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, TX Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

17,730

Median Agei

31.6

Race & Ethnicityi

Hispanic/Latino

56.9%10,096

White

26.1%4,622

Black

13.7%2,428

Two or More

1.8%322

Asian

1.3%237

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%16

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%9

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

8.3%889

High School Diploma

25.9%2,766

Some College (<1 yr)

7.5%804

Some College (1+ yr)

9.2%980

Associate's Degree

9.3%994

Bachelor's Degree

13%1,389

Master's Degree

6.1%649

Professional Degree

0.8%84

Doctorate

0.3%37

HS or Higher

80.5%

BA or Higher

20.2%

Graduate+

7.2%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$160,800

Median Renti

$1,025

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

45.8%3,362

Renter-Occupied

54.2%3,980

Total Units

8,200

Homeownership

45.8%

Vacancy Rate

10.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

6.4%215

$50K–$100K

16.8%566

$100K–$150K

20.2%679

$150K–$200K

20.3%681

$200K–$300K

23.9%805

$300K–$500K

10.8%364

$500K–$1M

0.7%22

$1M+

0.9%30

Rent Distribution

Under $500

352

$500–$750

157

$750–$1,000

1,295

$1,000–$1,250

1,013

$1,250–$1,500

497

$1,500–$2,000

300

$2,000+

194

Year Built

2020 or later

0.9%71

2010–2019

10.8%884

2000–2009

9.8%804

1990–1999

6.7%546

1980–1989

19.9%1,631

1970–1979

22.3%1,830

1960–1969

12%986

1950–1959

11.7%961

1940–1949

3.4%281

1939 or earlier

2.5%206

Heating Fuel

Electricity

63.3%4,649

Utility Gas

33.9%2,491

Bottled/LP Gas

2.6%191

No Fuel

0.1%11

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$53,840

Mean Household Incomei

$71,042

Per Capita Incomei

$28,635

Poverty Ratei

25.5%

Unemploymenti

13.3%

Labor Forcei

8,786

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

9.7%709

$10K–$15K

7.4%543

$15K–$20K

3.1%227

$20K–$25K

3%218

$25K–$30K

3.7%271

$30K–$35K

5.2%384

$35K–$40K

5.5%401

$40K–$45K

4%293

$45K–$50K

4.1%303

$50K–$60K

10.5%772

$60K–$75K

10.6%780

$75K–$100K

9.7%713

$100K–$125K

6.2%458

$125K–$150K

7%513

$150K–$200K

4.9%358

$200K+

5.4%399

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

563

Residentsi

1,028

Avg. Tenant Renti

$344/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

39 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing85 homes94% occupied$332/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers259 homes67% occupied$395/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8219 homes94% occupied$288/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $53,840/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $16K/yr

83%

Very low income$16K–$27K/yr

14.3%

Low income$27K–$43K/yr

2.5%

Moderate / aboveOver $43K/yr

0.2%

Who Receives This Housing

83.8% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

84.1% of subsidized households are minority

13.5% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

31% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

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

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

2,93916.6%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

1,930

India

216

Guatemala

United Kingdom

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

7,494

Avg. Commutei

20.6 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

764(6.1% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

77.3%Insured

22.7%Uninsured