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Moving Guides/Bay City

Moving to Bay City

What you need to know before relocating to Bay City, Michigan. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.

Is Bay City a Good Place to Live?

Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Bay City compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($811/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($156,200) are well below the us median; high school graduation rate of 92%.

Bay City at a Glance

Population
103K
Median Income
$58,675
Median Rent
$811/mo
Median Home Price
$156,200
Unemployment
5.0%
Avg Commute
42360 min

Cost of Living in Bay City

The median rent in Bay City is $811/month, while the median home value is $156,200. With a median household income of $58,675, residents spend roughly 17% of monthly income on rent.

Overall, the Bay City metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.

Rent vs. National Avg
42% below
Home Price vs. National Avg
49% below

Job Market

Bay City has a median household income of $58,675, which is 21% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 5.0%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.

Safety in Bay City

The violent crime rate in Bay City is 457 per 100,000 residents, which is 20% above the national average of 380.

Property crime rate: 1547 per 100,000 residents.

Education in Michigan

Michigan has a high school graduation rate of 92% and per-pupil spending of $16,208/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1.

35% of Michigan adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Healthcare Access

Michigan has 292 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 6.2% uninsured rate, and 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Michigan is 76.9 years.

Pros and Cons of Living in Bay City

+Pros

  • Rent ($811/mo) is below the national average
  • Home prices ($156,200) are well below the US median
  • High school graduation rate of 92%
  • Low uninsured rate (6.2%) and good healthcare access

-Cons

  • Median household income ($58,675) trails the national median
  • Unemployment rate (5.0%) is above the national average
  • Longer-than-average commute (42360 min)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bay City a good place to live?

Bay City, Michigan has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($811/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($156,200) are well below the us median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.

What is the cost of living in Bay City?

The median rent in Bay City is $811/month and the median home value is $156,200. The median household income is $58,675. Overall the metro is considered affordable.

Is Bay City safe?

Bay City has a violent crime rate of 457 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

What is the job market like in Bay City?

Bay City has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $58,675.

Explore More About Bay City