Panama City Beach city, Florida Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Panama City Beach city is a small city located in Florida. The total population is 18,493. It ranks as the 217th most populous out of 953 cities and towns in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Panama City Beach city is 45.2 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 42.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Panama City Beach city is $78,921. This is 10% higher than the state median of $71,711. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is about average. The poverty rate stands at 8.2%. This is 35% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.5%. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $417,800. Housing costs are 29% higher than the state median of $325,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x. 62.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Panama City Beach city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (77.8% vs 51.4%). The Black or African American population (7.1%) is well below the state average of 14.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (8.6%) is well below the state average of 26.8%.

Education

36.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% higher 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 94.5%. Notably, 15.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Panama City Beach city, Florida is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Florida state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 953 Census-designated places in Florida. For official data, visit data.census.gov.