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C

Is Bay City, Michigan Safe?

Population 31,868 · Safer than 32% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Bay City is a smaller community of 31,868 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs above the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 221.5 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,280 per 100K.

Bay City Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBay CityMichigan AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate418.7330.0363.8
Property Crime Rate1796.22014.41,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate343.0--268.2
Theft Rate1280.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate201.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC

221.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD

419/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1796/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Bay City

Violent crime in Bay City is above the national average. The rate of 418.7 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1796.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,280 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 343 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Bay City Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault343
01.3x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery77
01.2x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary254
094% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,280
091% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft201
063% of avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Bay City Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bay City
418.7
State
330.0
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Bay City
1796.2
State
2014.4
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bay City Safety

Is Bay City safe?
Not especially. Bay City earns a C with a crime rate of 221.5 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs above the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Bay City?
221.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 418.7 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1796.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Bay City safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Bay City's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,280 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Bay City?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Bay City generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Bay City police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Bay City?
Crime rates have held steady in Bay City, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C grade.
How does Bay City compare to other cities in Michigan?
Below average for the state. Bay City ranks behind about 73% of Michigan cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Bay City to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is above the national average. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Bay City?
Bad. A C grade and 221.5 per-thousand rate put Bay City below 68% of US cities. Violent crime at 419 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Bay City?
418.7 per 100,000, which is 15% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (343), robbery (77), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

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View all Michigan city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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