The Town FilesHoughton Lake, Michigan
Community in Roscommon County · population 5,294 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $126,200
- Household income
- $50,305
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 75 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 54.8
Houghton Lake is a community of 5,294 people in Roscommon County, Michigan. The median home is worth $126,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more vibrant than 79% of Michigan towns.
How Houghton Lake ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Houghton Lake is worth $126,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $50,305, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $827 a month. 80.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Houghton Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $126,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $827 | $955 |
| Median household income | $50,305 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 80.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 36.2% | — |
Who lives in Houghton Lake
| People | Houghton Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Houghton Lake
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 10.3°F. About 32.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Houghton Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 25, 1973 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 17, 1994.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 17, 1992.
Severe weather in Roscommon County since 1996
Roscommon County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Roscommon County
Roscommon County had 6,429 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $39,799 a year. Unemployment was 7.2% in 2023; in Houghton Lake itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Houghton Lake
3 public schools with 1,163 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collins Elementary School | PK-6 | 553 | 16.3 |
| Houghton Lake JrSr High School | 7-12 | 507 | 18.1 |
| Houghton Lake Community Education | 9-12 | 103 | 8.6 |
Towns near Houghton Lake
- Denton, MI4.0 mi · 5,293 people · home $163,200
- Roscommon, MI5.1 mi · 4,397 people · home $137,700
- Gerrish, MI12.4 mi · 2,796 people · home $232,100
- Richfield, MI15.0 mi · 3,545 people · home $110,200
- St. Helen, MI17.2 mi · 2,735 people · home $95,600
- Hayes, MI17.4 mi · 4,642 people · home $93,700
- Gladwin, MI25.5 mi · 3,069 people · home $126,900
- Lake, MI26.5 mi · 2,827 people · home $230,300
Houghton Lake questions
Is Houghton Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Houghton Lake scores better for retirees than 52% of Michigan towns and quieter than 41%. 34.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.8).
How much does a house cost in Houghton Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Houghton Lake is valued at $126,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,305, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $827 a month.
What is the weather like in Houghton Lake?
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 10.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.4 inches of precipitation a year and 74.7 inches of snow.
Does Houghton Lake get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Houghton Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 25, 1973. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)