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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Bay County

Michigan · 103,856 residents · 442 sq mi
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The short version

Bay County is a county of 103,856 people in Michigan. The median age is 44.2, about 5 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 20% of adults. Owners hold 76% of the housing stock. The typical home is worth $106,400. 1% of residents were born outside the United States.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 44.2
US median: 38.8
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 15%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
103,856
−6%since 2000
from 110,157 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
44.2
+15%since 2000
from 38.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
442 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
102K105K107K110K113K19902000201020202024Bay County
2024103K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.8%(4,972)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.2%(5,441)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.1%(6,325)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196%(6,250)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.5%(5,719)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.8%(12,225)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.5%(11,905)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.4%(12,905)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415.5%(16,075)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7412.4%(12,905)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846.4%(6,647)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.4%(2,487)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$48,290
−17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,646 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,331
+44%since 2000
from $19,698 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
30.9%
+7.4 ptssince 2009
from 23.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
16.1%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade16.8%
US avg: 10%
Information12.1%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade6.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services4.7%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$106,400
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $83,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$679
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $440 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
76.4%
−2.9 ptssince 2000
from 79.3% in 2000
23.6% rent
Persons per household
2.29 people
−4%since 2009
from 2.39 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
2.2
−10%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.7%(102,119)
Black1.2%(1,343)
Hispanic / Latino3.9%(4,308)
Asian0.5%(522)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic87.4%(90,811)
Black1.5%(1,598)
Hispanic / Latino5.7%(5,930)
Asian0.5%(538)
Other2.7%(2,813)
Segregation Score
25
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican5.2%(5,351)
Puerto Rican0.1%(86)
Spaniard0.1%(65)
Cuban0%(26)
Honduran0%(11)
Asian origin
Chinese0.2%(173)
Filipino0.1%(109)
Korean0.1%(86)
Pakistani0.1%(74)
Laotian0%(44)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German26.9%(27,805)
Polish16.4%(17,018)
Irish9.9%(10,261)
French9.7%(10,010)
English7%(7,204)
American3.2%(3,296)
Dutch2.4%(2,520)
Scottish1.9%(1,938)
Italian1.6%(1,641)
Hungarian0.9%(981)
Norwegian0.7%(760)
+ 34 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.7%(716)
Czech0.7%(709)
Russian0.6%(639)
Belgian0.6%(587)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(519)
Welsh0.4%(395)
Greek0.3%(308)
Danish0.2%(252)
Finnish0.2%(246)
Swiss0.2%(229)
British0.2%(225)
Canadian0.2%(214)
Slovak0.2%(201)
Lebanese0.2%(178)
Austrian0.2%(177)
Ukrainian0.2%(161)
Brazilian0.1%(104)
Lithuanian0.1%(91)
Serbian0.1%(65)
Iraqi0.1%(64)
Croatian0.1%(52)
Romanian0%(44)
Jamaican0%(34)
Slovene0%(19)
Bulgarian0%(15)
Nigerian0%(13)
Haitian0%(11)
Latvian0%(10)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.7%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 14.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
90.5%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 82.4% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.3%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.8 min
+63%since 2000
from 14.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
84.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 84.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.9%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 10.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
58.5%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 61.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
72.2%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
31.3%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 28.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
5.9%
−4.9 ptssince 2013
from 10.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
88.6%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
88.7%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married34.9%(14,913)
Married50.7%(21,657)
Widowed3.7%(1,563)
Divorced10.7%(4,559)
Women 15+
Never married27.1%(11,999)
Married47.1%(20,822)
Widowed11.9%(5,283)
Divorced13.9%(6,145)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
5.9%
−4.9 ptssince 2013
from 10.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
60.8%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
12.1%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
23.3%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
23.4%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.1%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
69.9%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
43.6%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)13.7%(1,003)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)17.3%(1,274)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era36.7%(2,697)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War9.1%(670)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II3.2%(237)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 7,347 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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+61%
Home value$195,400+84%
Population83,754−18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAY COUNTY VS
Saginaw County
Income$60,622+26%
Home value$152,800+44%
Population187,688+84%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAY COUNTY VS
Arenac County
Income$58,811+22%
Home value$150,600+42%
Population15,068−85%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAY COUNTY VS
Gladwin County
Income$55,349+15%
Home value$162,300+53%
Population26,077−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bay County, Michigan?

Bay County, Michigan has about 103,856 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Bay County, Michigan earns about $48,290 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 $106,400, and the typical rent is about $679 a month.

How educated are people in Bay County, Michigan?

About 19.7% 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 16.1% 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 7,867 residents, a change of about -7 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →