State rank#20 of 83
Smallest county103,008 residentsWayne County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 26017
Bay County, Michigan
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population103,008
Household income$61,763
Unemployment5.6%
Life expectancy75.1 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Bay County has 103,008 residents and ranks #20 by population among Michigan county equivalents. Median household income is $61,763. The annual-average unemployment rate is 5.6%. Its clearest relative strength is poor or fair health. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Michigan
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Bay County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Bay County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is poor or fair health.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $152,200 median home value and $860/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $61,763, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Bay County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing poor or fair health, median home value, and uninsured. College attainment is 22.1% and life expectancy is 75.1 years.
Potential advantages
- Poor or fair health: 14.2%, rank #14 of 83 available Michigan counties.
- Median home value: $152,200, rank #16 of 83 available Michigan counties.
- Uninsured: 5.7%, rank #25 of 83 available Michigan counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Life expectancy: 75.1 years, rank #60 of 83; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median household income: $61,763, rank #51 of 83; investigate local variation before moving.
- Primary care access: 1 per 2,239 residents, rank #49 of 82; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Michigan
Rank and range use only counties in Michigan with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$61,763
$61,763; below the state county median of $63,724.
State rank #51 of 83 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$152,200
$152,200; below the state county median of $178,300.
State rank #16 of 83 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$860/mo
$860/mo; below the state county median of $884/mo.
State rank #36 of 83 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
5.6%
5.6%; above the state county median of 5.4%.
State rank #46 of 83 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
22.1%
22.1%; below the state county median of 22.5%.
State rank #43 of 83 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
75.1 years
75.1 years; below the state county median of 76.3 years.
State rank #60 of 83 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
14.2%
14.2%; below the state county median of 17.3%.
State rank #14 of 83 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
5.7%
5.7%; below the state county median of 6.4%.
State rank #25 of 83 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 2,239 residents
1 per 2,239 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 2,008 residents.
State rank #49 of 82 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 341 residents
1 per 341 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 481 residents.
State rank #26 of 83 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Bay County FAQ
Is Bay County a good place to live?
Bay County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing poor or fair health, median home value, and uninsured. College attainment is 22.1% and life expectancy is 75.1 years.
What should I know before moving to Bay County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $152,200 median home value and $860/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $61,763, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Bay County?
Bay County has 103,008 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Bay County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 26017; the parent state FIPS is 26.
What is the median household income in Bay County?
The ACS median household income is $61,763.
How much does housing cost in Bay County?
Housing benchmarks are $152,200 median home value and $860/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $61,763, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Bay County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 5.6%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
#18Allegan County121,456
#19Eaton County109,130
#21Lenawee County98,415
#22Grand Traverse County96,166
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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