CensusEasy
CITY

Bay City

Michigan · 31,868 residents (2025 est.) · 10.166 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Bay City metro area
Compare
The short version

Bay City has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $49,420. Population has declined 12% since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value is $97,600. Households here earn about 32% less than the Michigan median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 19%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
32,320
−12%since 2000
from 36,817 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,179 / sq mi
−12%since 2000
from 3,622 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.7
+16%since 2000
from 35.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:31,868 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
32K34K36K38K40K1990201020202024Bay City
202432K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,420
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,425 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,853
+80%since 2000
from $16,550 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.0%
+15.4 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.1%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 14.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.442
+6%since 2010
from 0.419 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information15.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services5.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade3.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$97,600
−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$766
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $395 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 69.5% in 2000
29.9% rent
Vacancy rate
8.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.4%
−8.9 ptssince 2009
from 30.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.5%
−6.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.0
−9%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
27
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bay City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic87.8%(32,333)
Black2.6%(972)
Hispanic / Latino6.7%(2,473)
Asian0.5%(194)
Other0%
Diversity Score23.3%(8,588)
2024
White, non-Hispanic80.1%(25,883)
Black1.6%(502)
Hispanic / Latino11.5%(3,706)
Asian0.8%(273)
Other6.1%(1,956)
Diversity Score42.7%(13,798)
Diversity Score
43
+83%since 2000
from 23 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.8%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.9%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 80.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.3 min
+64%since 2000
from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.0%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 82.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.4%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
12.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.7%
−5.7 ptssince 2011
from 12.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.4%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 62.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.3%
−28.6 ptssince 2009
from 58.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Female
52.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Foreign born
2.3%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.7%
−40.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.6%
+3.4 ptssince 2012
from 16.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.9%
−80.4 ptssince 2013
from 86.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.6%
+13.7 ptssince 2017
from 71.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2016
from 96.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 1.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Bay City

Dania Beach
Pop 32,791
Lauderdale Lakes
Pop 36,898
Immokalee
Pop 26,361
South Bradenton
Pop 25,990
Places similar to Bay City
Head to head

Compare Bay City to nearby cities

BAY CITY VS
Saginaw
Income$38,579−22%
Home value$60,000−39%
Population42,863+35%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAY CITY VS
Midland
Income$73,325+48%
Home value$203,900+109%
Population42,806+34%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAY CITY VS
Beecher
Income$37,515−24%
Home value$51,500−47%
Population8,412−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAY CITY VS
Flushing
Income$80,025+62%
Home value$204,500+110%
Population8,175−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bay City, Michigan?

Bay City, Michigan has about 32,320 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bay City, Michigan?

The typical household in Bay City, Michigan earns about $49,420 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bay City, Michigan expensive?

In Bay City, Michigan, the median home is worth about $97,600, and the typical rent is about $766 a month.

How educated are people in Bay City, Michigan?

About 18.8% of adults age 25 and over in Bay City, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bay City, Michigan?

About 19.1% of people in Bay City, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bay City, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Bay City, Michigan has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 6,616 residents, a change of about -17 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Michigan
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Bay City with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →