Bay County, MI Average Home Price (2026)
The average home price in Bay County, Michigan is about $207,000 (the 2026 median across 9 ZIP codes, at ~$147/sq ft) — 15% more affordable than the Michigan median and 28% more affordable than the typical U.S. home.
How Bay County compares
Bay County is relatively affordable for housing nationally: its typical home costs $207,000 against $244,000 for Michigan and $289,000 for the U.S. Within the county, ZIP-level values run from about $138,000 to $237,000.
| Area | Typical value | $ / sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Bay County | $207,000 | $147 |
| Michigan | $244,000 | $187 |
| United States | $289,000 | $193 |
Bay County home prices by ZIP code
The 9 most valuable ZIP codes in Bay County (of 9 with data):
| ZIP code | Typical value | $ / sq ft | vs county |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48611 Auburn | $237,000 | $162 | +14% |
| 48631 Monitor | $231,000 | $190 | +12% |
| 48747 Portsmouth | $221,000 | $125 | +7% |
| 48634 Linwood | $210,000 | $168 | +1% |
| 48732 Hampton | $207,000 | $147 | +0% |
| 48613 Bentley | $201,000 | $125 | -3% |
| 48706 Bangor Township | $192,000 | $134 | -7% |
| 48650 Pinconning | $188,000 | $148 | -9% |
| 48708 Bay City | $138,000 | $96 | -33% |
Home value appreciation in Bay County
Home prices in Bay County have risen about 89% over the last 10 years (≈6.6% a year) and +53.8% over 20 years, according to the FHFA house price index through 2025. The most recent year came in at +5.1% — still rising. A home worth $207,000 today was worth roughly $109,293 ten years ago.
See where that trend takes a specific home with the home appreciation calculator — statewide, Michigan is +96.7% over the same 10 years. Past appreciation is a track record, not a forecast; local prices can fall.
Calculators for Bay County
Run the numbers for Bay County with the local rates already filled in — change any input to test your own situation.
Salary needed to buy a home in Bay County
To buy the typical $207,000 home in Bay County with 20% down, you need a household income of roughly $56,000 a year (about $1,310 a month for the mortgage, taxes, and insurance). With 10% down the bar rises to about $67,000, because the loan is bigger and mortgage insurance kicks in.
| Down payment | Cash down | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% (+PMI) | $10,400 | $1,630/mo | $70,000/yr |
| 10% (+PMI) | $20,700 | $1,560/mo | $67,000/yr |
| 20% | $41,400 | $1,310/mo | $56,000/yr |
Assumes a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.5%, property tax at 1.1% and insurance at 0.45% of value per year, PMI of 0.75% on loans with less than 20% down, and the standard 28% housing-to-income rule. Your rate, taxes, and HOA will move these — run your own numbers in the mortgage calculator.
What your budget buys in Bay County
At about $147 per square foot, here is roughly how much home different budgets get you in Bay County:
| Budget | Approx. size | What that looks like locally |
|---|---|---|
| $150k | 1020 sq ft | below the local median — condos, smaller or older homes |
| $200k | 1360 sq ft | around the typical home here |
| $250k | 1700 sq ft | around the typical home here |
| $300k | 2040 sq ft | above the median — larger homes or the pricier ZIPs |
| $400k | 2720 sq ft | above the median — larger homes or the pricier ZIPs |
Wondering where that budget goes further? The relocation calculator ranks hundreds of U.S. cities by what the same money buys — it opens filtered to Michigan.
Estimate a specific home in Bay County
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Bay County home prices: frequently asked
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Browse all Michigan cities and counties, or look up price per square foot by ZIP code nationwide.
Directional estimates from public market data (Realtor.com & Zillow research; FHFA house price index; Census ZIP-to-county relationships), not appraisals.