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Living in
Bay City.
About
Life in Bay City
If you're considering Bay City, understand that you're looking at a working-class manufacturing town in the heart of Michigan's Thumb region—not a destination community. The median household income is around $49,000, and median home values hover near $100,000, making it genuinely affordable compared to most of the country, though that reflects the economic challenges the city has faced. The job market centers on industrial employers like GM Powertrain and SC Johnson, with an unemployment rate around 8.7%, though the broader regional economy has contracted over the past 20 years as the population has declined.
Bay City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.1%
Foreign-Born
2.3%
Broadband Internet
85.6%
of households
Population Growth
-2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Bay City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bay City, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (23.0%), and 1.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.2%
of residents
65 and Older
17.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
41.2%
of households
Married Couples
33.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.18
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 32% below MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Bay City
In Bay City, rent runs 32% below the MI average, and home values are 58% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,764
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1941
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $125,613 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 3.5 pts above MI average
Unemployment in Bay City
Unemployment in Bay City is 3.5 percentage points higher than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Bay City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.3 min avg
How Bay City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bay City, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
MBS International Airport (MBS)
Regional airport · few flights116k passengers boarded in 2025
- 99 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 55% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bay City runs 55% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
510.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,580.4
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bay City Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
78.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Bay County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Bay County, which includes Bay City, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 2 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2023 | 5 | Heavy Snow | $50,000 |
| 2022 | 7 | High Wind | $50,000 |
| 2021 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $200,000 |
| 2020 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.4M |
| 2019 | 6 | Cold/Wind Chill | $2.5M |
| 2018 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.3M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Bay County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Bay County, which includes Bay City, is typically good — 252 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
252
per year
Moderate Days
103
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Bay County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bay City has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
32°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.1"
Annual Snowfall
49.0"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
139
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
111
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 16°F | 1.67" |
| Feb | 32°F | 17°F | 1.67" |
| Mar | 42°F | 24°F | 1.88" |
| Apr | 55°F | 35°F | 3.58" |
| May | 68°F | 48°F | 3.37" |
| Jun | 78°F | 58°F | 3.55" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 2.88" |
| Aug | 80°F | 60°F | 3.84" |
| Sep | 74°F | 52°F | 3.21" |
| Oct | 60°F | 41°F | 2.97" |
| Nov | 47°F | 31°F | 2.42" |
| Dec | 35°F | 23°F | 2.08" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 1.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bay City
Bay City has 1 hospital, averaging 1.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.0 / 5
Mclaren Bay Region
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Mymichigan Medical Center Saginaw
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.7 mi away · Saginaw
Covenant Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.7 mi away · Saginaw
Healthsource Saginaw
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.3 mi away · Saginaw
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bay City
Bay City's student/teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 18.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bay City
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Bay City
Alice And Jack Wirt Public Library
500 Center Avenue, Bay City
Sage Branch Library
100 East Midland Street, Bay City
Cities Near Bay City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bay City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bay City FAQ
Is Bay City, Michigan affordable?⌄
Bay City's median rent is $766/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $49,420/year. Median home value is $97,600.
Is Bay City, Michigan safe?⌄
Bay City's violent crime rate was 510 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1580 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bay City, Michigan?⌄
Bay City has an unemployment rate of 8.7%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bay City, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Bay City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $766/month and median household income is $49,420/year. The median home value is $97,600. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bay City, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Bay City is 21 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from