Population 62,801 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Bay City
Household size in Bay City
| Period | Bay City | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.37 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.33 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.26 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Bay City are small: just 2.26 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.37 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Bay City
| Period | Bay City | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.6 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.1 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.2 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.5 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.9 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Bay City skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.6, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Bay City
| Period | Bay City | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.4% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.6% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Bay City (11.6%), the same as the national share. Bay City has a higher share of single-parent households than most Michigan cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Bay City
Renters in Bay City
| Period | Bay City | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.1% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.7% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.9% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.4% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Bay City own their homes; 26.4% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Nearly half of owners (47.4%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the southeast. The renter share is up 3.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Bay City
| Period | Bay City | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.5% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Bay City is close to the national rate: 9.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Compared with other Michigan cities, Bay City has a higher vacancy rate than most.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Bay City
| Period | Bay City | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1955 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1958 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1956 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1958 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +6 |
Bay City is a place of older homes: half were built before 1958, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Bay City has older homes than at least four in five Michigan cities.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Bay City
| Period | Bay City | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $648 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $700 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $754 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $918 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$271 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Bay City costs $918 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $271 a month from 2006–10, a 42% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.6% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the south; the highest are in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Bay City
Bachelor's degrees in Bay City
| Period | Bay City | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.3% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.1% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.1% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.4% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Bay City have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.4%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 3.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Bay City
| Period | Bay City | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.9% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.9% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.8% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Bay City is a bit above the national rate: 90.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Michigan. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.9 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Bay City
| Period | Bay City | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Bay City is close to the national rate: 5.1% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in Michigan overall (5.9%). Unemployment has fallen 4.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Bay City compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay City | 2.26 | 44.5 | 11.6% | 26.4% | 9.5% | 1958 | $918 | 21.4% | 90.8% | 5.1% |
| Essexville | 2.32 | 46.5 | 11.8% | 26.7% | 6.6% | 1968 | $802 | 21.6% | 94.0% | 3.0% |
| Tobico Beach | 2.21 | 53.3 | 9.1% | 6.2% | 8.3% | 1964 | $816 | 15.0% | 98.7% | 1.3% |
| University Center | 2.55 | 44.6 | 4.6% | 9.3% | 9.4% | 1983 | $952 | 29.5% | 93.0% | 2.6% |
| Killarney Beach | 2.28 | 51.6 | 10.7% | 9.3% | 5.2% | 1967 | $701 | 20.6% | 94.3% | 1.9% |
| Kawkawlin | 2.31 | 48.4 | 7.6% | 14.2% | 7.2% | 1970 | $954 | 24.2% | 93.8% | 2.3% |
| Zilwaukee | 2.11 | 46.4 | 8.1% | 18.2% | 4.2% | 1961 | $1,211 | 17.5% | 94.3% | 5.3% |
| Munger | 2.56 | 46.2 | 6.5% | 5.6% | 6.9% | 1957 | $1,023 | 25.5% | 94.4% | 3.5% |
| Indiantown | 2.28 | 45.9 | 11.9% | 10.8% | 12.4% | 1960 | $939 | 12.3% | 90.0% | 4.9% |
| Auburn | 2.31 | 45.6 | 8.4% | 18.5% | 3.4% | 1977 | $1,086 | 33.7% | 97.3% | 2.3% |
| Quanicassee | 2.58 | 41.4 | 13.9% | 17.8% | 10.4% | 1967 | $867 | 16.0% | 95.2% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Orland Park, IL · Lebanon, PA · San Clemente, CA · Niagara Falls, NY · Mechanicsville, VA · Martinsburg, WV · Pottstown, PA · Port Orange, FL · Moore, OK · Manhattan, KS
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Bay City. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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