Town guide

Bay City, Michigan

Bay City is a city in Bay County, Michigan, home to about 32,320 people across 10 square miles. Its ZIP codes are 48706 and 48708.

Homes sold for a median of $117 per square foot across 2 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and all of them were seller’s markets.

Population32,3203,178 per sq mi
Median home value$97,600Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$117Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Sold over asking34%Median of 2 ZIP codes

ZIP codes in Bay City

2 ZIP codes

Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Bay City. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology

The Bay City guide is on the way

We’re writing up Bay City’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.

  • History
  • What it’s like to live there
  • Getting around
  • Things to do

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Around Bay City

Distances

Nearest major airportGerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)95 miles away
Closer regional airportMBS International Airport (MBS)10 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+Detroit, MI93 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+Chicago, IL227 miles away

Straight-line distances from the center of Bay City; driving is longer.

Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Who represents Bay City

Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.

Population over time

Bay City had 32,661 residents in the 2020 census, down 11% since 2000.

It’s the 55th largest of 1,531 towns in Michigan by population.

Bay County grew from 62,378 residents in 1900 to 103,856 in 2020.

Bay City population by census2000: 36,817, 2010: 34,932, 2020: 32,66136,817200034,932201032,6612020

Bay County, 1900–2020

Bay County population, 1900 to 20201900: 62,378, 1910: 68,238, 1920: 69,548, 1930: 69,474, 1940: 74,981, 1950: 88,461, 1960: 107,042, 1970: 117,339, 1980: 119,881, 1990: 111,723, 2000: 110,157, 2010: 107,771, 2020: 103,85662K’00’1070K’20’3075K’40’50107K’60’70120K’80’90110K’00’10104K’20

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).

Weather by month

Average highs peak around 82°F in summer, and winter lows average 16°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.

Average high and low temperature and precipitation by month near Bay CityJan: high 30°F, low 16°F, 1.7 in; Feb: high 32°F, low 17°F, 1.7 in; Mar: high 42°F, low 24°F, 1.9 in; Apr: high 55°F, low 35°F, 3.6 in; May: high 68°F, low 48°F, 3.4 in; Jun: high 78°F, low 58°F, 3.6 in; Jul: high 82°F, low 62°F, 2.9 in; Aug: high 80°F, low 60°F, 3.8 in; Sep: high 74°F, low 52°F, 3.2 in; Oct: high 60°F, low 41°F, 3 in; Nov: high 47°F, low 31°F, 2.4 in; Dec: high 35°F, low 23°F, 2.1 in30°16°Jan1.732°17°Feb1.742°24°Mar1.955°35°Apr3.668°48°May3.478°58°Jun3.682°62°Jul2.980°60°Aug3.874°52°Sep3.260°41°Oct3.047°31°Nov2.435°23°Dec2.1Rain and melted snow, inches

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Essexville, MI weather station (4 miles away).

Jobs in Bay County

29,377 jobs at 2,044 businesses in Bay County. The biggest industries by employees:

Largest industries in Bay CountyHealth care and social assistance: 6,928 jobs; Retail trade: 5,060 jobs; Manufacturing: 3,999 jobs; Hotels and restaurants: 3,543 jobs; Other services: 1,424 jobs; Wholesale trade: 1,373 jobs; Construction: 1,307 jobs; Administrative and support: 1,174 jobsHealth care and social assistance 24% Retail trade 17% Manufacturing 14% Hotels and restaurants 12% Other services 5% Wholesale trade 5% Construction 4% Administrative and support 4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).

Health care

869 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Bay City’s ZIP codes.

Nearest hospitals

  • Mclaren Bay RegionGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 1 of 5 · Bay City1.9 miles
  • Covenant Medical CenterGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 2 of 5 · Saginaw11.6 miles
  • Mymichigan Medical Center SaginawGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Saginaw11.7 miles

Providers with an office here

Primary care doctors75
Specialist doctors121
Dentists63
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants136
Mental health providers284
Physical and occupational therapists155
Optometrists12
Chiropractors23
Pharmacies26

Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.

