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Bay County, MI
4 cities and towns and 10 ZIP codes in Bay County, Michigan.
Population
103,008
Land area
442sq mi
People per sq mi
233
ZIP codes
10
Cities and towns in Bay County
Bay County at a glance
- Bay County is 31% denser than Michigan as a whole.
- The median household income is $61,763, 15% below the Michigan median of $72,875.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $152,200 (34% below Michigan) and median rent is $860 a month.
- Its largest cities are Bay City (32,320), Essexville (3,327) and Auburn (2,124).
Local data for Bay County, MI
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes7
- Schools47
- Colleges2
- Libraries4
- Banks19
- Post Offices9
- Parks60
- Grocery Stores40
- Restaurants210
- Affordable Housing10
- Home Health Agencies3
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers2
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals1
- Community Health Centers6
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment5
- Private Schools13
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools2
- Superfund Sites1
- Toxic Release Facilities10
- Historic Places10
Housing and community stats
Bay County, MI, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$61,763
Poverty rate
13.2%
Median home value
$152,200
Prices +5.1% in a year
Median rent
$860/mo
Homeownership
77.0%
Bachelor's or higher
22.1%
Median age
43.9
Average commute
23.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (28,488), Polish Americans (16,109), Irish Americans (10,039).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
4.8%
Sep 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$57,350
34,153 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$55,627
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$822M
FY 2026, $7,916 per person
PPP loans
$190M
2,142 loans, 23,656 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$322K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Bay County, MI, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone82.1%
- Carpooled6.6%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked1.2%
- Bicycle0.4%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
- Worked from home8.6%
Average one-way commute: 23.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Bay County, MI, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: winter weather
Storm events since 1996
389
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
377
0.9% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
83° / 14°F
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone10 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Bay County, MI, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.0%
U.S. 33.3% +4.7 pts
Diabetes
12.6%
U.S. 12.1% +0.5 pts
Smoking
15.7%
U.S. 12.8% +2.9 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.3%
U.S. 11.1% -3.8 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Bay County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Bay County, MI?
- Bay City is the largest city or town in Bay County, with about 32,320 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Bay County?
- Bay County includes 10 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 48611, 48613, 48631, 48634, 48650.
- What is the population of Bay County, MI?
- About 103,008 people live in Bay County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Bay County?
- Bay County borders Saginaw County, Midland County, Tuscola County, Gladwin County, Arenac County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023