Bay County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Bay County is located in Michigan with a total population of 103,235. It is the 20th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bay County is 43.8 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bay County is $60,523. This is 15% lower than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.0%. This is 8% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 21% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $135,100. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $217,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Bay County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 72.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Bay County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.8%. The Black or African American population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 13.2%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

21.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% lower than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.8%.