Applegate is a small town of 233 in Michigan, with a median household income of $60,417
and a 8.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Applegate stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Applegate is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Applegate city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 91.7
Applegate's overall cost of living index is 91.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Applegate costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Applegate, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$82,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$975
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$60,417
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Applegate's violent crime rate is 148.2 per 100,000 residents
— 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
148.2 /100k
Property Crime
442.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Applegate, MI
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Applegate sees average highs of 29.9°F in January
and 78.3°F in July,
with 35.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 40.7 inches of snow per year.
Applegate's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Applegate roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $82,700 and median rent is $975/month.
Applegate's violent crime rate is 148.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 442.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Applegate, MI has a population of 233, a median household income of $60,417, and an unemployment rate of 8.7%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Applegate averages 29.9°F in January and 78.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.4 inches
with about 40.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Applegate, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 48401.
The population of Applegate, Michigan is 233 with a median age of 38.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Applegate: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $82,700, median household income $60,417, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Applegate side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.