City Comparison
Collierville vs Bay City
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Collierville scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Collierville
Bay City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Bay City is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
30% lower than in Collierville.
Housing costs are a major driver: Collierville's average rent is
79% higher than Bay City's.
| Metric | Collierville | Bay City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,696 | $950 | +79% |
| Groceries | $400 | $380 | +5% |
| Utilities | $180 | $175 | +3% |
| Transport | $120 | $110 | +9% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $230 | +9% |
| Monthly Total | $2,646 | $1,845 | +43% |
| Cost Index | 102 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Collierville offers 24% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Collierville delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Collierville is estimated at
$68,000 vs $42,000 in Bay City.
| Metric | Collierville | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $64,376 | $52,000 |
| Salary Needed | $68,000 | $42,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 63,114 idx | 61,176 idx |
| Household Income | $138,598 | $48,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Bay City runs warmer on average — a 48.8°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Bay City comes out ahead with 258 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Bay City sees 34.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Collierville | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | 48.80°F |
| Summer High | °F | 79.90°F |
| Winter Low | °F | 16.80°F |
| Rainfall | in | 29.50 in |
| Snowfall | in | 34.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 258 | |
| Humidity | 70.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Bay City has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Collierville.
Bay City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Bay City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Collierville | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 25 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 10.0/100 | 38.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 52.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | 30.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Collierville is the larger city
— approximately 1.6x the population of Bay City.
From a growth perspective, Collierville is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Collierville has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Collierville | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 52,126 | 32,611 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.42% | — |
| Median Age | 41.0 | 41.5 |
| Unemployment | 2.60% | 5.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Collierville
Advantages
Award-winning historic Town Square and vibrant community events. [cite: 6 in previous search, 29 in previous search, 40]
Top-tier schools and a strong emphasis on education. [cite: 6 in previous search, 29 in previous search, 40]
Extremely safe neighborhoods with crime rates significantly below the national average.
Higher median household income compared to national averages.
Abundance of parks, greenways, and outdoor recreational opportunities. [cite: 6 in previous search, 29 in previous search, 40]
Drawbacks
Highly car-dependent with limited public transportation options.
Higher cost of living and housing expenses compared to the national average.
Employment growth saw a slight decline from 2023 to 2024.
Limited rental inventory, positioning it as a higher-tier rental market.
Amenities score is low, indicating fewer walkable amenities in some areas.
Bay City
Advantages
Median home prices in Bay City are significantly lower than the national average per recent housing market data.
Abundant waterfront access along the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay supports a strong boating and outdoor recreation culture.
Rich architectural heritage featuring expansive historic districts with preserved 19th-century Victorian homes.
Low overall cost of living indices allow residents to enjoy greater financial affordability on everyday goods and utilities.
Active downtown district featuring local dining, craft beverage makers, and community festivals.
Drawbacks
Cold, snowy winters require residents to adapt to significant seasonal snowfall and freezing temperatures.
Limited public transit infrastructure creates a high reliance on personal automobiles for daily transportation.
Job growth in certain traditional sectors has lagged behind larger metropolitan areas in Michigan.
Higher poverty rates in specific city neighborhoods compared to the broader suburban county areas.
Cooler spring and autumn shoulder seasons shorten the peak window for outdoor activities.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Collierville
#99Tennessee, USA
67.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,696
Avg Salary
$64,376
Cost Index
102
Commute
25 min
Transit Score
10.0/100
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.42%
Unemployment
2.60%
Livability
76
Business
70
Bay City
#401Michigan, USA
58.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$52,000
Cost Index
85
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
38.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
258/yr
Avg Temp
48.80°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
5.20%
Livability
72
Business
65
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