County profile · Michigan
Bay County, MI market data
How Bay County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 102,123
- −1.6% since 2020
- Households
- 45,103
- Median household income
- $61,763
- +26.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $152,200
- Jobs located here
- 31,089
- Highest market score
- 63
- Coffee shops and cafes, #497 of 2,063 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Bay County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Bay County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Bay County has an estimated 102,123 people and 45,103 households. Population estimates put the population change in Bay County from 2020 to 2025 at −1.6%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Bay County is $61,763, 23% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 26.5%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Bay County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 104, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (58).
Of the business types scored in Bay County, coffee shops and cafes (63), veterinarians (62) and HVAC and plumbing companies (60) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For coffee shops and cafes, that ranks #497 of 2,063 scored counties.
Bay County is part of the Bay City metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for electricians (60% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (61% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Bay County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Bay County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee shops and cafes | 63 | #497 of 2,063 | 29 | 6.4 | $5.4M | 146 | 10 |
| Veterinarians | 62 | #448 of 1,485 | 9 | 2.0 | $3.7M | 137 | 8 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 60 | #483 of 1,707 | 18 | 4.0 | $6.2M | 129 | 20 |
| Spas and skin care | 60 | #516 of 1,769 | 27 | 6.0 | $1.5M | 170 | 6 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 59 | #401 of 1,334 | 15 | 3.3 | $2.2M | 109 | 4 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 57 | #770 of 2,087 | 44 | 9.8 | $1.8M | 144 | 13 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 57 | #840 of 2,405 | 149 | 33.0 | $1M | 158 | 71 |
| Car washes and detailing | 56 | #559 of 1,451 | 15 | 3.3 | $3M | 119 | 7 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 55 | #777 of 2,176 | 54 | 12.0 | Index only | 198 | 11 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 54 | #303 of 777 | 7 | 1.6 | $4.7M | 116 | 6 |
| Nail salons | 54 | #548 of 1,328 | 15 | 3.3 | $2.7M | 161 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 54 | #856 of 2,090 | 29 | 6.4 | $5.4M | 106 | 71 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 54 | #939 of 2,210 | 61 | 13.5 | $1.3M | 150 | 18 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 54 | #997 of 2,405 | 350 | 77.6 | $447K | 120 | 153 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 53 | #371 of 887 | 9 | 2.0 | Index only | 166 | 4 |
| Tire shops | 53 | #696 of 1,530 | 17 | 3.8 | $2.6M | 106 | 7 |
| Gyms | 53 | #806 of 1,792 | 29 | 6.4 | $1.1M | 87 | 6 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 52 | #629 of 1,302 | 13 | 2.9 | $4.5M | 143 | 11 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 52 | #850 of 1,886 | 42 | 9.3 | $1.4M | 141 | 32 |
| Pet businesses | 52 | #987 of 2,200 | 40 | 8.9 | $839K | 95 | 19 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 51 | #638 of 1,327 | 14 | 3.1 | $3.2M | 104 | 10 |
| Barbershops | 51 | #667 of 1,356 | 15 | 3.3 | $2.7M | 142 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 51 | #1,003 of 2,088 | 51 | 11.3 | $646K | 98 | 10 |
| Real estate | 51 | #1,028 of 2,229 | 72 | 16.0 | Index only | 187 | 22 |
| Roofing and gutters | 50 | #592 of 1,177 | 11 | 2.4 | $10.1M | 119 | 7 |
| Home repair trades | 49 | #1,067 of 2,057 | 47 | 10.4 | $2.4M | 97 | 40 |
| Funeral homes | 47 | #775 of 1,472 | 12 | 2.7 | $570K | 84 | 9 |
| Chiropractors | 47 | #825 of 1,490 | 23 | 5.1 | $2.5M | 106 | 15 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 47 | #1,259 of 2,222 | 55 | 12.2 | $2.8M | 93 | 71 |
| Pet stores | 46 | #550 of 974 | 8 | 1.8 | $4.2M | 93 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 46 | #961 of 1,656 | 25 | 5.5 | $2.3M | 130 | 94 |
| Gas stations | 46 | #1,355 of 2,358 | 60 | 13.3 | $1.9M | 81 | 34 |
| Auto repair shops | 46 | #1,384 of 2,378 | 100 | 22.2 | $450K | 101 | 45 |
| Child care and preschools | 45 | #953 of 1,611 | 17 | 3.8 | $887K | 89 | 18 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 45 | #1,120 of 1,889 | 41 | 9.1 | $3.8M | 92 | 13 |
| Auto repair and car care | 45 | #1,412 of 2,401 | 167 | 37.0 | $270K | 100 | 65 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 44 | #1,515 of 2,385 | 165 | 36.6 | $244K | 115 | 31 |
| Grocery stores | 43 | #1,248 of 2,070 | 29 | 6.4 | $8.8M | 95 | 19 |
| Physical therapy | 42 | #932 of 1,422 | 35 | 7.8 | $1.7M | 69 | 12 |
