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City · 5,769 residents · Roscommon County, Michigan

Houghton Lake , Michigan

In Houghton Lake, a typical home is worth $126,200 and typical rent is $827 a month. Compared with all of Roscommon County, the typical home value is 20% lower and typical household income is 9% lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $126,200

    20% below the county

    46% below Michigan

    • Houghton Lake
    • Roscommon
    • Michigan

  • Typical rent

    $827a month

    About the same as the county

    27% below Michigan

    • Houghton Lake
    • Roscommon
    • Michigan

  • Typical household income

    $50,305a year

    9% below the county

    31% below Michigan

    • Houghton Lake
    • Roscommon
    • Michigan

  • Households that own their home

    81%

    5 points below the county

    8 points above Michigan

    • Houghton Lake
    • Roscommon
    • Michigan

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$198,603
about the same as 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Houghton Lake is in Roscommon County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Roscommon County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Houghton Lake apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Houghton Lake barely changed; in Michigan, it rose 3.8%.

  2. The typical home in Houghton Lake is worth $126,200, 20% less than in Roscommon County as a whole ($158,700).

  3. 16% of households in Houghton Lake have no internet at home (10% in Roscommon County).

Sources: Zillow (September 2026 data); U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Houghton Lake

What homes there are in Houghton Lake, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in Houghton Lake, but it weighs less than in Roscommon County: 83% against 87%.

There are more mobile homes here than in Roscommon County: 12% of homes, against 9%.

Year built

In Houghton Lake, half of the homes were built before 1974; in Roscommon County, before 1976.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 98% of owner-occupied homes in Houghton Lake sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,076 a month

Roscommon County: $1,145 a month

Without a mortgage

$388 a month

Roscommon County: $433 a month

Owners with a mortgage

43%

Roscommon County: 46%

Owning costs less in Houghton Lake: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,076 a month; in Roscommon County, $1,145. Without one, $388.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Houghton Lake does not have the same boundaries as in 2015–2019: that is why there is no change to compare. For reference, in Roscommon County the typical home value rose 47%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureHoughton LakeRoscommon CountyMichiganUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate5.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.7%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.7%1.6%3.4%
People per household 2.002.032.422.53
Drive alone 67%74%74%69%
Carpool 19%12%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home 13%11%14%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Roscommon County, a household in Houghton Lake has 2.00 people on average.

Carpooling is common in Houghton Lake: 19% of workers get to work that way, against 12% in Roscommon County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Houghton Lake?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Houghton Lake, worth $126,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 25% of the typical household income in Houghton Lake, which is $50,305 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Roscommon County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Houghton Lake. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $4,417 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,056

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$123,914
Total interest
$178,283
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,131 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,174 a month

    Your payment · 25%

  • Tight

    $1,174 to $1,509 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,509 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Houghton Lake ($50,305 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,056
Principal & interest$839
Property tax$108
Home insurance$53
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$56

You need at least $4,417 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Houghton Lake and Roscommon County

Houghton Lake is in Roscommon County, Michigan. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Houghton Lake's own numbers

Typical home value
$126,200
Typical monthly rent
$827
Typical yearly household income
$50,305
Households that own their home
81%
Effective property tax rate
1.03%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Roscommon County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,014
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+83%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.5%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Roscommon County.

Everything about Roscommon County

Buying

Buying a home in Houghton Lake

A typical home in Houghton Lake is worth $126,200: 20% below the county and 46% below Michigan. With the typical household income in Houghton Lake ($50,305 a year), a typical home costs 2.5 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Houghton Lake 2.5 years
  • Roscommon 2.9 years
  • Michigan 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Roscommon County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Roscommon County rose 142% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Roscommon County.

Period County Michigan U.S.
Last year (2025) +9.7% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +83% +52% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +142% +97% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Houghton Lake next to Roscommon County, Michigan and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Houghton Lake $126,200
  • Roscommon $158,700
  • Michigan $231,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Houghton Lake $827
  • Roscommon $816
  • Michigan $1,129
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Houghton Lake $50,305
  • Roscommon $55,246
  • Michigan $72,875
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Houghton Lake next to Roscommon County and Michigan
Measure Houghton Lake Roscommon County Michigan U.S.
Typical home value $126,200 $158,700 $231,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $827 $816 $1,129 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $50,305 $55,246 $72,875 $80,734
Households that own their home 81% 85% 73% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,306 $1,604 $2,904 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.03% 1.01% 1.25% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 46% 48% 50% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Roscommon County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Houghton Lake

For a typical $126,200 home in Houghton Lake, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Houghton Lake's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,056a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,417
    Cash to close
    $8,203
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $56

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,033a month

    Down payment
    $6,310
    Cash to close
    $10,096
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $60

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $845a month

    Down payment
    $25,240
    Cash to close
    $29,026
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $962a month

    Down payment
    $18,930
    Cash to close
    $22,716
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Houghton Lake and for Roscommon County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Houghton Lake

1.03%of the home’s value each year

$1,306 a year for the typical owner in Houghton Lake.

