Small-town market profile · Texas
Bay City, TX area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Bay City area, each scored against other small-town markets.
- Population, 2025
- 36,463
- +0.5% since 2020
- Households
- 15,439
- Median household income
- $58,628
- +19.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $172,900
- Jobs located here
- 10,447
- Highest market score
- 79
- Pet businesses, #15 of 527 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Bay City area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Bay City area. 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
An estimated 36,463 people live in the Bay City area, in 15,439 households. Population estimates show the Bay City area grew 0.5% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Bay City area is $58,628 a year, 27% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 19.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Bay City area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 122, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (62).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Bay City area are for pet businesses (79), landscaping and lawn care companies (78) and insurance agencies (77). The Bay City area ranks #15 of 527 scored small-town markets for pet businesses.
The Bay City area is made up of one county, Matagorda County. For its number of households, the Bay City area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (45% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Bay City area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Bay City area with other small-town markets 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 small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet businesses | 79 | #15 of 527 | 10 | 6.5 | $1.2M | 139 | 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 78 | #27 of 399 | 5 | 3.2 | $4.1M | 141 | 8 |
| Insurance agencies | 77 | #64 of 537 | 16 | 10.4 | $2.3M | 183 | 9 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 76 | #38 of 481 | 10 | 6.5 | $2.1M | 123 | 8 |
| Child care and preschools | 68 | #89 of 454 | 6 | 3.9 | $1M | 100 | 5 |
| Home repair trades | 65 | #100 of 526 | 17 | 11.0 | $2.3M | 96 | 12 |
| Gyms | 64 | #98 of 506 | 6 | 3.9 | $1.6M | 120 | 3 |
| Pizza | 64 | #123 of 520 | 11 | 7.1 | $4.7M | 93 | 20 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 63 | #122 of 529 | 11 | 7.1 | $4.7M | 127 | 5 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 61 | #136 of 535 | 13 | 8.4 | $719K | 109 | 3 |
| Grocery stores | 58 | #177 of 506 | 11 | 7.1 | $7.9M | 85 | 4 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 58 | #207 of 537 | 21 | 13.6 | $2.5M | 81 | 20 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 56 | #221 of 536 | 19 | 12.3 | $1.4M | 109 | 6 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 55 | #183 of 476 | 11 | 7.1 | $3.6M | 76 | 8 |
| Auto repair shops | 55 | #222 of 538 | 30 | 19.4 | $441K | 99 | 12 |
| Auto repair and car care | 53 | #240 of 538 | 56 | 36.3 | $237K | 88 | 15 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 52 | #237 of 533 | 31 | 20.1 | Index only | 127 | 5 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 48 | #223 of 400 | 5 | 3.2 | $3.1M | 99 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 48 | #268 of 504 | 10 | 6.5 | $1.2M | 142 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 47 | #289 of 507 | 15 | 9.7 | $3.5M | 83 | 5 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 46 | #307 of 538 | 72 | 46.6 | $215K | 141 | 50 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 45 | #316 of 536 | 30 | 19.4 | $881K | 100 | 11 |
| Real estate | 43 | #353 of 536 | 41 | 26.6 | Index only | 121 | 15 |
| Funeral homes | 39 | #251 of 365 | 6 | 3.9 | $314K | 46 | 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 39 | #387 of 538 | 201 | 130.2 | $258K | 70 | 57 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 39 | #390 of 538 | 37 | 24.0 | $2.3M | 69 | 13 |
| Property management | 38 | #136 of 180 | 8 | 5.2 | Index only | 48 | 4 |
| Chiropractors | 38 | #303 of 426 | 8 | 5.2 | $1.9M | 81 | 5 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 37 | #333 of 458 | 9 | 5.8 | $1.7M | 97 | 27 |
| Convenience stores | 37 | #394 of 529 | 17 | 11.0 | $5.1M | 65 | 9 |
| Hair salons | 37 | #416 of 538 | 32 | 20.7 | $388K | 90 | 8 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 37 | #420 of 538 | 65 | 42.1 | $191K | 90 | 9 |
| Car washes and detailing | 35 | #339 of 441 | 7 | 4.5 | $1.9M | 75 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 29 | #327 of 378 | 7 | 4.5 | $1.3M | 66 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 29 | #468 of 536 | 36 | 23.3 | $1.2M | 50 | 24 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 27 | #489 of 538 | 120 | 77.7 | $432K | 65 | 31 |
| Barbershops | 26 | #324 of 377 | 11 | 7.1 | $1.1M | 60 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 26 | #478 of 526 | 17 | 11.0 | $912K | 93 | 14 |
| Nail salons | 25 | #345 of 387 | 12 | 7.8 | $1M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | 21 | #140 of 150 | 7 | 4.5 | $3.8M | 30 | 5 |
| Tire shops | 20 | #399 of 431 | 12 | 7.8 | $1.1M | 44 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.6 | $9.9M | 83 | 4 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.6 | $3M | 112 | 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.9 | $4.4M | 143 | 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.9 | $6.9M | 68 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.9 | $4.1M | 159 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | $10.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | Index only | Too few | 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | $6.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | $7.7M | Too few | 4 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | $19.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $26.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $15.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
Household spending in the Bay City area
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 | $13.2M | $858 | 90 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $43M | $2,786 | 107 |
| Food away from home | $51.9M | $3,359 | 83 |
| Groceries | $86.8M | $5,620 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $12.4M | $804 | 80 |
| Child care and other personal services | $6M | $389 | 67 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $9.3M | $606 | 62 |
| Medical and dental services | $15.5M | $1,004 | 78 |
| Pets | $12.2M | $789 | 87 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $26.4M | $1,711 | 83 |
| Vehicle insurance | $36.7M | $2,378 | 122 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $39.8M | $2,576 | 85 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $20.7M | $1,342 | 95 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $214.4M | $13,890 | 83 |
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 the Bay City area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 36,463+0.5% since 2020
- Households
- 15,439
- Median age
- 37.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 68%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 1,093 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 33
- Median household income
- $58,628+19.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $78,037
- Median home value
- $172,900
- Jobs located here
- 10,447
- Daytime population
- 29,261Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Bay City area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. 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 the Bay City area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Bay City area 1
- Matagorda County, TX36,329 people
Other markets based in Texas 12
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- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area7,442,788 people
- San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro area2,662,733 people
- Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area2,426,592 people
- McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metro area891,977 people
- El Paso, TX metro area874,182 people
- Killeen-Temple, TX metro area494,360 people
- Corpus Christi, TX metro area448,012 people
- Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area426,120 people
- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX metro area396,827 people
- Lubbock, TX metro area358,708 people
- Waco, TX metro area302,045 people
Questions
How fast is the Bay City, TX area growing?
Population estimates put the Bay City area at 36,463 people in 2025, up 0.5% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 15,439 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 19.9%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Bay City, TX area spend?
Households in the Bay City area spend about $214.4M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $86.8M on groceries and $51.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Bay City area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 122, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (62).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Bay City, TX area?
Of the business types scored in the Bay City area, pet businesses (79), landscaping and lawn care companies (78) and insurance agencies (77) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For pet businesses, that ranks #15 of 527 scored small-town markets.
How does the Bay City, TX area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Bay City area is $58,628, 27% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 0.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $172,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (45% 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. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. 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. 41 of the 56 business types have a score in the Bay City area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Bay City area. 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.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in the Bay City area?
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 the Bay City area. 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.