The Town FilesPretty Bayou, Florida
Community in Bay County · population 2,911 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $298,900
- Household income
- $85,208
- Jan low / Jul high
- 43° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 55
- Median age
- 52.3
Pretty Bayou is a community of 2,911 people in Bay County, Florida. The median home is worth $298,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 94% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 83% of Florida towns, better for retirees than 81% of Florida towns.
How Pretty Bayou 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 Pretty Bayou is worth $298,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $85,208, which is more affordable than 82% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,749 a month. 71.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pretty Bayou | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $298,900 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,749 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $85,208 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 71.4% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.3% | — |
Who lives in Pretty Bayou
| People | Pretty Bayou | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.3 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.3% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.6% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 12.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 92.4% |
Weather in Pretty Bayou
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 42.6°F. About 61.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 67 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 16 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
55 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pretty Bayou since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on January 9, 2024 about 0.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 86 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 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 Pretty Bayou itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Towns near Pretty Bayou
- Upper Grand Lagoon, FL3.8 mi · 15,778 people · home $373,200
- Cedar Grove, FL4.1 mi · 3,148 people · home $176,100
- Lynn Haven, FL4.3 mi · 18,695 people · home $320,000
- Lower Grand Lagoon, FL5.1 mi · 4,398 people · home $397,200
- Springfield, FL6.0 mi · 8,075 people · home $188,600
- Parker, FL7.6 mi · 4,010 people · home $224,200
- Callaway, FL10.1 mi · 13,045 people · home $250,300
- Panama City, FL10.4 mi · 32,939 people · home $268,900
Pretty Bayou questions
Is Pretty Bayou, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pretty Bayou scores better for retirees than 81% of Florida towns and quieter than 52%. 34.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.3).
How much does a house cost in Pretty Bayou?
The median owner-occupied home in Pretty Bayou is valued at $298,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,208, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,749 a month.
What is the weather like in Pretty Bayou?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 42.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Pretty Bayou get tornadoes?
55 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pretty Bayou 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)