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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Bay City Micro

Bay City, TX · 1 counties · 36,463 residents (2025 est.) · 1,093.122 sq mi
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The short version

Bay City has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $58,628. Population has declined 4% since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $172,900. The poverty rate of 20.7% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 67%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
36,329
−4%since 2000
from 37,957 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
33 / sq mi
−4%since 2000
from 35 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.8
+9%since 2000
from 34.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:36,463 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
36K37K37K38K38K1990201020202024Bay City
202436K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$58,628
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,174 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,494
+107%since 2000
from $15,709 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.7%
+11.0 ptssince 2009
from 25.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.7%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 18.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.465
−1%since 2010
from 0.469 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade13.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade13.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Information12%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance9.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Education & health services5.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction5.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing2%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$172,900
+67%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$999
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $411 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
68.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 66.8% in 2000
31.9% rent
Vacancy rate
19.0%
−8.8 ptssince 2009
from 27.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.4%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 40.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.9
+67%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
59
RELATED:See current rent listings in Bay City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic52.4%(19,900)
Black12.6%(4,778)
Hispanic / Latino31.3%(11,898)
Asian2.3%(891)
Other0%
Diversity Score75%(28,478)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic41.4%(15,025)
Black9.7%(3,511)
Hispanic / Latino43.7%(15,889)
Asian1.6%(594)
Other3.6%(1,310)
Diversity Score78.3%(28,462)
Segregation Score32%(11,641)
Diversity Score
78
+4%since 2000
from 75 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
32
−2%since 2020
from 33 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.2%
+9.7 ptssince 2000
from 12.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.0%
+10.7 ptssince 2000
from 70.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.0%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.0 min
+40%since 2000
from 17.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.9%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 74.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.6%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.1%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 10.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 61.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.7%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.4%
−25.8 ptssince 2009
from 56.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Female
51.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Foreign born
11.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.0%
−41.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.5%
+2.8 ptssince 2012
from 14.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
17.9%
−55.8 ptssince 2013
from 73.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.0%
+25.9 ptssince 2017
from 60.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
72.8%
+1.4 ptssince 2016
from 71.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
24.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 26.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Bay CityCENTRAL17,488
What's inside

1 component county

Matagorda CountyCENTRAL36,463
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Bay City

Dyersburg
Pop 36,320
Escanaba
Pop 36,582
Cambridge
Pop 38,379
Emporia
Pop 34,838
Places similar to Bay City
Head to head

Compare Bay City side by side

BAY CITY VS
Dyersburg
Income$58,154−1%
Home value$166,400−4%
Population36,320same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAY CITY VS
Escanaba
Income$57,809−1%
Home value$157,100−9%
Population36,582same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAY CITY VS
Cambridge
Income$58,478same
Home value$157,700−9%
Population38,379+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAY CITY VS
Emporia
Income$59,659+2%
Home value$147,585−15%
Population34,838−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bay City, TX?

Bay City, TX has about 36,329 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Bay City, TX earns about $58,628 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bay City, TX expensive?

In Bay City, TX, the median home is worth about $172,900, and the typical rent is about $999 a month.

How educated are people in Bay City, TX?

About 22.2% of adults age 25 and over in Bay City, TX hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bay City, TX?

About 20.7% of people in Bay City, TX live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bay City, TX grown since 1990?

Yes, Bay City, TX has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 599 residents, a change of about -2 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →