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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