City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

Bay City, TX

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Bay City - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

17,816
Residents
$51,898
Median income
$149,800
Median home
$1,173
Median rent (state)

Bay City - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Bay City places in the 23rd percentile for household income and the 11th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

23rd
percentile, household income
27th
percentile, home value
34th
percentile, median rent
11th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Bay City, TX

Bay City is a small town in Texas, home to 17,816 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Bay City households earn a median of $51,898 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 22.2%. Home values in Bay City run a median of $149,800, and the median resident age is 32.8 years. Educational attainment runs 20.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 55.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 43 residential building permits were authorized in Bay City (Building Boom), up 153% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Bay City's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 3424.3 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Texas tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Texas scores 97.1 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,173 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Texas run around $223, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 80.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

17,816 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$51,898 /yr

Poverty 22.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does Bay City compare to other US cities?

Bay City measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 23% higher than other cities
Home value 27% pricier than other cities
Median rent 34% pricier than other cities
Safety 11% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Texas alone, Bay City ranks #580 of 624 Texas cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Bay City against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Texas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Texas-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Bay City toward the top of Texas's cities

Among the 1,663 Texas cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Bay City ranks #267 - the 84th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Bay City only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,079 of 1,520
29th percentile in Texas
Median Gross Rent
#780 of 1,663
52nd percentile in Texas
Median Home Value
#811 of 1,505
46th percentile in Texas
Poverty Rate
#267 of 1,663
84th percentile in Texas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#665 of 1,663
60th percentile in Texas

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Texas only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

23rdIncome percentile
11thSafety percentile

23rd percentile nationally for median household income · 11th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Bay City's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Bay City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 35 Avg. percentile National median
Bay City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Bay City's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$149,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 73% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Bay City $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Bay City, TX Bay City, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bay City, TX-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Bay City, TX median $51,898/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Bay City, TX's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Bay City, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 22.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
17,816
Median Income
$51,898
Median Home Value
$149,800
Median Age
32.8
Poverty Rate
22.2%
Labor force participation
55.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3424.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
580.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2844.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
17,200 residents17,400 residents17,600 residents17,800 residents18,000 residents18,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 18,054 residents 17,488 residents ▼ -3.1%
Bay City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
43
housing units authorized
Single-Family
43
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 17
2020 23
2021 52
2022 68
2023 15
2024 43

Permit volume increased 153% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.9%
Carpool
14.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.7%
Work from Home
2.4%

Based on 7,049 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Texas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$45
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$223
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Texas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Texas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Bay City sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,173/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
80.3 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

Alice
17,797 people
Gainesville
17,688 people
Brenham
18,086 people
White Settlement
18,119 people
Melissa
17,497 people
Royse City
17,357 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bay City's 17,816 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Guayama zona urbana, PR
17,815 people
Tiffin, OH
17,814 people
Hope Mills, NC
17,823 people
Blythe, CA
17,824 people
Southbridge, MA
17,806 people
Villa Rica, GA
17,798 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bay City's $51,898 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Hawesville, KY
$51,898 median income
Victor, MT
$51,898 median income
Piedmont, SC
$51,896 median income
Struthers, OH
$51,894 median income
Duncannon, PA
$51,902 median income
Oroville, CA
$51,893 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bay City, TX Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Bay City, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 43.2% 16.0% 22.9% 15.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 53.0% White 43.2% Black or African American 16.0% Asian 2.2% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 22.9% Two or more races 15.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Bay City compares to nearby Texas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Bay City (this city) 17,816 $51,898
Alice 17,797 $46,963
Gainesville 17,688 $56,341
Brenham 18,086 $57,207
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bay City, TX?

What is the population of Bay City, TX? +

17,816 people live in Bay City, TX according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Bay City, TX? +

Bay City households earn a median of $51,898 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Bay City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Bay City; the closest available measure is the Texas state average, a cost of living index of 97.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Texas vary by metro area.

Is Bay City, TX safe? +

Bay City has a total crime rate of 3424.3 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Bay City, TX? +

Homes in Bay City carry a median value of $149,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.