  • Houghton Lake 1.03%
  • Roscommon 1.01%
  • Michigan 1.25%

What Michigan publishes Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) from school operating tax (Michigan Legislature (Michigan Compiled Laws))

Exemptions and deadlines in Michigan

Flood risk in Roscommon County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Roscommon County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.5%
115
Of those, with NFIP insurance
0.9%
County Michigan U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.5% 1.6% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 0.9% 18% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Houghton Lake

Typical rent in Houghton Lake is $827 a month: about the same as the county. In Houghton Lake, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Roscommon County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,014 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.50 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Roscommon County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $723 $13.90 $28,920
1 bedroom $775 $14.90 $31,000
2 bedrooms $1,014 $19.50 $40,560
3 bedrooms $1,232 $23.69 $49,280
4 bedrooms $1,695 $32.60 $67,800

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Houghton Lake

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Houghton Lake has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,010 in 48629 to $1,040 in 48651.

1 of the 3 is above the fair market rent for Roscommon County ($1,014).

  • 48629 $1,010$1,230
  • 48630 $1,010$1,230
  • 48651 $1,040$1,260

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Houghton Lake when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Houghton Lake

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Houghton Lake. These are the largest.

  • Sandhill Manor Apts 300 Sand Hill Manor Dr, Houghton Lake 48629 60 low-income homes · 1 bd: 40 · 2 bd: 20 · In service since 2003 · For older adults, families (989) 366-9145
  • Houghton Heights Manor 305 Houghton Heights Mnr, Houghton Lake 48629 48 low-income homes · 1 bd: 47 · 2 bd: 1 · In service since 2006 · For older adults
  • Houghton Lake Apts 120 Toepher Dr, Houghton Lake 48629 24 low-income homes · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 12 · In service since 2005 · For families

See all 8 buildings in Roscommon County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Houghton Lake

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Roscommon County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

Two women and a girl laugh together at the bus stop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Houghton Lake

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Houghton Lake or Roscommon County. The ones below are statewide in Michigan: they work in Houghton Lake the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Michigan

  • MI 10K DPA Loan

    Statewide in Michigan

    Michigan state agency loan of up to $10,000, with no interest and no monthly payments, for the down payment, closing costs and prepaid expenses; it goes with MSHDA's MI Home Loan mortgage and is repaid in certain cases, such as when you pay off the first mortgage, sell or refinance the home, or no longer live in it. Offered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

    Statewide in Michigan

    Michigan state authority certificate that lets you take 20% of the interest you pay each year on your mortgage off your federal taxes, for the life of the loan; you apply with an approved lender before you buy. Offered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

    Tax credit

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Houghton Lake

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Houghton Lake, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Michigan State University Extension - Clare C

    225 W. Main St, Harrison · 20 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (989) 539-7805

  • Mid-Michigan Community Action Agency

    1574 E Washington Rd, Farwell · 33 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (989) 386-3805

  • Northwest Michigan Communty Action Agency , Inc

    1640 Marty Paul St, Cadillac · 34 miles away

    Also serves in American Sign Language (ASL).

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 9 more
    (231) 947-3780

All counseling agencies in Michigan

Help in Spanish near Houghton Lake

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Houghton Lake

HUD lists no housing authority with an office in Roscommon County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in Michigan Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Houghton Lake, with the typical home value.

Everything about Roscommon County Housing in Michigan

Neighboring counties

If Roscommon County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Houghton Lake.

All guides
Two girls write and draw together at the living-room table.

Questions

Housing questions about Houghton Lake

Short answers with the numbers for Houghton Lake and all of Roscommon County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Houghton Lake?

The typical home value in Houghton Lake is $126,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Roscommon County it is $158,700.

How much does it cost to rent in Houghton Lake?

Typical rent in Houghton Lake is $827 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Roscommon County is $1,014.

What is the FHA loan limit in Houghton Lake?

Houghton Lake uses the FHA limit for all of Roscommon County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Houghton Lake?

The typical homeowner in Houghton Lake pays $1,306 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.03% of the home’s value; in Roscommon County, the rate is 1.01%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Houghton Lake?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Roscommon County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).