Houghton booted two goals in a 10-minute purple patch during the Power's 8.10 (58) to 3.5 (23) victory at Alberton Oval on Sunday.
Port's second victory of the season lifts them from 15th to 10th on the ladder, just one win behind eighth-placed St Kilda.
The Blues, also with two wins and four losses this season, slip one rung to 13th spot.
Port led by just two points at quarter-time, 1.3 to 1.1, before Houghton broke the game open with a superb second stanza.
The former Fremantle forward took a contested mark in a duel with Harriet Cordner some 45 metres out, jumped to her feet, played on, raced to 35m and kicked accurately.
Houghton soon struck again after another strong mark when under pressure from Cordner - her 20m set shot with just 14 seconds remaining gave Port a 3.5 to 1.5 advantage at the long break.
"Obviously I can't do it without my teammates, but I was making an effort to always be on the move," Houghton told Fox Footy.
"There's nothing better than getting a win at home in front of our home crowd."
Port Adelaide's Abbey Dowrick picked up 21 disposals and made seven tackles against Carlton. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)
Carlton snuck within eight points with three minutes left in the third quarter when Breann Moody goaled - the ruck, resting at full-forward, out-jostled Amelie Borg and swung on to her right boot.
But just one minute later, Port's Sachi Syme responded with a classy snap. Pouncing on a Matidla Scholz tap, she gathered the ball with her left hand, took one steadying step, and goaled.
Syme's strike created a handy 15-point lead, 4.8 to 2.5, for the Power at three-quarter-time.
Carlton's Dal Pos gave the visitors hope when awarded a holding-the-ball free kick against Port defender Borg - her goal from close-range reduced the margin to nine points.
But the Power soon gained precious breathing space when Julia Teakle's right-footed snap restored their 15-point advantage.
Port iced victory with three goals in the last three minutes, including one from Ashleigh Saint, who collected 16 disposals.
Abbey Dowrick was Port's leading ball-winner with 21 disposals, and also laid seven tackles.
Carlton had the top three disposal-getters of the game - Mimi Hill (29), Keeley Sherar (28) and Gab Pound (23) - but could muster just 24 inside-50s compared with Port's 40.
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