The Town FilesPanama City, Florida
City in Bay County · population 32,939 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $268,900
- Household income
- $62,265
- Jan low / Jul high
- 43° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 39.5
Panama City is a city of 32,939 people in Bay County, Florida. The median home is worth $268,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks more seaside character than 82% of Florida towns, hipper than 81% of Florida towns, better transit than 76% of Florida towns.
How Panama City 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 is worth $268,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $62,265, which is more affordable than 58% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,327 a month. 56.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Panama City | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $268,900 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,327 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $62,265 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 56.3% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Panama City
| People | Panama City | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.4% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.6% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 10.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 92.4% |
Weather in Panama City
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
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Panama City since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 10, 1967 about 4.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 56 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on January 9, 2024.
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 itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Panama City
34 public schools with 16,977 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEANE BOZEMAN SCHOOL | PK-12 | 1,648 | 19.4 |
| RUTHERFORD HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 1,423 | 19.0 |
| BAY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,298 | 22.4 |
| NORTH BAY HAVEN CAREER ACADEMY (charter) | 9-12 | 882 | 24.5 |
| BAY HAVEN CHARTER ACADEMY (charter) | K-5 | 765 | 15.9 |
| TOMMY SMITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 731 | 18.3 |
| UNIVERSITY ACADEMY SABL INC (charter) | K-8 | 707 | 18.6 |
| DEER POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 707 | 16.8 |
| NORTH BAY HAVEN CHARTER ACADEMY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (charter) | K-5 | 694 | 15.8 |
| MERRITT BROWN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 680 | 18.4 |
| HILAND PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 676 | 16.9 |
| JINKS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 583 | 17.7 |
Towns near Panama City
- Lynn Haven, FL6.4 mi · 18,695 people · home $320,000
- Springfield, FL6.5 mi · 8,075 people · home $188,600
- Cedar Grove, FL7.0 mi · 3,148 people · home $176,100
- Callaway, FL7.6 mi · 13,045 people · home $250,300
- Parker, FL8.7 mi · 4,010 people · home $224,200
- Pretty Bayou, FL10.4 mi · 2,911 people · home $298,900
- Upper Grand Lagoon, FL14.0 mi · 15,778 people · home $373,200
- Lower Grand Lagoon, FL14.8 mi · 4,398 people · home $397,200
Panama City questions
Is Panama City, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Panama City scores better for retirees than 35% of Florida towns and quieter than 31%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Panama City?
The median owner-occupied home in Panama City is valued at $268,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,265, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,327 a month.
What is the weather like in Panama City?
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 Panama City get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Panama City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 10, 1967. 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)