The Town FilesBay, Michigan
Township in Charlevoix County · population 1,142 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $368,000
- Household income
- $80,833
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 124 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 52.9
Bay is a township of 1,142 people in Charlevoix County, Michigan. The median home is worth $368,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 98% of Michigan towns, quieter than 89% of Michigan towns.
How Bay 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 is worth $368,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $80,833, which is more affordable than 3% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $968 a month. 96.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bay | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $368,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $968 | $955 |
| Median household income | $80,833 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 34.3% | — |
Who lives in Bay
| People | Bay | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 15.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Bay
July highs average 75.2°F and January lows 15.0°F. About 34.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 123.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bay since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F1, struck on August 1, 2002 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 1, 2002.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 24, 1998.
Severe weather in Charlevoix County since 1996
Charlevoix County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Charlevoix County
Charlevoix County had 10,983 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,950 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Bay itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Towns near Bay
- Resort, MI2.6 mi · 2,835 people · home $394,500
- Evangeline, MI3.4 mi · 767 people · home $384,100
- Petoskey, MI4.9 mi · 5,877 people · home $364,100
- Hayes, MI5.2 mi · 2,000 people · home $247,000
- Bay Shore, MI5.2 mi · 687 people · home $153,600
- Boyne City, MI6.2 mi · 3,816 people · home $249,000
- Eveline, MI6.6 mi · 1,515 people · home $459,100
- Melrose, MI7.7 mi · 1,405 people · home $262,600
Bay questions
Is Bay, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bay scores better for retirees than 98% of Michigan towns and quieter than 89%. 31.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.9).
How much does a house cost in Bay?
The median owner-occupied home in Bay is valued at $368,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,833, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $968 a month.
What is the weather like in Bay?
July highs average 75.2°F and January lows 15.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.2 inches of precipitation a year and 123.6 inches of snow.
Does Bay get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on August 1, 2002. 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)