Bay City, Michigan Income Statistics
Bay City Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Bay City Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Bay City | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $49,255 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,502 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.7% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 4.4% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.5% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Bay City is about 33% lower than in Michigan. Income has been growing faster in Bay City (4.7%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Bay City earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Michigan average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Bay City, Michigan grew by 37.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $49,255 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Bay City
| Metric | Bay City | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.497 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,475 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $40,461 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 24.3% | 21.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Bay City, it is 0.497, lower than Michigan's 0.539, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 32% more than women's income in Bay City, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 32% wage gap accumulates to roughly $455,490 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bay City, Michigan has widened from about 22% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2018, and was narrowest at 15% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,125 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Bay City widened by 2.0 points while Michigan's narrowed by 7.0 points.
Employment
| Metric | Bay City | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.4% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 1,051 people are unemployed in Bay City, Michigan.
The average commute time in Bay City is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Bay City, Michigan has fallen from 12.4% to 6.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 14.3% in 2012 and fell as low as 6.2% in 2022.
Bay City, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Bay City, MI compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay City, MI | 32,332 | $49,255 #1/2 | 4.7%/yr #1/2 | 6.7% #1/2 | 0.497 #1/2 |
| Saginaw, MI | 43,642 | $38,361 | 3.6%/yr | 10.1% | 0.533 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Bay City, Michigan has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Michigan, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Bay City, Michigan.
How Rich Is Bay City, Michigan?
Bay City has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $49,255, about 33% lower than the Michigan average of $72,977.
How fast is household income rising in Bay City, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Bay City, Michigan rose 38%, from $35,799 to $49,255. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Michigan as a whole: +38% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Bay City in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Bay City, Michigan was $48,160, up 7% from $45,005 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Bay City in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Bay City, Michigan was $37,907. By 2024 it had risen 30% to $49,255.
What is the Gini coefficient in Bay City, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Bay City is 0.497. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Bay City, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bay City, Michigan has widened from about 22% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2018, and was narrowest at 15% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,125 since 2009.
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