In Bay City, a typical home is worth $160,800 and typical rent is $1,025 a month. Compared with all of Matagorda County, typical household income is 8% lower, the typical home value is 7% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 22 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $177,281 to $199,252.
Typical rent
$851a month
▲ 4.9% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, March 2024 to September 2026: from $844 to $851.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Bay City is in Matagorda County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Matagorda County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
46% of households in Bay City own their home, against 68% in Matagorda County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Bay City
What homes there are in Bay City, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Bay City
Matagorda County
Texas
United States
Kind of home: Bay City and its comparisons
Measure
Bay City
Matagorda County
Texas
United States
Detached house
54%
68%
64%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
12%
6%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
22%
10%
21%
19%
Mobile home
8%
12%
6%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
1%
0%
0%
The detached house is still the most common home in Bay City, but it weighs less than in Matagorda County: 54% against 68%.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Bay City
Matagorda County
Texas
United States
Year built: Bay City and its comparisons
Measure
Bay City
Matagorda County
Texas
United States
Before 1960
18%
20%
12%
26%
1960–1979
34%
31%
21%
24%
1980–1999
27%
24%
28%
25%
2000–2009
10%
11%
18%
14%
2010 or later
12%
13%
21%
11%
By age, homes in Bay City look like those in Matagorda County: the typical year built is 1979.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K23%
$100K–$200K41%
$200K–$300K24%
$300K–$500K11%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Bay City and its comparisons
Measure
Bay City
Under $100K
23%
$100K–$200K
41%
$200K–$300K
24%
$300K–$500K
11%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
At least 98% of owner-occupied homes in Bay City are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Matagorda County ($541,287).
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $5009%
$500–$99938%
$1,000–$1,49940%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,226
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Bay City and its comparisons
Measure
Bay City
Under $500
9%
$500–$999
38%
$1,000–$1,499
40%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
Measured against HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,226), about 65% of rented homes in Bay City cost less.
With a mortgage
$1,609 a month
Matagorda County: $1,672 a month
Without a mortgage
$538 a month
Matagorda County: $555 a month
Owners with a mortgage
41%
Matagorda County: 37%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Bay City is $1,609 a month, near the figure in Matagorda County ($1,672).
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Bay City+62%
Matagorda County+51%
Texas+65%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Bay City+19%
Matagorda County+17%
Texas+34%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Bay CityNo clear change
Matagorda County+20%
Texas+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Bay City and its comparisons
Measure
Bay City
Matagorda County
Texas
United States
Typical home value
+62%
+51%
+65%
+53%
Typical rent
+19%
+17%
+34%
+33%
Typical household income
No clear change
+20%
+27%
+29%
Since 2015–2019, homes in Bay City gained value faster than in Matagorda County: 62% against 51%.
The typical rent in Bay City rose 19% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Matagorda County (17%).
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Bay City and its comparisons
Measure
Bay City
Matagorda County
Texas
United States
Rental vacancy
9.2%
10.3%
7.7%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1.1%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
3.2%
4.8%
3.4%
People per household
2.37
2.33
2.69
2.53
Drive alone
74%
78%
71%
69%
Carpool
20%
14%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
6%
14%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
In Bay City, the rental vacancy rate is 9.2%; in Matagorda County, 10.3%.
Much as in Matagorda County, a household in Bay City has 2.37 people on average.
In Bay City, 20% of workers share a car to get to work; in Matagorda County, 14%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Bay City?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Bay City, worth $160,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 32% of the typical household income in Bay City, which is $53,840 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $61,809 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Matagorda County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Bay City. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $5,628 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,442
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$157,888
Total interest
$227,163
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,716 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,256 a month
Tight
$1,256 to $1,615 a month
Your payment · 32%
Hard
more than $1,615 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Bay City ($53,840 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,070
Property tax
$235
Home insurance
$67
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$71
You need at least $5,628 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,442; principal and interest $1,070.
The city and its county
Bay City and Matagorda County
Bay City is in Matagorda County, Texas. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Bay City
Map of Matagorda County, Texas, with Bay City marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Bay City
Matagorda County
Other cities with a page
Bay City's own numbers
Typical home value
$160,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,025
Typical yearly household income
$53,840
Households that own their home
46%
Effective property tax rate
1.75%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Matagorda County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,226
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+42%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
28%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Matagorda County.
