Bay City, MI vs Laurel, MD
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Bay City
79.9
#99 nationally
Laurel
66.4
#1547 nationally
Laurel leads in median household income ($92,035 vs $45,026). Bay City leads in average commute (21.4 min vs 33.5 min). Bay City leads in cost of living index (82 vs 125).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Bay City, MI | Laurel, MD |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 79.9 (#99) | 66.4 (#1547) |
| Population | 32,082 | 29,400 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $126,569 | $478,130 |
| Median Household Income | $45,026 | $92,035 |
| Average Commute | 21.4 min | 33.5 min |
| Walk Score | 54 | 53 |
| Crime Level | 15.5 | 10.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 82 | 125 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+14.7 | D+13.9 |
C+
79.9 Score
Bay City, MI
Small Michigan city with local appeal
Median Home
$126,569
Population
32,082
Crime
High
Walk Score
54
Midwest
View Bay City, MI →
D
66.4 Score
Laurel, MD
Small Maryland city with local appeal
Median Home
$478,130
Population
29,400
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
53
Northeast
View Laurel, MD →