City Comparison
Kingsport vs Bay City
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Kingsport scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Kingsport
Bay City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Kingsport is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
24% lower than in Bay City.
Housing costs are a major driver: Kingsport's average rent is
47% higher than Bay City's.
| Metric | Kingsport | Bay City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,400 | $950 | +47% |
| Groceries | $0 | $380 | -100% |
| Utilities | $0 | $175 | -100% |
| Transport | $0 | $110 | -100% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $230 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $1,400 | $1,845 | -24% |
| Cost Index | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Bay City offers 100% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Kingsport | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $0 | $52,000 |
| Salary Needed | $0 | $42,000 |
| Household Income | $52,490 | $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 | Kingsport | 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 | 72.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
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 | Kingsport | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 19 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | — | 38.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 52.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 30.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Kingsport is the larger city
— approximately 1.8x the population of Bay City.
From a growth perspective, Kingsport is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Kingsport has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Kingsport | Bay City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,479 | 32,611 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.10% | — |
| Median Age | 43.0 | 41.5 |
| Unemployment | 3.30% | 5.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Kingsport
Advantages
The overall crime rate in Kingsport is 46% below the national average as of July 2026.
Kingsport's cost of living is significantly lower than the national average.
The average commute time in Kingsport is 19.1 minutes, shorter than the national average.
Kingsport City Schools are highly rated and offer an academically progressive educational platform.
The city offers abundant parks and recreational opportunities, contributing to a high quality of life.
Drawbacks
Kingsport's job growth, while positive, is heavily reliant on a few sectors like healthcare, which could pose challenges if those sectors slow down nationally.
Despite overall safety, some areas of Kingsport have higher crime rates than others.
The city's unemployment rate is 5.3%, which is higher than the national average.
Kingsport has a notable poverty rate, with 15.7% of families living in poverty.
Public transit services, while available, are not as highly rated as ease of travel by car.
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.
Kingsport
#36Tennessee, USA
71.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,400
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
19 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.10%
Unemployment
3.30%
Livability
69
Business
0
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
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Kingsport and Bay City.
Open Cost Calculator