Bay City, MI · standard
ZIP Code 48706
Bay County, Michigan - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 40,596
- 234/sq mi High-density area
- $62,747
- Median income Near-median income area
- $155,800
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 24.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Bay City pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- 34th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 28th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 234
- people per sq mi
- 78%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 48706 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 48706 (Bay City, MI) rose +7.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 154.4 in 2023 to 166.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 48706 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Bay City, Bay County, Michigan, with 40,596 residents across 173.5 square miles, a density of 234 people per square mile, in the Detroit time zone.
ZIP 48706 reports a modest median household income of $62,747 (14% below the average Michigan ZIP), while per-capita income is $36,643. The poverty rate is 12.3%, with unemployment at 3.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $155,800 (29% below the average Michigan ZIP), and median rent is $922; owner occupancy is 78.2%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 24.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.7, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Bay County, so 48706 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 48706
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Bay City, MI
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 48706.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
168 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
148 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
96 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
91 establishments
- Construction
Construction
68 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 48706, Bay City, MI · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
40,596
Population
173.5
Area (sq mi)
234
People / sq mi
Detroit
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 48706?
44.7
Median Age
48.6%
Male
51.4%
Female
1.0%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$62,747
Median Household Income
-14% vs state ZIP avg
$36,643
Per Capita Income
12.3%
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Unemployment Rate
20.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 48706 ranks nationally
Bay City, MI household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$62,747 34th percentile higher than 34% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. 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 · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
18,537housing units
18,537
Total Housing Units
17,184
Occupied Units
1,353
Vacant Units
2.24
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$155,800
Median Home Value
-29% vs state ZIP avg
$922
Median Rent
1965
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+7.6%
YoY Change (2024)
166
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+66%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 48706 have increased 7.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +66% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.6% | 111 |
| 2021 | +11.1% | 123 |
| 2022 | +16.5% | 144 |
| 2023 | +7.3% | 154 |
| 2024 | +7.6% | 166 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 904 business establishments in ZIP 48706, employing approximately 12,822 people with a combined annual payroll of $622,935,000.
904
Businesses
12,822
Employees
$622.9M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 168 | 18.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 148 | 16.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 96 | 10.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 91 | 10.1% |
| Construction | 68 | 7.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 54 | 6.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 50 | 5.5% |
| Manufacturing | 46 | 5.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 42 | 4.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 39 | 4.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 36 | 4.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 23 | 2.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 22 | 2.4% |
| Information | 7 | 0.8% |
| Educational services | 7 | 0.8% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 0.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 48706 vs 48710 →
ZIP 48706 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 48706
Bay City (48706)
40,596 residents
- 48708
Bay City (48708)
27,262 residents
- 48603
Saginaw (48603)
26,913 residents
- 48604 13,074
Saginaw (48604)
13,074 residents
- 48611 6,554
Auburn (48611)
6,554 residents
- 48631 4,643
Kawkawlin (48631)
4,643 residents
- 48724 359
Carrollton (48724)
359 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 48706 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 48706 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 48611
Auburn (48611)
$87,963 median income
- 48631
Kawkawlin (48631)
$74,398 median income
- 48603
Saginaw (48603)
$66,352 median income
- 48706
Bay City (48706)
$62,747 median income
- 48604
Saginaw (48604)
$53,042 median income
- 48708
Bay City (48708)
$50,518 median income
- 48724 $34,512
Carrollton (48724)
$34,512 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 48706 ranks #4 of 7 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 48706, both outside MI so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (40,596 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Bay County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 48706 in?
ZIP code 48706 (Bay City) is located in Bay County, Michigan. Bay County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/bay-mi.
What is the population of ZIP code 48706?
ZIP code 48706 in Bay City, MI has a population of 40,596 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 48706?
The median household income in ZIP 48706 is $62,747, which is 18% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 48706?
The median home value in ZIP 48706 is $155,800, which is 44% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 48706?
The largest racial group in ZIP 48706 is White at 92.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 48706?
ZIP code 48706 has 904 business establishments employing approximately 12,822 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 48706?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 48706 are: Retail trade (168), Health care and social assistance (148), Other services (except public administration) (96). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 48706?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 48706 increased by 7.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 66%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 48706?
In ZIP code 48706, 55.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 24.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 48706?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 48706 is 20.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 48706?
In ZIP code 48706, approximately 78.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 21.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 48706?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 48706 is 12.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 48706's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 48706 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Bay City, MI ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.