Big Bay, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Big Bay, Michigan had a total population of 306, the 619th largest community in Michigan, with a median household income of $51,953, which is 29% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 21.3%.
Big Bay Quick Facts
How Big Bay Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 189 | 306 | No clear change (+61.9%) |
| Median household income | $75,381 | $51,953 | -31.1% |
| Median home value¹ | $204,174 | $273,100 | No clear change (+33.8%) |
How Big Bay Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 93.8%
- Black: 0.0%
- Hispanic: 0.0%
- Asian: 0.0%
- Other: 0.0%
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 45 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 3.4%
- HS Diploma: 33.5%
- Some College: 23.7%
- Associate's: 5.9%
- Bachelor's: 24.6%
- Graduate+: 8.9%
Big Bay Rankings in Michigan
Explore Michigan Rankings
Other Cities in Marquette County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette | 21,325 | $55,613 | 22.4% | $274,700 |
| Ishpeming | 6,181 | $52,754 | 18.7% | $111,900 |
| Negaunee | 4,656 | $70,568 | 12.4% | $170,100 |
| Harvey | 2,880 | $78,674 | 8.6% | $262,800 |
| West Ishpeming | 2,851 | $95,129 | 5.0% | $193,900 |
| K. I. Sawyer | 2,817 | $60,833 | 13.9% | $87,300 |
| Trowbridge Park | 2,396 | $50,125 | 11.7% | $239,600 |
| Gwinn | 1,435 | $46,414 | 12.4% | $117,000 |
| Republic | 519 | $37,083 | 18.3% | $74,400 |
| Palmer | 309 | $65,833 | 5.2% | $83,900 |
Cities Similar to Big Bay
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery | 301 | $51,250 | $95,000 | 9.0% | 38.5% |
| Luther | 303 | $54,167 | $102,300 | 21.3% | 32.3% |
| Brethren | 318 | $52,083 | $152,200 | 13.5% | 18.2% |
| Ramsay | 312 | $54,643 | $67,700 | 6.6% | 19.9% |
| Gagetown | 311 | $55,000 | $77,100 | 9.8% | 19.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 306, Big Bay's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Big Bay is a small community located in Michigan, within Marquette County. The total population is 306. It ranks as the 619th most populous out of 745 Census-designated places in Michigan.
Age Demographics
The median age in Big Bay is 59.5 years. This is 48% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 13.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 12.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Big Bay is $51,953. This is 29% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 36% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.3%. This is 61% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Big Bay, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $273,100. Housing costs are 18% higher than the state median of $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x. 94.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% higher than the state average of 73.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Big Bay has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.8% of all residents.
Education
33.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 3% higher than the state rate of 32.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Big Bay, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Big Bay, Michigan?
Big Bay, Michigan has a population of 306 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Big Bay, MI?
The median household income in Big Bay is $51,953, which is 36% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Big Bay, MI?
The poverty rate in Big Bay is 21.3%. This means approximately 63 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Big Bay, Michigan?
Big Bay's population is 93.8% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Big Bay, MI?
The median home value in Big Bay is $273,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x.
How educated is Big Bay, Michigan?
33.5% of adults (25+) in Big Bay hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 8.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.