The Town FilesBay City, Texas
City in Matagorda County · population 18,061 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $160,800
- Household income
- $53,840
- Jan low / Jul high
- 43° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 31.6
Bay City is a city of 18,061 people in Matagorda County, Texas. The median home is worth $160,800, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks hipper than 92% of Texas towns, more walkable than 89% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 84% of Texas towns.
How Bay City ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bay City is worth $160,800, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $53,840, which is more affordable than 49% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,025 a month. 45.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bay City | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,800 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,025 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $53,840 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 45.8% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Bay City
| People | Bay City | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.6 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.1% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.0% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in Bay City
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 42.7°F. About 49.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 88 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 7 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bay City since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 11, 1961 about 3.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 14, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 14, 2006.
Severe weather in Matagorda County since 1996
Matagorda County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
| July 26, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3530: Hurricane Hanna |
Jobs and pay in Matagorda County
Matagorda County had 11,209 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,994 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Bay City itself the ACS puts it at 13.3%.
Public schools in Bay City
5 public schools with 3,514 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAY CITY H S | 9-12 | 1,034 | 13.8 |
| BAY CITY J H | 6-8 | 770 | 16.4 |
| TENIE HOLMES EL | 3-5 | 758 | 18.5 |
| ROBERTS EL | 1-2 | 502 | 17.3 |
| CHERRY EL | PK-K | 450 | 16.7 |
Towns near Bay City
- Sweeny, TX16.4 mi · 3,626 people · home $199,100
- West Columbia, TX21.7 mi · 3,644 people · home $140,800
- El Campo, TX24.1 mi · 12,350 people · home $201,400
- Brazoria, TX24.3 mi · 2,866 people · home $162,400
- Wharton, TX24.6 mi · 8,627 people · home $149,400
- Palacios, TX24.7 mi · 4,395 people · home $153,800
- Needville, TX29.4 mi · 3,089 people · home $221,700
Bay City questions
Is Bay City, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bay City scores better for retirees than 18% of Texas towns and quieter than 15%. 11.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.6).
How much does a house cost in Bay City?
The median owner-occupied home in Bay City is valued at $160,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,840, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,025 a month.
What is the weather like in Bay City?
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 42.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Bay City get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bay City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 11, 1961. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)