Bay County, Michigan Income Statistics
Bay County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Bay County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Bay County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $62,107 | $72,977 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,551 | $59,920 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.9% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.2% | 9.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Bay County is about 15% lower than in Michigan. Income has been growing slower in Bay County (3.9%/yr) than in Michigan (4.6%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Bay County 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 County, Michigan grew by 38.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $62,107 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Bay County has stayed well below the U.S. median household income in every year from 2009 to 2024 and has never reached it. The gap has widened from 12% in 2009, the closest it has been, to 23% in 2024.
Income Distribution in Bay County
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 12,405 households (27.5% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 27.1% of households in Bay County had an income under $35,000 and 11.3% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., Bay County has a larger share of households earning $35,000 to $49,999 (13.5% vs 10.1%) and a smaller share earning $200,000 or more (5.2% vs 13.2%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 2,543 | 5.6% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 2,128 | 4.7% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 3,493 | 7.7% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 4,060 | 9.0% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 6,065 | 13.5% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 8,178 | 18.1% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 6,220 | 13.8% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 7,306 | 16.2% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 2,762 | 6.1% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 2,337 | 5.2% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 45,092 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 6,037 residents (6.9% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 7.7% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 9.3% of Bay County residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 30.9% had some income but less than $25,000, and 14.8% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., Bay County has a larger share of residents earning $25,000 to $34,999 (13.2% vs 9.5%) and a smaller share earning $100,000 or more (6.9% vs 13.9%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 8,060 | 9.3% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 8,782 | 10.1% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 6,914 | 8.0% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 11,147 | 12.8% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 11,431 | 13.2% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 13,821 | 15.9% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 13,863 | 15.9% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 6,866 | 7.9% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 6,037 | 6.9% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 86,921 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 9.3% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Bay County
| Metric | Bay County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.496 | 0.539 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $65,305 | $69,354 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,299 | $54,749 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 27.6% | 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 County, it is 0.496, 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 38% more than women's income in Bay County, Michigan. Over a 35-year career, a 38% wage gap accumulates to roughly $630,210 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 County, Michigan has narrowed from about 29% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 24% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,679 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Bay County | Michigan Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.6% | 13.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 2,198 people are unemployed in Bay County, Michigan.
The average commute time in Bay County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Michigan.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Bay County, Michigan has fallen from 10.2% to 4.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.2% in 2013.
Bay County started 1.5 points above the U.S. unemployment rate in 2011 but had dropped below it by 2021, and has not been above it since. In 2024 its rate was 0.9 points lower.
Bay County, MI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Bay County, MI is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 103,008 residents against a local median of 52,980. The measure that sets Bay County, MI apart most is unemployment: 4.3%, 28% below the local median of 6.0%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.4% on unemployment, so Bay County, MI sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Bay County, MI has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| 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 County, MI | 103,008 | $62,107 #3/6 | 3.9%/yr #6/6 | 4.3% #1/6 | 0.496 #2/6 |
| Arenac County, MI | 15,076 | $58,562 | 5.2%/yr | 6.0% | 0.491 |
| Saginaw County, MI | 188,665 | $60,674 | 4.2%/yr | 6.4% | 0.541 |
| Midland County, MI | 83,757 | $78,496 | 4.4%/yr | 4.4% | 0.533 |
| Gladwin County, MI | 25,693 | $56,129 | 4.5%/yr | 6.8% | 0.523 |
| Tuscola County, MI | 52,980 | $63,906 | 4.7%/yr | 6.0% | 0.504 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Bay County, Michigan has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Michigan, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Bay County, Michigan.
How Rich Is Bay County, Michigan?
Bay County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $62,107, about 15% lower than the Michigan average of $72,977.
How fast is household income rising in Bay County, Michigan?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Bay County, Michigan rose 38%, from $44,966 to $62,107. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Michigan as a whole: +38% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Bay County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Bay County, Michigan was $60,620, up 4% from $58,041 in 2022. The Michigan median that year was $71,362.
What was the median household income in Bay County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Bay County, Michigan was $48,434. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $62,107.
Is unemployment high in Bay County, Michigan?
Unemployment in Bay County, Michigan is only 4.3%, well below the Michigan rate of 5.7%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Bay County, Michigan?
The Gini coefficient in Bay County is 0.496. 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 County, Michigan?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bay County, Michigan has narrowed from about 29% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 24% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,679 since 2009.
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