The Town FilesGulf Breeze, Florida
City in Santa Rosa County · population 6,302 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $505,600
- Household income
- $104,050
- Jan low / Jul high
- 44° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 56
- Median age
- 49.9
Gulf Breeze is a city of 6,302 people in Santa Rosa County, Florida. The median home is worth $505,600, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of Florida towns, more upscale than 96% of Florida towns, better for families than 93% of Florida towns.
How Gulf Breeze 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 Gulf Breeze is worth $505,600, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $104,050, which is more affordable than 41% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,536 a month. 78.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gulf Breeze | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $505,600 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,536 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $104,050 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 78.2% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.3% | — |
Who lives in Gulf Breeze
| People | Gulf Breeze | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.9 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.7% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.2% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 18.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.6% | 92.4% |
Weather in Gulf Breeze
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 43.7°F. About 68.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 68 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 11 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
56 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gulf Breeze since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 23, 2016 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 10, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 6, 2011.
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 Gulf Breeze itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Public schools in Gulf Breeze
6 public schools with 6,568 students, about 20.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GULF BREEZE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,977 | 25.3 |
| EAST BAY K-8 SCHOOL | PK-8 | 1,081 | 18.0 |
| WOODLAWN BEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 945 | 22.0 |
| GULF BREEZE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 914 | 22.3 |
| GULF BREEZE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 880 | 16.0 |
| ORIOLE BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 771 | 15.7 |
Towns near Gulf Breeze
- Pensacola, FL5.1 mi · 54,312 people · home $314,400
- Goulding, FL6.0 mi · 3,392 people · home $89,700
- West Pensacola, FL6.9 mi · 21,019 people · home $116,100
- Tiger Point, FL7.3 mi · 3,342 people · home $427,900
- Warrington, FL7.3 mi · 15,218 people · home $212,000
- Myrtle Grove, FL8.3 mi · 17,224 people · home $186,100
- Brent, FL8.5 mi · 23,447 people · home $159,900
- Pensacola Station, FL8.6 mi · 5,532 people · home —
Gulf Breeze questions
Is Gulf Breeze, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gulf Breeze scores better for retirees than 96% of Florida towns and quieter than 61%. 27.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.9).
How much does a house cost in Gulf Breeze?
The median owner-occupied home in Gulf Breeze is valued at $505,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $104,050, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $1,536 a month.
What is the weather like in Gulf Breeze?
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 43.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 68.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Gulf Breeze get tornadoes?
56 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gulf Breeze 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)