Crime per Capita in Houghton Lake
The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Houghton Lake.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
C
Overall Crime Grade™
D |
|
C- |
|
Other Crime Grade |
B- |
$3.21 million
Cost of Crime™ for Houghton Lake, MI
In 2025, crime will cost $971 per household.
Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Houghton Lake in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.
Is Houghton Lake, MI Safe?
The C grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly higher than that of the average US city. Houghton Lake ranks in the 40th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 40% of cities but less safe than 60%. This analysis applies only to Houghton Lake's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.
The crime rate in Houghton Lake is 27.65 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Houghton Lake Residents generally consider the north part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Houghton Lake varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 24 in the northwest neighborhoods to 1 in 64 in the north.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the south parts of Houghton Lake, MI see the most incidents - about 52 per year. In contrast, the north part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 2 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in Houghton Lake, MI
The total projected cost of crime in Houghton Lake for 2025 is $3,210,200. This translates to approximately $459 per resident and $971 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.4% of the median household income in Houghton Lake. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 55.2%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 32.3%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.5%
How Much Does Crime Cost in Houghton Lake Compared to Other Cities?
| Houghton Lake, MI: | $459 |
|---|---|
| Highland Park, MI: | $1848 |
| Hudsonville, MI: | $149 |
| Michigan: | $487 |
| USA: | $464 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in Houghton Lake is $459 per year, which is $5 less than the national average and $27 less than Michigan's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Houghton Lake:
- In Highland Park, MI, crime costs $1,848 per person, which is $1,389 more than in Houghton Lake.
- In Hudsonville, MI, crime costs $149 per person, which is $310 less than in Houghton Lake
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Houghton Lake for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to Houghton Lake |
Cost per Houghton Lake Resident |
|---|---|---|
Murder |
$813,535 |
$116 |
Rape/Sexual Assault |
$449,502 |
$64 |
Robbery |
$89,188 |
$13 |
Assault |
$756,736 |
$108 |
Kidnapping |
$48,018 |
$7 |
Vehicle Theft |
$56,790 |
$8 |
Burglary |
$189,289 |
$27 |
Theft |
$411,023 |
$59 |
Arson |
$25,138 |
$4 |
Vandalism |
$172,315 |
$25 |
Animal Cruelty |
$6,458 |
$1 |
Drug Crimes |
$101,870 |
$15 |
Identity Theft |
$90,339 |
$13 |
Total Cost of Crime |
$3,210,200 |
$459 |
The Intangible Cost of Crime in Houghton Lake, MI
CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Houghton Lake totals $7,780,958 ($1,114 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $10,991,158 ($1,573 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.Interpreting the Crime Maps
When interpreting the Houghton Lake crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the southeast part of the city has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.
More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Houghton Lake has 3, have the same problem. Of Houghton Lake’s 6,987 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.
To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Houghton Lake, MI at ISP Reports.Houghton Lake Crime Breakdown
The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Houghton Lake residents in a standard year.
Violent Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Assault |
3.771 |
Robbery |
0.4058 |
Rape |
1.061 |
Murder |
0.0620 |
Total Violent Crime |
5.300 (D) |
Property Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
11.36 |
Vehicle Theft |
0.5249 |
Burglary |
2.987 |
Arson |
0.1490 |
Total Property Crime |
15.02 (C-) |
Other Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Kidnapping |
0.1133 |
Drug Crimes |
1.971 |
Vandalism |
3.452 |
Identity Theft |
1.670 |
Animal Cruelty |
0.1250 |
Total "Other" Rate |
7.332 (B-) |
Individual Houghton Lake Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities
Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of crime in Houghton Lake is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to Houghton Lake.
Nearby City | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
F | F | F | |
B | D+ | B+ | |
B- | C- | B- | |
A- | C- | A- | |
A- | C- | A | |
B+ | D | B+ | |
C | D+ | D+ | |
A- | C- | A- | |
B+ | C | B | |
C- | D- | C |
Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations
Houghton Lake is similar versus other cities of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in cities with comparable overall population in the city‘s boundaries.
Similar City | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
B+ | B | B | |
B | B+ | B+ | |
C- | C+ | C+ | |
D+ | C- | C- | |
A- | B+ | B+ | |
F | F | F | |
A | A+ | A+ | |
C | C+ | C+ | |
B+ | B- | B- | |
A+ | A+ | A+ |
Considering only the crime rate, Houghton Lake is as safe as the Michigan state average and safer than the national average.
Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Houghton Lake, MI average SchoolGrade of D, with 26% actual proficiency versus 27% projected; overall, schools meet expectations. See Houghton Lake schools on SchoolGrade
About the Data
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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.