Pilgrim, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 24, Pilgrim'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

Pilgrim is a small community located in Michigan, within Benzie County. The total population is 24. It ranks as the 743rd most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Pilgrim is 70.3 years. This is 75% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 29.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Pilgrim is $161,563. This is 122% higher than the state median of $72,875. It is also 100% higher than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Pilgrim. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The survey records no unemployed residents in Pilgrim, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $656,300. Housing costs are 183% higher than the state median of $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 37% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Pilgrim was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

100.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Pilgrim in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 208% higher than the state rate of 32.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 85.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Pilgrim, 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.