Applegate, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 255, Applegate's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Applegate is a small community located in Michigan, within Sanilac County. The total population is 255. It ranks as the 650th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Applegate is 39.8 years. This is about the same as the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Applegate is $65,625. This is 10% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.6%. This is 5% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $96,500. Housing costs are 58% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Applegate is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Applegate has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

8.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 75% lower than the state rate of 32.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Applegate, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.