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Everything You Should Know Before Moving to Houghton Lake, MI

Considering a move to Houghton Lake, MI? Home to about 5,800 residents, Houghton Lake offers a relaxed lakeside lifestyle with very affordable housing—median home prices are just $112,000 and average rents around $770. Crime rates are moderate for a small town, and most residents enjoy short, 19-minute commutes. While education levels are below state averages, the area boasts beautiful natural scenery, four distinct seasons, and close-knit community vibes. Explore local cost of living, housing, schools, and healthcare options below to see if Houghton Lake fits your lifestyle.

Demographics - Houghton Lake, MI

Demographics - Houghton Lake, MI

Houghton Lake is home to about 5,800 residents with a median age of 51, reflecting a mature and close-knit community. The area is predominantly White, with very low diversity and a small percentage of non-English speakers. Residents benefit from a low population density, offering a relaxed, small-town atmosphere.

demograph population
Population:
5,800
demograph density
Density:
400 per sq mi
demograph median age
Median Age:
51.2
Demograph Gender Ratio
Gender Ratio:
95 males per 100 females
demograph Non English Speakers Percentage
Non-English Speakers Percentage:
2.4%
demograph ethnicCompositionEthnic Composition
demograph whites
White:
96.1%
demograph blacks
Black:
0.7%
demograph asian
Asian:
0.6%
demograph others
Others:
2.6%
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Cost Of Living

Cost Of Living

What is the average cost of living in Houghton Lake, MI?

The cost of living in Houghton Lake is very affordable, with a cost of living index well below the national average and median home values around $112,000. Renters can expect average monthly rents of $770, making housing accessible for most budgets. Utilities and everyday expenses remain lower than many other Michigan cities, making it an attractive option for those seeking value.

cost of living medianHouseValue
Median House Value:
$112,000
cost of living grossRent
Gross Rent:
$770
cost of living monthlyElectricityCharges
Monthly Electricity Charges:
$110
cost of living autoInsurance
Auto Insurance:
$1,200
cost of living houseownerCostWithMortgage
House Owner Cost With Mortgage:
$980
cost of living houseownerCostWithoutMortgage
House Owner Cost Without Mortgage:
$390
cost of living stateTaxes State Taxes:
Low:
4.25%
|
High:
4.25%
cost of living costOfLivingIndex
Cost Of Living Index:
82.5
cost of living grocery
Grocery:
89.4
cost of living housing
Housing:
62.3
cost of living utilities
Utilities:
97.1
cost of living transportation
Transportation:
86.7
cost of living health-care
Health Care:
89.9
cost of living miscellaneous
Miscellaneous:
90.5

Crime

Crime

Is Houghton Lake, MI a safe place to live?

Crime rates in Houghton Lake are moderate for a small town, with a chance of property crime at 1 in 52 and violent crime at 1 in 456. While property crime is more common than violent incidents, overall the community remains relatively safe and secure. Residents enjoy peace of mind while still maintaining awareness of their surroundings.

crime voilentCrimes
Violent Crimes Per 100k:
219
crime propertyCrime
Property Crimes Per 100k:
1,940
crime crimeIndex
Crime Index:
2,159
crime chanceOfViolentCrime
Chance Of Violent Crime:
1 in 456
crime chanceOfPropertyCrime
Chance Of Property Crime:
1 in 52
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Weather

Weather

What is the weather like in Houghton Lake, MI year-round?

Houghton Lake experiences four distinct seasons, with cold winters that dip to 10°F and warm summers reaching up to 79°F. The area receives about 31.8 inches of annual rainfall and enjoys sunshine roughly 47% of the year. Residents can appreciate seasonal outdoor activities and the natural beauty of Michigan’s climate.

weather winterWinter
weather min
Min:
10°F
weather max
Max:
29°F
weather springSpring
weather min
Min:
34°F
weather max
Max:
57°F
weather summerSummer
weather min
Min:
54°F
weather max
Max:
79°F
weather fallFall
weather min
Min:
36°F
weather max
Max:
58°F
weather averageRainfallInches
Average Rainfall Inches:
31.8 inches
weather sunnyDays Percentage
Sunny Days Percentage:
47%

Neighbors

Neighbors

Local households in Houghton Lake typically have modest incomes, with a median of $38,600 and a family income of $48,200. The community features a relatively high poverty rate at 20.6% and a higher-than-average unemployment rate, but residents benefit from short commutes and a strong sense of local connection. Most neighbors have at least a high school education, contributing to the town’s friendly and approachable vibe.

neighbor medianIncome
Median Income:
$25,500
neighbor householdIncome
Household Income:
$38,600
neighbor familyIncome
Family Income:
$48,200
neighbor perCapitaIncome
Per Capita Income:
$23,800
neighbor incomeMale
Income Male:
$29,400
neighbor incomeFemale
Income Female:
$23,200
neighbor povertyRate
Poverty Rate:
20.6%
neighbor nonEnglishSpeakers
Non English Speakers:
2.4%
neighbor rent
Rent:
$770
neighbor unemployment
Unemployment Rate:
6.8%
neighbor publicTransport
Public Transport Usage:
0.5%
neighbor commuteTime
Commute Time:
18.7 minutes
neighbor educationEducation
neighbor highSchool
High School or Higher:
85.8%
neighbor bachelors
Bachelors or More:
14.2%
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Education

Education

How are the schools in Houghton Lake, MI?

