Bay City, MI

Full City Profile · Michigan · Bay County County

3.4 /5.0
B Good
32,445 Population 3,190/sq mi density
$47,904 Median Income $29,756 per capita
$89,900 Home Value $128,005 Zillow
$739 Median Rent 29.5% income on rent
48°F Avg Temperature
B
Overall
3.4 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.8 / 5.0
$47,904 median income, 6.5% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$89,900 home value, $739/mo rent
C
Education
2.5 / 5.0
18.2% bachelor's degree or higher

Bay City, MI

At a Glance

Median Income
$47,904
36% below
$29,756 per capita
Home Value
$89,900
68% below
Zillow: $128,005
Median Rent
$739/mo
36% below
29.5% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
18.2%
46% below
88.6% high school+
Unemployment
6.5%
81% above
15.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.3%
26% above
18.9% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
48°F

How Bay City Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Bay City's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
64%
Home Value
32%
Rent
64%
Poverty
123%
Bachelor's
54%
Unemployment
181%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Bay City a Good Place to Live?

B
3.4 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Bay City residents earn a median household income of $47,904 , which is 36% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $29,756. The unemployment rate stands at 6.5% (81% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 15.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 2,117 business establishments, including 211 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Bay City is $89,900 , 68% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $128,005. Median rent is $739/month, with 29.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 96.2 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1940.

Education

18.2% of adults in Bay City hold a bachelor's degree or higher (46% below the national average). 88.6% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.1/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Bay City has an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 23°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 33.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 37.

Data Overview

People

Population32,445
Median Age39.7 yrs
Density3,190/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born1.8%
Veterans7.5%

Economy

C+
Median Income$47,904
Per Capita$29,756
Unemployment6.5%
Poverty15.2%
County GDP$4,724M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,050

Housing

A+
Home Value$89,900
Rent$739
Ownership68.5%
Zillow$128,005
Housing Units15,880
Rent Burden29.5%

Health

Obesity40.3%
Diabetes11.4%
Smoking18.9%
Heart Disease6.6%
Premature Death9,515/100K

Climate

Avg Temp48°F
Rain33.1 in/yr
AQI37 (Good)
Elevation600 ft

Education

C
Bachelor's+18.2%
High School+88.6%
Graduate+4.8%
School Score5.1/10

Community

2024 VoteR 57% / D 42%
Commute21 min
Broadband86.0%
Internet Speed155 Mbps
EV Stations14
Libraries5

Did You Know?

Bay City was founded in 1837.
The median home in Bay City was built in 1940.
The nearest airport is Mbs International (10 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.438 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
19.6% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 155 Mbps.
There are 211 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 15 fatal vehicle crashes.