Places in and around Bay City

Parks (21 nearby)

  • Veterans Memorial Park · 50 acres0.7 mi
  • Ed Golson Outdoor Educational Park · 35 acres2.0 mi
  • Defoe Park · 25 acres1.5 mi
  • Michigan Sugar Trails · 24 acres1.3 mi
  • Bigelow Park · 10 acres0.8 mi
  • Discovery Nature Preserve · 9 acres0.6 mi

Grocery stores (5 nearby)

  • Jack's Fruit & Meat Market0.9 mi
  • Save-A-Lot1.4 mi
  • Kroger1.5 mi
  • ALDI1.9 mi

Pharmacies (2 nearby)

  • Walgreens0.5 mi
  • CVS Pharmacy0.7 mi

Libraries (2 nearby)

  • Sage Branch Library0.6 mi
  • Alice and Jack Wirt Public Library1.2 mi

Museums (2 nearby)

  • Bay County Historical Society1.0 mi
  • Antique Toy and Firehouse Museum Pump Station No. 31.0 mi

Theaters and performance venues (2 nearby)

  • World Friendship Shell1.0 mi
  • Van Buren Street Theatre1.4 mi

Counts are within about 2.5 miles of the center of town.

Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.

Colleges, teams and notable people

Established in 1837.

Notable people born here

  • Madonna (1958) · American singer, songwriter, and actress (born 1958)
  • Betsy Brandt (1973) · American actress (born 1973)
  • Scott Steiner (1962) · American professional wrestler
  • John List (1925) · American mass murderer (1925–2008)
  • Rick Steiner (1961) · American professional wrestler and real estate broker
  • Matt Meyer (1971) · American politician
  • John Welchli (1929) · American rower (1929–2018)
  • John Garrels (1885) · American hurdler, shot putter and discus thrower (1885-1956)

Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.

Schools in Bay City

Public schools here are run by Bangor Township Schools, Bay City Academy, Bay City School District and others. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.

Public schools (19)
SchoolGradesStudentsTypeDistance
Bangor Central SchoolBay CityPre-K–5332Public3.4 mi
Bangor Lincoln SchoolBay CityPre-K–5344Public4.6 mi
Bay City Academy Farragut CampusBay CityPre-K–12373Charter1.4 mi
Hampton Elementary SchoolBay CityPre-K–5399Public2.7 mi
ISDLocal ProgramsBay CityPre-K–1292Special Education2.2 mi
Kolb Elementary SchoolBay CityPre-K–5451Public0.1 mi
MacGregor Elementary SchoolBay CityPre-K–5290Public1.8 mi
Mackensen Elementary SchoolBay CityPre-K–5265Public1.6 mi
McAlearSawden Elem SchoolBay CityPre-K–5378Public2.6 mi
State Street AcademyBay CityPre-K–11286Charter1.9 mi
Washington Elementary SchoolBay CityPre-K–5362Public1.9 mi
Bangor Township Virtual SchoolBay CityK–12182Alternative Education2.0 mi
Bangor West Central SchoolBay CityK–5361Public2.3 mi
Christa McAuliffe Middle SchoolBay City6–8608Public1.9 mi
Handy Middle SchoolBay City6–8598Public1.0 mi
Bay City Adult EducationCTPBay City9–1265Alternative Education2.4 mi
Bay City Central High SchoolBay City9–12921Public1.8 mi
Bay City Eastern High SchoolBay City9–12137Alternative Education2.3 mi
John Glenn High SchoolBay City9–12864Public1.9 mi
Private schools (10)
SchoolGradesStudentsAffiliationDistance
All Saints ElementaryBay CityPre-K–593Roman Catholic1.2 mi
Bethel Lutheran SchoolBay CityPre-K–876Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod3.6 mi
Faith Lutheran SchoolBay CityPre-K–8149Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod2.5 mi
Immanuel Lutheran SchoolBay CityPre-K–887Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod1.6 mi
St Johns Lutheran SchoolBay CityPre-K–863Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod0.5 mi
St Paul Lutheran SchoolBay CityPre-K–888Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod2.6 mi
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran SchoolBay CityPre-K–882Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod2.2 mi
Trinity Lutheran School, MonitorBay CityPre-K–8100Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod7.0 mi
Zion Lutheran SchoolBay CityPre-K–8103Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod0.7 mi
All Saints Catholic Middle & High SchoolBay City6–12140Roman Catholic1.3 mi

Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.

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Towns near Bay City

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Shares ZIP codes with Bangor, Monitor, Portsmouth, Frankenlust, Hampton and Zilwaukee Township.

Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.