A typical home in Bay City is worth $160,800: 7% below the county and 43% below Texas. With the typical household income in Bay City ($53,840 a year), a typical home costs 3.0 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Bay City3.0 years
Matagorda2.9 years
Texas3.6 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Matagorda County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Matagorda County rose 64% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Matagorda County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Matagorda County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +5.1% +5.1% 2016
2017: +0.6% +0.6% 2017
2018: +6.8% +6.8% 2018
2019: +2.6% +2.6% 2019
2020: −0.5% −0.5% 2020
2021: +9.3% +9.3% 2021
2022: +13.5% +13.5% 2022
2023: +5.6% +5.6% 2023
2024: +6.9% +6.9% 2024
2025: +1.4% +1.4% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Matagorda County, Texas and the United States
Period
County
Texas
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+1.4%
+0.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+42%
+44%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+64%
+88%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Bay City next to Matagorda County, Texas and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Bay City$160,800
Matagorda$172,900
Texas$283,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Bay City$1,025
Matagorda$999
Texas$1,403
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Bay City$53,840
Matagorda$58,628
Texas$78,476
United States$80,734
See the full table
Bay City next to Matagorda County and Texas
Measure
Bay City
Matagorda County
Texas
U.S.
Typical home value
$160,800 ▼7% below the county
$172,900
$283,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,025 ▲3% above the county
$999
$1,403
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$53,840 ▼8% below the county
$58,628
$78,476
$80,734
Households that own their home
46% ▼22 points below the county
68%
63%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,808 ▲21% above the county
$2,328
$4,232
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.75% ▲0.4 points above the county
1.35%
1.49%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
48% ▼2 points below the county
50%
52%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Matagorda County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Bay City
For a typical $160,800 home in Bay City, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Bay City's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,442a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$5,628
Cash to close
$10,452
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $71
Conventional, 5% down$1,413a month
Down payment
$8,040
Cash to close
$12,864
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $76
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,173a month
Down payment
$32,160
Cash to close
$36,984
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,322a month
Down payment
$24,120
Cash to close
$28,944
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Bay City
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,442
$5,628
$157,888
7.18%
FHA MIP · $71
$10,452
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,413
$8,040
$152,760
7.18%
PMI · $76
$12,864
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,173
$32,160
$128,640
7.18%
None
$36,984
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,322
$24,120
$136,680
8.18%
None
$28,944
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Bay City is $1,025 a month: 3% above the county. In Bay City, 48% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Matagorda County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,226 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $23.58 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Matagorda County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,021
$19.63
$40,840
1 bedroom
$1,027
$19.75
$41,080
2 bedrooms
$1,226
$23.58
$49,040
3 bedrooms
$1,569
$30.17
$62,760
4 bedrooms
$1,968
$37.85
$78,720
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Bay City
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Bay City is in ZIP code 77414.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,240: $14 more than the fair market rent for Matagorda County ($1,226).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Bay City, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
77414
$1,030
$1,040
$1,240
$1,590
$1,990
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
77414 $1,240$1,590
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Bay City when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 6 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Bay City. These are the largest.
Bay Breeze800 Avenue F, Bay City 77414100 low-income homes · For families(979) 245-9790
S.park & Casa del Norte2908 Live Oak Ave, Bay City 7741486 homes, 85 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Bay City · Average payment: $376 a month · Average wait: 21 months(979) 245-2652
Bay Ranch Apts1401 Thompson Dr, Bay City 7741464 homes, 60 low-income · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 32 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 2005
Tejas Cove Aka NCR of Bay City1900 Palm Village Blvd, Bay City 7741461 homes, 60 low-income · For older adults(979) 245-4339
Hilliard Memorial Apartments1408 Whitson St, Bay City 7741460 low-income homes · For families(979) 245-6582
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Matagorda County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Bay City or Matagorda County. The ones below are statewide in Texas: they work in Bay City the same as in the rest of the state.
Texas state program for first-time buyers: a 30-year mortgage with down payment assistance.Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).
Texas state program with down payment assistance for any buyer, not only first-time buyers.Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).
Texas state certificate that turns part of your mortgage interest into a credit on your federal tax return.Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Bay City or Matagorda County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Bay City and all of Matagorda County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Bay City?
The typical home value in Bay City is $160,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Matagorda County it is $172,900.
How much does it cost to rent in Bay City?
Typical rent in Bay City is $1,025 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Matagorda County is $1,226.
What is the FHA loan limit in Bay City?
Bay City uses the FHA limit for all of Matagorda County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Bay City?
The typical homeowner in Bay City pays $2,808 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.75% of the home’s value; in Matagorda County, the rate is 1.35%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Bay City?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Matagorda County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