| House cleaning | 40 | #591 of 847 | 8 | 1.8 | $6.3M | 99 | 21 |
| Convenience stores | 40 | #1,472 of 2,261 | 42 | 9.3 | $6.1M | 77 | 16 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 38 | #1,315 of 1,771 | 32 | 7.1 | $1.6M | 94 | 57 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 37 | #1,040 of 1,461 | 21 | 4.7 | $1.6M | 63 | 8 |
| Hair salons | 37 | #1,787 of 2,339 | 106 | 23.5 | $380K | 88 | 21 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 37 | #1,799 of 2,394 | 303 | 67.2 | $192K | 126 | 164 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 36 | #1,114 of 1,493 | 23 | 5.1 | $2.2M | 75 | 36 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 35 | #1,781 of 2,402 | 100 | 22.2 | $2.6M | 75 | 35 |
| Electricians | 34 | #930 of 1,160 | 18 | 4.0 | $6.2M | 51 | 13 |
| Insurance agencies | 31 | #1,775 of 2,272 | 63 | 14.0 | $1.1M | 89 | 36 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 26 | #425 of 479 | 6 | 1.3 | $7.5M | 55 | 5 |
| Home inspectors | 8 | #413 of 415 | 5 | 1.1 | Index only | 44 | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.9 | $20.1M | 128 | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.9 | Index only | 263 | 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.7 | $26.8M | 214 | 5 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.2 | $50.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Bay County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $45M | $998 | 104 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $116.2M | $2,576 | 99 |
| Food away from home | $156.3M | $3,466 | 85 |
| Groceries | $255.1M | $5,656 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $40.3M | $893 | 89 |
| Child care and other personal services | $15.1M | $334 | 58 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $32.9M | $730 | 74 |
| Medical and dental services | $58.1M | $1,288 | 100 |
| Pets | $33.5M | $744 | 82 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $80.3M | $1,781 | 87 |
| Vehicle insurance | $70.7M | $1,567 | 80 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $110.9M | $2,458 | 81 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $50.5M | $1,120 | 79 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $584M | $12,949 | 78 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Bay County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 102,123−1.6% since 2020
- Households
- 45,103
- Median age
- 45.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 77%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 442 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 233
- Median household income
- $61,763+26.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $79,153
- Median home value
- $152,200
- Jobs located here
- 31,089
- Daytime population
- 93,442Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Bay County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Bay County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Michigan 8
- Saginaw County, MI188,665 people
- Midland County, MI83,757 people
- Tuscola County, MI52,980 people
- Arenac County, MI15,077 people
- Gladwin County, MI25,693 people
- Gratiot County, MI41,385 people
- Isabella County, MI64,565 people
- Genesee County, MI403,305 people
Questions
How fast is Bay County, MI growing?
Population estimates put Bay County at 102,123 people in 2025, down 1.6% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 45,103 households. Median household income rose 26.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Bay County, MI spend?
Households in Bay County spend about $584M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $255.1M on groceries and $156.3M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Bay County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 104, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (58).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Bay County, MI?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Bay County are for coffee shops and cafes (63), veterinarians (62) and HVAC and plumbing companies (60). Bay County ranks #497 of 2,063 scored counties for coffee shops and cafes.
How does Bay County, MI compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Bay County is $61,763 a year, 23% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $152,200, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Bay County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for electricians (60% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (61% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 51 of the 56 business types have a score in Bay County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Bay County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Michigan · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Bay County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Bay County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.