Bay City, MI vs Lake Zurich, IL
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
Lake Zurich
74
#646 nationally
Lake Zurich leads in crime level (1.7 vs 15.5). Lake Zurich leads in median household income ($135,211 vs $45,026). Bay City leads in walk score (54 vs 34).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Bay City, MI | Lake Zurich, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 79.9 (#99) | 74 (#646) |
| Population | 32,082 | 19,676 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $126,569 | $510,350 |
| Median Household Income | $45,026 | $135,211 |
| Average Commute | 21.4 min | 29.8 min |
| Walk Score | 54 | 34 |
| Crime Level | 15.5 | 1.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 82 | 123 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+14.7 | D+20.8 |
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 →
C
74 Score
Lake Zurich, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$510,350
Population
19,676
Crime
Low
Walk Score
34
Midwest
View Lake Zurich, IL →
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