The Town FilesBay City, Michigan
City in Bay County · population 32,661 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $97,600
- Household income
- $49,420
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 40.7
Bay City is a city of 32,661 people in Bay County, Michigan. The median home is worth $97,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Michigan towns, hipper than 97% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 96% of Michigan towns.
How Bay City ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bay City is worth $97,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $49,420, which is more affordable than 94% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $766 a month. 70.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bay City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $97,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $766 | $955 |
| Median household income | $49,420 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1941 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Bay City
| People | Bay City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Bay City
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 15.7°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bay City since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 12, 1984 about 0.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 13, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 15, 2012.
Severe weather in Bay County since 1996
Bay County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| August 2, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4326: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Bay County
Bay County had 34,112 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,617 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Bay City itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Bay City
19 public schools with 7,396 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay City Central High School | 9-12 | 989 | 18.3 |
| John Glenn High School | 9-12 | 893 | 27.9 |
| Christa McAuliffe Middle School | 6-8 | 650 | 20.3 |
| Handy Middle School | 6-8 | 618 | 12.9 |
| Kolb Elementary School | PK-5 | 454 | 13.8 |
| Hampton Elementary School | PK-5 | 415 | 16.6 |
| Washington Elementary School | PK-5 | 390 | 13.9 |
| Bay City Academy Farragut Campus (charter) | PK-12 | 363 | 19.1 |
| McAlearSawden Elem School | PK-5 | 359 | 15.0 |
| Bangor West Central School | K-5 | 352 | 25.1 |
| Bangor Lincoln School | PK-5 | 337 | 22.5 |
| Bangor Central School | PK-5 | 336 | 25.8 |
Towns near Bay City
- Essexville, MI2.8 mi · 3,379 people · home $128,500
- Portsmouth, MI3.7 mi · 3,224 people · home $165,500
- Bangor, MI4.3 mi · 14,045 people · home $170,200
- Monitor, MI5.2 mi · 10,687 people · home $207,300
- Frankenlust, MI5.6 mi · 3,672 people · home $240,700
- Hampton, MI6.2 mi · 9,695 people · home $182,600
- Kochville, MI7.6 mi · 4,911 people · home $156,800
- Kawkawlin, MI8.8 mi · 4,419 people · home $188,800
Bay City questions
Is Bay City, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bay City scores better for retirees than 2% of Michigan towns and quieter than 4%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Bay City?
The median owner-occupied home in Bay City is valued at $97,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,420, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $766 a month.
What is the weather like in Bay City?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 15.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 45.7 inches of snow.
Does Bay City get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bay City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 12, 1984. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)