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COUNTY

Bay County

Michigan · 102,123 residents (2025 est.) · 442.409 sq mi
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The short version

Bay County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $61,763. Population has declined 6% since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $152,200.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
103,008
−6%since 2000
from 110,157 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
233 / sq mi
−6%since 2000
from 249 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.9
+14%since 2000
from 38.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:102,123 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
102K105K107K110K113K1990201020202024Bay County
2024103K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$61,763
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,646 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,602
+81%since 2000
from $19,698 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
41.3%
+17.8 ptssince 2009
from 23.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.2%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 9.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.434
+3%since 2010
from 0.420 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade5.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$152,200
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $83,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$860
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $440 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2000
from 79.3% in 2000
23.0% rent
Vacancy rate
7.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.5%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.2%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 43.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+14%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
19
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bay County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.7%(102,119)
Black1.2%(1,343)
Hispanic / Latino3.9%(4,308)
Asian0.5%(522)
Other0%
Diversity Score13.6%(15,009)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.2%(90,838)
Black1%(1,067)
Hispanic / Latino5.9%(6,117)
Asian0.5%(525)
Other4.3%(4,461)
Diversity Score27.1%(27,915)
Segregation Score30.1%(30,967)
Diversity Score
27
+99%since 2000
from 14 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
30
+21%since 2020
from 25 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.1%
+7.9 ptssince 2000
from 14.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.9%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 82.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.1 min
+65%since 2000
from 14.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.1%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 84.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.6%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.3%
−5.9 ptssince 2011
from 10.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 61.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.6%
−27.5 ptssince 2009
from 61.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.5%
−40.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.8%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 15.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.4%
−84.8 ptssince 2013
from 89.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.2%
+13.5 ptssince 2017
from 74.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 97.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.1%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 1.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Bay County

Marshall County
Pop 103,537
Macon County
Pop 99,300
Lauderdale County
Pop 97,135
Cullman County
Pop 94,009
Places similar to Bay County
Head to head

Compare Bay County to nearby counties

BAY COUNTY VS
Midland County
Income$77,705+26%
Home value$195,400+28%
Population83,754−18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAY COUNTY VS
Saginaw County
Income$60,622−2%
Home value$152,800same
Population187,688+84%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAY COUNTY VS
Arenac County
Income$58,811−5%
Home value$150,600−1%
Population15,068−85%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAY COUNTY VS
Gladwin County
Income$55,349−10%
Home value$162,300+7%
Population26,077−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bay County, Michigan?

Bay County, Michigan has about 103,008 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Bay County, Michigan earns about $61,763 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bay County, Michigan expensive?

In Bay County, Michigan, the median home is worth about $152,200, and the typical rent is about $860 a month.

How educated are people in Bay County, Michigan?

About 22.1% of adults age 25 and over in Bay County, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bay County, Michigan?

About 13.2% of people in Bay County, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bay County, Michigan grown since 1990?

Yes, Bay County, Michigan has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 8,715 residents, a change of about -8 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

28 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 2856Census Tract 2855Census Tract 2858Census Tract 2852.01Census Tract 2866Census Tract 2859Census Tract 2862Census Tract 2853Census Tract 2857Census Tract 2852.02Census Tract 2861.01Census Tract 2810Census Tract 2854Census Tract 2808Census Tract 2805Census Tract 2863Census Tract 2861.02Census Tract 2851Census Tract 2860Census Tract 2807
10 ZIP codes
ZIP 48706ZIP 48708ZIP 48732ZIP 48650ZIP 48611ZIP 48634ZIP 48631ZIP 48747ZIP 48613ZIP 48710
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →