Bay County, Florida Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Bay County is located in Florida with a total population of 181,368. It is the 30th most populous county out of 67 in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bay County is 41.4 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 42.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bay County is $70,188. This is 2% lower than the state median of $71,711. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 11% lower. The poverty rate stands at 11.7%. This is 8% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $276,900. Housing costs are 15% lower than the state median of $325,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x. 68.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bay County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 73.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 9.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (8.4%) is well below the state average of 26.8%.

Education

28.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 16% lower than the state rate of 33.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.8%.