City · Texas
Bay City, Texas
Bay City, city, in Matagorda County, Texas. Bay City had 17,488 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 18,061 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 17,730 (±27). GEOID 4805984.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
17,488
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 18,061 · ACS 2020-2024: 17,730 ±27
Median household income
$53,840
±$7,435 (90% margin)
Texas: $78,476
Median home value
$160,800
±$10,534 (90% margin)
Texas: $283,800
Median gross rent
$1,025
±$68 (90% margin)
Texas: $1,403
Where is Bay City and what county is it in?
Bay City is a city in Matagorda County, Texas. It covers 9.3 square miles of land, 1,949 residents per square mile in 2020.
Bay City is in the Bay City, TX micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Bay City, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 17,488 people lived in Bay City on July 1, 2025, down 3.2% since 2020, while Texas grew 8.8%. The 2020 Census counted 18,061 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 17,730 (±27).
| Measure | Bay City | Matagorda County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 17,730 ±27 | 36,329 | no clear change |
| Households | 7,342 ±452 | 15,439 | +1,066 |
| Average household size | 2.37 ±0.15 | 2.33 | −0.40 |
| Housing units | 8,200 ±422 | 19,058 | no clear change |
Bay City's population since 2000
From 18,667 in 2000 to 17,488 in 2025: down 6.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Bay City as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Bay City?
The median resident of Bay City is 31.6 years old; 29.2% are under 18 and 11.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 56.9%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 26.1%. 16.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Bay City | Matagorda County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.6 ±1.4 | 37.8 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 29.2% ±2.7 pts | 25.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.1% ±1.5 pts | 18.2% | – |
| Male | 47.6% ±2.5 pts | 48.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 56.9% ±3.8 pts | 43.7% | +5.1 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 26.1% ±3.7 pts | 41.4% | −5.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 13.7% ±2.9 pts | 9.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±1.1 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.8% ±1.0 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 16.6% ±3.2 pts | 11.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 34.4% ±3.8 pts | 27.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.1% ±1.8 pts | 8.0% | – |
| With a disability | 11.6% ±2.0 pts | 17.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 22.7% ±4.2 pts | 17.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 80.5% ±3.6 pts | 81.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.2% ±3.7 pts | 22.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.2% ±2.3 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 83.5% ±4.2 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.2% ±1.6 pts | 1.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Bay City earn?
Half of Bay City's 7,342 households earn less than $53,840 a year (±$7,435), against $58,628 in Matagorda County and $78,476 in Texas. In 2015-2019 it was $61,759 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 26.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Bay City | Matagorda County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $53,840 ±$7,435 | $58,628 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $71,042 ±$6,477 | $78,037 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,635 ±$2,948 | $32,494 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 26.0% ±5.3 pts | 20.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 38.6% ±10.5 pts | 31.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 18.6% ±4.3 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.3% ±2.0 pts | 94.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.8% ±2.5 pts | 86.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Bay City?
Owners occupy 45.8% of Bay City's occupied homes and renters 54.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $160,800 by its owner (±$10,534). The median renter pays $1,025 a month including utilities, and 42.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Bay City | Matagorda County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $160,800 ±$10,534 | $172,900 | +$38,715 |
| Median gross rent | $1,025 ±$68 | $999 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.2% ±8.9 pts | 43.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,609 ±$309 | $1,672 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 45.8% ±4.9 pts | 68.1% | −11.9 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 54.2% ±4.9 pts | 31.9% | – |
| Housing units | 8,200 ±422 | 19,058 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.3% ±1.6 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 9.2% ±4.2 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 53.6% ±4.2 pts | 68.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 7.9% ±2.3 pts | 12.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.9% ±0.7 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 10.8% ±3.0 pts | 11.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.5% ±1.0 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.2% ±3.9 pts | 6.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Bay City building?
Builders took permits for 167 new housing units in Bay City in 2025 (123 in single-family houses), 9.5 per 1,000 residents against 6.6 across Texas.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Bay City work and get to work?
73.9% of Bay City's workers drive alone and 4.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 13.3%.
| Measure | Bay City | Matagorda County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.6% ±3.5 pts | 60.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 13.3% ±3.4 pts | 8.7% | +7.2 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 73.9% ±4.9 pts | 77.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 19.6% ±4.4 pts | 13.6% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Walked | 1.3% ±1.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.8% ±2.8 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.6 min ±2.2 | 24.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Bay City?
5 census tracts lie mostly in Bay City, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $36,723 (Tract 7301) to $74,974 (Tract 7302.04).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 7303.02Matagorda County | 4,878 | $47,524 |
| Tract 7302.04Matagorda County | 4,045 | $74,974 |
| Tract 7303.01Matagorda County | 3,690 | $68,354 |
| Tract 7301Matagorda County | 3,144 | $36,723 |
| Tract 7304Matagorda County | 2,834 | $50,359 |
| Tract 7302.03Matagorda County | 2,782 | $46,388 |
| Tract 7302.02Matagorda County | 1,157 | $68,721 |
| Tract 7303.03Matagorda County | 705 | $53,750 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Bay City) · Census block assignment files
How does Bay City compare with other places in Texas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Bay City is the 2,157th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 173rd-most populous of 1,224 in Texas.
Bay City ranks 691st of 933 places in Texas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 173rd | 1,224 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 696th | 784 |
| Residents per square mile | 206th | 979 |
| Median household income | 691st | 933 |
| Per capita income | 606th | 978 |
| Median home value | 620th | 950 |
| Median gross rent | 518th | 852 |
| Poverty rate | 117th | 716 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 476th | 877 |
| Median age | 812th | 973 |
| Owner-occupied share | 937th | 973 |
| Work from home | 519th | 557 |
| Travel time to work | 757th | 976 |
Bay City's figures with every place in Texas (CSV)
Every place in Texas, sortable · Compare Bay City with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Bay City?
9 of the 57 figures for Bay City on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bay City are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Bay City.