The Town FilesPace, Florida
Community in Santa Rosa County · population 24,684 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $293,800
- Household income
- $80,701
- Jan low / Jul high
- 42° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 53
- Median age
- 37.7
Pace is a community of 24,684 people in Santa Rosa County, Florida. The median home is worth $293,800, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for families than 94% of Florida towns, easier by car than 88% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 75% of Florida towns.
How Pace 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 Pace is worth $293,800, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $80,701, which is more affordable than 80% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,282 a month. 83.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pace | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $293,800 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,282 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $80,701 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 83.0% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Pace
| People | Pace | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.3% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.2% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 15.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.3% | 92.4% |
Weather in Pace
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 42.1°F. About 67.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 80 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 13 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
53 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pace since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 23, 2016 about 6.9 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 31 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 Pace itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Pace
6 public schools with 6,237 students, about 19.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PACE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,284 | 25.1 |
| WALLACE LAKE K-8 | PK-8 | 1,012 | 18.1 |
| THOMAS L SIMS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 850 | 21.3 |
| PEA RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 822 | 14.4 |
| S. S. DIXON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 3-5 | 640 | 16.0 |
| S. S. DIXON PRIMARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 629 | 15.3 |
Towns near Pace
- Pea Ridge, FL4.1 mi · 3,787 people · home $220,800
- Wallace, FL4.3 mi · 3,868 people · home $400,700
- Ferry Pass, FL6.7 mi · 29,921 people · home $260,100
- Milton, FL6.8 mi · 10,197 people · home $233,100
- Bagdad, FL7.5 mi · 4,467 people · home $227,900
- Gonzalez, FL7.5 mi · 14,586 people · home $278,300
- Point Baker, FL8.3 mi · 3,443 people · home $213,000
- Ensley, FL9.0 mi · 23,817 people · home $222,000
Pace questions
Is Pace, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pace scores better for retirees than 36% of Florida towns and quieter than 44%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Pace?
The median owner-occupied home in Pace is valued at $293,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,701, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,282 a month.
What is the weather like in Pace?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 42.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 67.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Pace get tornadoes?
53 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pace 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)