Bay City, TX

Full City Profile · Texas · Matagorda County County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
17,816 Population 1,922/sq mi density
$51,898 Median Income $26,301 per capita
$149,800 Home Value $203,744 Zillow
$997 Median Rent 33.5% income on rent
69°F Avg Temperature
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C
Economy
2.0 / 5.0
$51,898 median income, 11.8% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$149,800 home value, $997/mo rent
C+
Education
2.6 / 5.0
20.5% bachelor's degree or higher

Bay City, TX

At a Glance

Median Income
$51,898
31% below
$26,301 per capita
Home Value
$149,800
47% below
Zillow: $203,744
Median Rent
$997/mo
14% below
33.5% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
20.5%
39% below
81.9% high school+
Unemployment
11.8%
228% above
22.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
41.3%
29% above
16.4% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
69°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
69%
Home Value
53%
Rent
86%
Poverty
179%
Bachelor's
61%
Unemployment
328%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Bay City a Good Place to Live?

B
3.2 / 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 $51,898 , which is 31% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $26,301. The unemployment rate stands at 11.8% (228% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 22.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 824 business establishments, including 96 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Bay City is $149,800 , 47% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $203,744. Median rent is $997/month, with 33.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 97.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1978.

Education

20.5% of adults in Bay City hold a bachelor's degree or higher (39% below the national average). 81.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.9/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Bay City has an average annual temperature of 69°F (20°C). Winters average 53°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 49.1 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population17,816
Median Age32.8 yrs
Density1,922/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born14.5%
Veterans6.9%

Economy

C
Median Income$51,898
Per Capita$26,301
Unemployment11.8%
Poverty22.2%
County GDP$2,905M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,327

Housing

A+
Home Value$149,800
Rent$997
Ownership50.5%
Zillow$203,744
Housing Units7,834
Rent Burden33.5%

Health

Obesity41.3%
Diabetes15.1%
Smoking16.4%
Heart Disease6.5%
Premature Death11,456/100K

Climate

Avg Temp69°F
Rain49.1 in/yr
Elevation50 ft

Education

C+
Bachelor's+20.5%
High School+81.9%
Graduate+7.2%
School Score4.9/10

Community

2024 VoteR 75% / D 24%
Commute23 min
Broadband82.3%
Internet Speed101 Mbps
EV Stations3
Libraries4

Did You Know?

The median home in Bay City was built in 1978.
The nearest airport is Bay City Regional (6 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.471 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
13.1% of the population has a disability.
14.5% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 101 Mbps.
The county recorded 6 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.