The Town FilesPanama City Beach, Florida
City in Bay County · population 18,094 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $441,300
- Household income
- $80,941
- Jan low / Jul high
- 42° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 45.4
Panama City Beach is a city of 18,094 people in Bay County, Florida. The median home is worth $441,300, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks more seaside character than 83% of Florida towns, better for a vacation home than 80% of Florida towns, better for young professionals than 78% of Florida towns.
How Panama City Beach ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Panama City Beach is worth $441,300, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $80,941, which is more affordable than 25% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,791 a month. 59.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Panama City Beach | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $441,300 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,791 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $80,941 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 59.2% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 52.7% | — |
Who lives in Panama City Beach
| People | Panama City Beach | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.4 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.0% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 11.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.4% | — |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 92.4% |
Weather in Panama City Beach
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 42.0°F. About 59.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 88 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 14 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Panama City Beach since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on January 9, 2024 about 9.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 29 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 25, 1984.
Severe weather in Bay County since 1996
Bay County has been included in 51 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 27, 2026 | Hurricane | DR-4955: Hurricane Isaias |
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3655: Hurricane Isaias |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Bay County
Bay County had 82,632 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,407 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Panama City Beach itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Panama City Beach
7 public schools with 5,505 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| J.R. ARNOLD HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,637 | 23.1 |
| BREAKFAST POINT ACADEMY | PK-8 | 1,044 | 14.5 |
| SURFSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL | PK-12 | 825 | 17.9 |
| PATRONIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 634 | 16.3 |
| HUTCHISON BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 585 | 16.7 |
| A. GARY WALSINGHAM ACADEMY | PK-4 | 423 | 15.1 |
| WEST BAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 357 | 16.2 |
Towns near Panama City Beach
- Laguna Beach, FL4.7 mi · 4,330 people · home $438,100
- Upper Grand Lagoon, FL8.8 mi · 15,778 people · home $373,200
- Lower Grand Lagoon, FL9.7 mi · 4,398 people · home $397,200
- Pretty Bayou, FL11.0 mi · 2,911 people · home $298,900
- Lynn Haven, FL14.3 mi · 18,695 people · home $320,000
- Cedar Grove, FL15.1 mi · 3,148 people · home $176,100
- Springfield, FL16.9 mi · 8,075 people · home $188,600
- Parker, FL18.1 mi · 4,010 people · home $224,200
Panama City Beach questions
Is Panama City Beach, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Panama City Beach scores better for retirees than 33% of Florida towns and quieter than 50%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.4).
How much does a house cost in Panama City Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in Panama City Beach is valued at $441,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,941, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $1,791 a month.
What is the weather like in Panama City Beach?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 42.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Panama City Beach get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Panama City Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on January 9, 2024. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)