Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Bay City, MI Population, Income & Demographics 2026

CSASaginaw-Midland-Bay City MSABay City#1/4 Population

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

32,320

Median Agei

40.7

Race & Ethnicityi

White

80.1%25,883

Hispanic/Latino

11.5%3,706

Two or More

5.3%1,710

Black

1.6%502

Asian

0.8%273

Other

0.4%139

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.2%60

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%47

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.7%1,088

High School Diploma

29.1%6,717

Some College (<1 yr)

9%2,077

Some College (1+ yr)

17.8%4,106

Associate's Degree

9.4%2,165

Bachelor's Degree

12.6%2,901

Master's Degree

4.7%1,083

Professional Degree

0.7%165

Doctorate

0.8%176

HS or Higher

88.9%

BA or Higher

18.8%

Graduate+

6.2%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$97,600

Median Renti

$766

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

70.1%10,285

Renter-Occupied

29.9%4,392

Total Units

16,078

Homeownership

70.1%

Vacancy Rate

8.7%

Home Values

Under $50K

10.2%1,052

$50K–$100K

42.7%4,387

$100K–$150K

26.2%2,690

$150K–$200K

10.4%1,070

$200K–$300K

5.1%526

$300K–$500K

4.1%424

$500K–$1M

1.3%136

Rent Distribution

Under $500

1,047

$500–$750

948

$750–$1,000

866

$1,000–$1,250

587

$1,250–$1,500

314

$1,500–$2,000

280

$2,000+

122

Year Built

2020 or later

0.3%45

2010–2019

1.8%293

2000–2009

2.3%372

1990–1999

2.8%451

1980–1989

3.9%623

1970–1979

8.5%1,367

1960–1969

6.5%1,050

1950–1959

17.1%2,751

1940–1949

7.6%1,215

1939 or earlier

49.2%7,911

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

86%12,625

Electricity

10.4%1,530

Bottled/LP Gas

1.5%222

Other

0.7%110

Wood

0.7%106

No Fuel

0.4%62

Fuel Oil

0.1%22

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$49,420

Mean Household Incomei

$63,008

Per Capita Incomei

$29,853

Poverty Ratei

18.9%

Unemploymenti

6.7%

Labor Forcei

15,738

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

7.2%1,063

$10K–$15K

6.5%954

$15K–$20K

6.6%964

$20K–$25K

4.8%698

$25K–$30K

5.4%787

$30K–$35K

4.8%699

$35K–$40K

6%881

$40K–$45K

4.4%647

$45K–$50K

5.2%757

$50K–$60K

8.9%1,299

$60K–$75K

10.4%1,532

$75K–$100K

12.1%1,781

$100K–$125K

7.5%1,108

$125K–$150K

4.4%652

$150K–$200K

3.3%490

$200K+

2.5%365

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

14,277

Avg. Commutei

21.3 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,727(6.7% of civilian adults)