City profile · Florida · Census ACS 2023

Panama City Beach, FL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Panama City Beach - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

18,493
Residents
$78,921
Median income
$417,800
Median home
$1,682
Median rent (state)

Panama City Beach - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Panama City Beach places in the 60th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

60th
percentile, household income
79th
percentile, home value
67th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Panama City Beach, FL

Florida's Panama City Beach is a small town, with 18,493 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $78,921 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.3%. Panama City Beach's housing stock carries a median value of $417,800, and the median resident age is 45.2 years. Educational attainment runs 36.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 62.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 418 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 87% from five years earlier.

Florida carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Florida at 103.4 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,682 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Florida's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 94.1 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

18,493 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Florida

Median Household Income

$78,921 /yr

Poverty 5.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Florida average

How does Panama City Beach compare to other US cities?

Where Panama City Beach sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 60% higher than other cities
Home value 79% pricier than other cities
Median rent 67% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Panama City Beach against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Florida only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Florida-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Panama City Beach toward the top of Florida's cities

Among the 894 Florida cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Panama City Beach ranks #215 - the 76th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Panama City Beach only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#330 of 903
63rd percentile in Florida
Median Gross Rent
#586 of 930
36th percentile in Florida
Median Home Value
#215 of 894
76th percentile in Florida
Poverty Rate
#605 of 930
34th percentile in Florida
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#295 of 930
68th percentile in Florida

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Florida only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

60thIncome percentile

60th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Panama City Beach's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$417,800 21st percentile more affordable than 21% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Panama City Beach $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Panama City Beach, FL Panama City Beach, FL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Panama City Beach, FL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Panama City Beach, FL median $78,921/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Panama City Beach, FL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Panama City Beach, FL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 36.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
18,493
Median Income
$78,921
Median Home Value
$417,800
Median Age
45.2
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Labor force participation
62.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
36.8%

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
17,000 residents18,000 residents19,000 residents20,000 residents21,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 17,986 residents 20,375 residents ▲ +13.3%
Panama City Beach's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
418
housing units authorized
Single-Family
110
detached homes
Multifamily
308
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
22.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 223
2020 381
2021 604
2022 188
2023 116
2024 418

Permit volume increased 87% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
75.8%
Carpool
9.0%
Public Transit
0.1%
Walk
2.6%
Work from Home
10.7%
Other
1.8%

Based on 9,999 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Florida - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$145
avg/month
Natural Gas
$25
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Florida state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Florida state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Panama City Beach sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,682/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
94.1 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Florida

Glenvar Heights
18,488 people
Zephyrhills
18,471 people
Bayshore Gardens
18,324 people
Country Walk
18,693 people
San Carlos Park
18,252 people
Gibsonton
18,831 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Panama City Beach's 18,493 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Oxon Hill, MD
18,491 people
Seabrook, MD
18,495 people
Ammon, ID
18,496 people
Castaic, CA
18,479 people
Franklin Farm, VA
18,509 people
Nederland, TX
18,475 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Panama City Beach's $78,921 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ocean Springs, MS
$78,929 median income
Morgan's Point Resort, TX
$78,913 median income
Greendale, IN
$78,912 median income
Clinton, MA
$78,909 median income
Tuckerton, NJ
$78,934 median income
Dresser, WI
$78,906 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Panama City Beach, FL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Panama City Beach, FL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 80.3% 7.1% 7.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.6% White 80.3% Black or African American 7.1% Asian 2.0% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.0% Two or more races 7.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Panama City Beach compares to nearby Florida cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Panama City Beach (this city) 18,493 $78,921
Glenvar Heights 18,488 $71,067
Zephyrhills 18,471 $49,295
Bayshore Gardens 18,324 $50,896
Census ACS 5-year FIPS FL NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Panama City Beach, FL?

What is the population of Panama City Beach, FL? +

Panama City Beach, FL counts 18,493 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Panama City Beach, FL? +

Panama City Beach households earn a median of $78,921 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Panama City Beach? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Panama City Beach; the closest available measure is the Florida state average, a cost of living index of 103.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Florida vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Panama City Beach, FL? +

Homes in Panama City Beach carry a median value of $417,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.