City profile · Florida · Census ACS 2023

Panama City, FL

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

34,211
Residents
$61,125
Median income
$243,200
Median home
$1,682
Median rent (state)

Panama City - the verdict

Nationally, Panama City sits in the 37th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

37th
percentile, household income
54th
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, FL

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 34,211 residents in Panama City, a small city within Florida. The typical household in Panama City brings in $61,125 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 14.2%. Typical homes in Panama City are valued around $243,200, and the median resident age is 38.6 years. 25.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 58.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 288 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 67% from five years earlier. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 69.4°F with 61.3 inches of precipitation per year.

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). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,682 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Florida, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 94.1 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

34,211 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Florida

Median Household Income

$61,125 /yr

Poverty 14.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Florida average

How does Panama City compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 37% higher than other cities
Home value 54% 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 against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Florida only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Florida-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Panama City toward the top of Florida's cities

Among the 930 Florida cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Panama City ranks #223 - the 76th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Panama City only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#578 of 903
36th percentile in Florida
Median Gross Rent
#586 of 930
36th percentile in Florida
Median Home Value
#591 of 894
34th percentile in Florida
Poverty Rate
#223 of 930
76th percentile in Florida
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#500 of 930
46th 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.

37thIncome percentile

37th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Panama City's home value compares nationally

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

$243,200 46th percentile more affordable than 46% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $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 $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, FL Panama City, FL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Panama City, 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, FL median $61,125/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, 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, FL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.4%

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

Population
34,211
Median Income
$61,125
Median Home Value
$243,200
Median Age
38.6
Poverty Rate
14.2%
Labor force participation
58.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.5%

Climate

Avg Temperature
69.4°F
Annual Precipitation
61.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"

Schools

Total Schools
36
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
32,000 residents34,000 residents36,000 residents38,000 residents40,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 32,882 residents 37,806 residents ▲ +15.0%
Panama City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
288
housing units authorized
Single-Family
265
detached homes
Multifamily
23
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
8.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 172
2020 698
2021 181
2022 323
2023 267
2024 288

Permit volume increased 67% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
72.9%
Carpool
14.9%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
9.3%
Other
1.4%

Based on 16,173 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 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

Cooper City
34,166 people
Merritt Island
34,718 people
Golden Glades
35,042 people
West Little River
33,147 people
East Lake
33,019 people
Kendall West
35,492 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Panama City's 34,211 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

South Riding, VA
34,200 people
Pikesville, MD
34,253 people
Montgomery, MD
34,161 people
Dakota Ridge, CO
34,159 people
Lufkin, TX
34,158 people
Holland, MI
34,266 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Panama City's $61,125 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Browns, IL
$61,125 median income
Fraser, MI
$61,118 median income
Oden, MI
$61,132 median income
Dexter, NM
$61,118 median income
Romney, IN
$61,133 median income
Kersey, CO
$61,136 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Panama City, 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, FL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 63.2% 21.0% 9.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.7% White 63.2% Black or African American 21.0% Asian 1.0% American Indian 1.0% Native Hawaiian 0.3% Some other race 4.1% Two or more races 9.3% 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 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 (this city) 34,211 $61,125
Cooper City 34,166 $122,565
Merritt Island 34,718 $91,020
Golden Glades 35,042 $49,932
Census ACS 5-year FIPS FL NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Panama City, FL?

What is the population of Panama City, FL? +

Panama City, FL has a population of 34,211 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Panama City is $61,125 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Panama City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Panama City; 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, FL? +

Panama City's median home value sits at $243,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Panama City? +

Panama City has an average annual temperature of 69.4°F, 61.3 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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.