Population 610 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Big Bay
Household size in Big Bay
| Period | Big Bay | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.29 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.89 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.02 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.75 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.54 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Big Bay is a place of small households, averaging 1.75 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.29, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Big Bay
| Period | Big Bay | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 55.3 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 54.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 60.9 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +9.9 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Big Bay skews older: half of its residents are older than 60.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
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 Big Bay
| Period | Big Bay | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.8% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.1% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 0.8% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −14.6 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Big Bay: 4.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 Big Bay
Renters in Big Bay
| Period | Big Bay | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 9.5% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 9.5% of households in Big Bay rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About two-thirds of owners (66.6%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Big Bay
| Period | Big Bay | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 72.3% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 74.9% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 67.2% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 48.4% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −23.9 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 48.4% of the housing in Big Bay, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
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 Big Bay
| Period | Big Bay | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | −11 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in Big Bay is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1966, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
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 Big Bay
| Period | Big Bay | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $525 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $798 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $633 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $750 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$225 | +$395 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Big Bay costs $750 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 37.5% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Big Bay
Bachelor's degrees in Big Bay
| Period | Big Bay | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.0% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.5% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.4% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.8% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly a third of adults 25 and older in Big Bay (31.8%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. Michigan as a whole looks much the same.
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 Big Bay
| Period | Big Bay | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.8% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.9% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.8% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Big Bay: 97.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Big Bay
| Period | Big Bay | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Big Bay has been strong: just 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
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).
Big Bay 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bay | 1.75 | 60.9 | 4.2% | 9.5% | 48.4% | 1966 | $750 | 31.8% | 97.8% | 2.9% |
| Huron Mountain | 1.75 | 60.9 | 4.2% | 9.5% | 48.4% | 1966 | $750 | 31.8% | 97.8% | 2.9% |
| Buckroe | 1.76 | 60.5 | 4.2% | 9.9% | 47.6% | 1967 | $756 | 32.2% | 97.7% | 3.0% |
| National Mine | 2.58 | 45.0 | 2.9% | 8.4% | 23.8% | 1982 | $1,227 | 36.5% | 97.0% | 7.6% |
| North Lake | 2.50 | 44.1 | 6.5% | 10.0% | 14.0% | 1974 | $1,005 | 27.3% | 95.1% | 5.7% |
| Trowbridge Park | 2.23 | 42.1 | 5.4% | 33.9% | 11.8% | 1996 | $1,104 | 50.0% | 95.5% | 6.6% |
| Negaunee | 2.52 | 41.7 | 7.0% | 17.9% | 10.4% | 1962 | $1,094 | 35.2% | 95.4% | 4.6% |
| Diorite | 2.33 | 44.7 | 3.5% | 6.4% | 28.1% | 1976 | $854 | 18.7% | 94.2% | 2.0% |
| Ishpeming | 2.45 | 38.7 | 10.3% | 19.8% | 11.1% | 1956 | $866 | 28.0% | 95.3% | 6.7% |
| Champion | 2.17 | 52.2 | 4.3% | 5.4% | 47.1% | 1972 | $814 | 20.0% | 96.5% | 6.4% |
| Skanee | 1.99 | 58.8 | 1.8% | 12.5% | 55.9% | 1978 | $701 | 20.1% | 98.0% | 1.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Falling Spring, VA · Macon, MI · Kelvin, ND · Elliott, MS · Rest Haven, GA · Emerson, NY · Enon Grove, GA · Junction City, LA · Reedville, TX · Ernest, PA
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 Big Bay. 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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