At $968/mo, rent takes about 24% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $968 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Bay City changed +3.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 79 Michigan cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.1%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($49,420) is $1,236 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($930); a 3-bedroom is $1,250.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Bay City. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Bay City, MI is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 18.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Bay City, MI has changed in 5 years
Median household income grew from $41,959 to $49,420 between 2021 and 2024, a 17.8% shift. Headcount in the area went from 32,824 to 32,320 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.5% change. About 29.9% of households rent today, against 33.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 16.2% to 18.8%.
Discussions about Bay City
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At $968/mo, how Bay City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Bay City rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Bay City. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Bay City
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Bay City is $968/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $730/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $930/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $730/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,250/mo.
At 24% of local median household income ($49,420/yr), Bay City ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Bay City?
Is rent going up or down in Bay City?
How does Bay City rent compare to other cities in Michigan?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Bay City?
At $968/mo, rent takes ~24% of Bay City's median household income ($49,420/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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