Note: As defined by the US Census Bureau, a city's official boundaries often extend miles beyond the city itself and may even cross county lines. As such, several thousand US cities officially exist in two or more counties (and therefore appear on multiple counties' lists of cities.)
City | Rank | 2024 Pop. | 2020 Pop. | Change | Density (/mi²) | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay City | 1 | 31,905 | 32,611 | -0.55% | 3,138 | 10.2 | City |
| Bangor charter township | 2 | 13,815 | 14,029 | -0.18% | 979 | 14.1 | Township |
| Monitor charter township | 3 | 10,636 | 10,683 | 0.17% | 289 | 36.8 | Township |
| Hampton charter township | 4 | 9,563 | 9,680 | -0.05% | 348 | 27.5 | Township |
| Williams charter township | 5 | 5,023 | 5,058 | 0.08% | 150 | 33.6 | Township |
| Kawkawlin township | 6 | 4,391 | 4,415 | 0.09% | 135 | 32.4 | Township |
| Frankenlust township | 7 | 3,685 | 3,668 | 0.24% | 175 | 21.0 | Township |
| Essexville | 8 | 3,280 | 3,374 | -0.73% | 2,533 | 1.3 | City |
| Portsmouth charter township | 9 | 3,165 | 3,221 | -0.19% | 158 | 20.0 | Township |
| Beaver township | 10 | 2,685 | 2,718 | -0.07% | 76 | 35.3 | Township |
| Pinconning township | 11 | 2,286 | 2,297 | 0.09% | 62 | 36.7 | Township |
| Auburn | 12 | 2,036 | 2,067 | -0.39% | 1,928 | 1.1 | City |
| Garfield township | 13 | 1,688 | 1,692 | 0.18% | 47 | 35.7 | Township |
| Zilwaukee | 14 | 1,487 | 1,531 | -0.73% | 673 | 2.2 | City |
| Mount Forest township | 15 | 1,396 | 1,399 | 0.14% | 39 | 35.9 | Township |
| Pinconning | 16 | 1,178 | 1,200 | -0.51% | 1,368 | 0.9 | City |
| Gibson township | 17 | 1,105 | 1,122 | -0.18% | 31 | 35.5 | Township |
Note: City markers shown outside the county boundary mean that a part of the city extends into this county, but is primarily located in an adjacent county.
Bay City is the largest city in Bay County.
Gibson township is the smallest city in Bay County.
There are 17 cities in Bay County, Michigan.