The Town FilesBagdad, Florida
Community in Santa Rosa County · population 4,467 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $227,900
- Household income
- $82,034
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 43
- Median age
- 40.6
Bagdad is a community of 4,467 people in Santa Rosa County, Florida. The median home is worth $227,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for families than 95% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 84% of Florida towns, quieter than 79% of Florida towns.
- #3 in The 25 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in Florida
- #12 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Florida
- #17 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Florida
- #17 in The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Florida
- #24 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Florida
- #28 in The 50 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in America
How Bagdad 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 Bagdad is worth $227,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $82,034, which is more affordable than 94% of Florida towns. Median rent is $945 a month. 91.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bagdad | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $227,900 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $945 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $82,034 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 91.7% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 2005 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bagdad
| People | Bagdad | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.1% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 14.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 18.3% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 29.7 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 92.4% |
Weather in Bagdad
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 41.0°F. About 63.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 86 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 23 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
43 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bagdad since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 23, 2016 about 8.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 17 deaths and 107 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 11, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 26, 2005.
Severe weather in Santa Rosa County since 1996
Santa Rosa County has been included in 45 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 Santa Rosa County
Santa Rosa County had 43,548 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,217 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Bagdad itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Towns near Bagdad
- Milton, FL3.2 mi · 10,197 people · home $233,100
- Pea Ridge, FL3.4 mi · 3,787 people · home $220,800
- East Milton, FL5.3 mi · 14,309 people · home $212,900
- Point Baker, FL7.1 mi · 3,443 people · home $213,000
- Pace, FL7.5 mi · 24,684 people · home $293,800
- Ferry Pass, FL9.5 mi · 29,921 people · home $260,100
- Wallace, FL10.9 mi · 3,868 people · home $400,700
- Midway, FL12.6 mi · 19,567 people · home $381,600
Bagdad questions
Is Bagdad, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bagdad scores better for retirees than 64% of Florida towns and quieter than 79%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in Bagdad?
The median owner-occupied home in Bagdad is valued at $227,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,034, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $945 a month.
What is the weather like in Bagdad?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 41.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 63.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Bagdad get tornadoes?
43 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bagdad since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on February 23, 2016. 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)