Houghton Lake is served by local public schools, including Houghton Lake High School and Collins Elementary, both offering supportive learning environments with reasonable student-teacher ratios. While private school options are not present, Kirtland Community College is located just 15 miles away for post-secondary education. The area provides essential educational resources for families and students of all ages.

education PublicSchoolsPublic Schools
education publicName
Name:
Houghton Lake High School
education publicStreet
Street:
4433 W Houghton Lake Dr
education publicPhone
Phone:
989-366-2005
education publicStudents
Students:
432
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
19.4


education publicName
Name:
Collins Elementary School
education publicStreet
Street:
419 Lake St
education publicPhone
Phone:
989-366-2031
education publicStudents
Students:
286
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
17.1


education collegesColleges
education collegeName
Name:
Kirtland Community College
education collegeCity
City:
Roscommon
education collegeState
State:
MI
education collegeDistance
Distance:
15 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
1,400


Healthcare

Healthcare

Houghton Lake offers convenient access to healthcare, with the MidMichigan Medical Center providing general and urgent care services locally. The area has a solid physician presence at 1.6 per 1,000 residents and nearly 90% health insurance coverage. Emergency care is readily available, ensuring residents have essential medical resources nearby.

healthcare majorHospitals Major Hospitals
healthcare hospitalName
Name:
MidMichigan Medical Center – Houghton Lake
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
9249 W Lake City Rd, Houghton Lake, MI 48629
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(989) 422-5122
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
General & Urgent Care
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare hospitalName
Name:
Munson Healthcare Grayling Hospital
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
1100 E Michigan Ave, Grayling, MI 49738
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(989) 348-5461
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
General & Surgical
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare physiciansPer1000
Physicians Per 1000:
1.6
healthcare healthInsuranceCoverage
Health Insurance Coverage:
89.8%
healthcare healthCareIndex
Health Care Index:
69.1
Healthcare
Housing Market

Housing Market

Housing Market

What is the housing market like in Houghton Lake, MI?

The housing market in Houghton Lake is highly accessible, with a median home price of $112,000 and a high owner-occupied rate of 78.5%. Rental options are available at an average of $770 for a two-bedroom, and the area experiences steady home appreciation and low foreclosure rates. New construction is modest, maintaining the town’s established, community-oriented feel.

housing market medianHomePrice
Median Home Price:
$112,000
housing market averageRentFor2Bedroom
Average Rent For 2 Bedroom:
$770
housing market ownerOccupiedRate
Owner Occupied Rate:
78.5%
housing market rentalVacancyRate
Rental Vacancy Rate:
7.5%
housing market homeAppreciationRate1Yr
Home Appreciation Rate (1yr):
4.1%
housing market newConstructionRate
New Construction Rate:
1.1%
housing market foreclosureRate
Foreclosure Rate:
0.9%

DMV Information

DMV Information

Residents of Houghton Lake handle vehicle registration and licensing through the Michigan Secretary of State office in nearby Grayling. The office can be contacted at 1-888-767-6424 or accessed online for most services. This ensures convenient DMV access for all transportation and identification needs.

dmv state
State:
Michigan
dmv department
Department:
Michigan Secretary of State
dmv address
Address:
105 N James St, Grayling, MI 49738
dmv phone
Phone:
1-888-767-6424
DMV

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is based on publicly available sources including AccuWeather, U.S. Census Bureau, local government data, and third-party partners such as Neustar. While we strive to ensure accuracy, all data is provided “as is” and should be independently verified before making any decisions. Movers.com makes no guarantees regarding the completeness or reliability of the information.

Top Movers in Houghton Lake, MI

Planning a relocation in or near Houghton Lake? We have you covered. Whether you're moving across a street or across town, our dependable network of local movers is ready to handle every aspect of your relocation. Find expert movers who will make your move as seamless, efficient, and stress-free as possible, from packing and loading to transporting and unpacking. Explore specialty moving services, compare estimates, and contact a reputable moving company in Houghton Lake.

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FAQs About Moving to Houghton Lake, MI

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Check the cost of living, housing, traffic, and public transit in Houghton Lake. Each neighborhood has its own vibe, so pick one that fits your lifestyle. Be prepared for Houghton Lake climate and weather.

Moving within Houghton Lake usually costs between $300 and $1,500. Moving long distances can cost anywhere from $2,000 to more than $5,000. The price may go up if you need extra services like packing or storage. Fill out Movers.com quote form to compare the quotes easily.

While moves happen year-round, spring and fall are often more comfortable in Houghton Lake. Booking outside of peak summer or winter seasons can save money and make scheduling easier.

Yes! Majority of moving companies in Houghton Lake offer full service moving, which means they will help you pack, unpack, and arrange your belongings.

You should plan your move from Houghton Lake at least 4 to 8 weeks in advance, especially if you're moving during the busy season (summer). You can get better availability, prices, and flexibility with your moving date if you book early. If you book at the last minute, you may have fewer choices or pay more.
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