an average annual temperature of 44°F (7°C). Winters average 19°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 29.6 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population5,761
Median Age54.5 yrs
Density536/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born0.3%
Veterans11.4%

Economy

B
Median Income$50,861
Per Capita$30,791
Unemployment2.7%
Poverty15.3%
County GDP$854M
Avg Weekly Wage$765

Housing

A+
Home Value$122,800
Rent$791
Ownership79.5%
Zillow$200,117
Housing Units4,499
Rent Burden31.8%

Health

Obesity39.2%
Diabetes10.1%
Smoking17.9%
Heart Disease6.3%
Premature Death12,762/100K

Climate

Avg Temp44°F
Rain29.6 in/yr
Elevation1,182 ft

Education

C
Bachelor's+17.4%
High School+89.7%
Graduate+7.7%
School Score5.0/10

Community

2024 VoteR 66% / D 33%
Commute25 min
Broadband83.2%
Internet Speed143 Mbps
EV Stations4
Libraries4

Did You Know?

The median home in Houghton Lake was built in 1975.
The nearest airport is Gaylord Regional (49 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.468 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
26.0% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 143 Mbps.
The county recorded 6 fatal vehicle crashes.