Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 206, settled in 1876.
Bay Center’s July high is 67°F, below both Washington’s towns (77°F) and U.S. towns (85°F). Among 286 Washington towns, just 1 have a higher share of households owning their home than Bay Center. The biggest park or preserve is Bush Pioneer County Park, at 36 acres. Bay Center has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 174 in 2000, 253 in 2020. The archive holds 8 old photos and papers going back to 2021 and 3 maps from 1938 on.
Bay Center is unincorporated, so Pacific County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Bay Center.
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 91% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Most working residents leave Bay Center for work: only 1% work in town. 1.9% of residents live below the poverty line in Bay Center, where Washington’s towns sit at 7.9% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. The median household income in Bay Center is $72,000.
| Bay Center | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 1.9% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $72,000 | $98,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 1% | 4.9% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Bay Center has mild winters and cool summers, with plenty of rain. Bay Center’s January low is 37°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
17% of adults have diabetes in Bay Center. Among 286 Washington towns, just 3 have a higher share of adults who have high blood pressure than Bay Center. 37% of adults have obesity in Bay Center.
| Bay Center | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 9.8% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 31% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 17% | 16% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 13% | 14% |
| What stands out | Bay Center | WA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 12.5% | 16.6% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79.6% | 70.7% |
| More adults with heart disease | 10.3% | 5.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| Bay Center | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 6% | 4% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Bush Pioneer County Park | 0.2 mi | 36 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Bay Center; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Bay Center residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Washington.
Where Bay Center’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
CDP in Washington, United States
Bay Center is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pacific County, Washington, United States. The population was 174 at the 2000 census. The population increased to 276 at the 2010 census. However, in the 2020 census, the population decreased to 253. A post office called Bay Center has been in operation since 1876. The community was named for its central location on the harbor.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Bay Center has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.