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Panama City, Florida Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Panama City, Florida had a total population of 34,979, the 125th largest city in Florida, with a median household income of $62,265, which is 16% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 17.6%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Panama City Quick Facts

Population 34,979
Median Household Income $62,265
Median Home Value $268,900
Poverty Rate 17.6%
Unemployment Rate 4.5%
Median Age 39.5 years
Homeownership Rate 56.3%
Affordability Ratio 4.3x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 26.5%
High School Graduation Rate 90.4%
Diversity Index 56/100
Population 34,979 125th of 955
Median Income $62,265 below average
Poverty Rate 17.6% 42% higher than national
Median Home Value $268,900 below average

How Panama City Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population34,21134,979+2.2%
Median household income$61,125$62,265+1.9%
Median home value$243,200$268,900+10.6%

How Panama City Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 20.2%
$25K-$50K 19.9%
$50K-$100K 31.9%
$100K+ 28.1%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.7%
$10K-$15K
4.8%
$15K-$20K
4.0%
$20K-$25K
5.7%
$25K-$30K
3.1%
$30K-$35K
3.5%
$35K-$40K
3.3%
$40K-$45K
5.1%
$45K-$50K
4.9%
$50K-$60K
7.0%
$60K-$75K
12.4%
$75K-$100K
12.5%
$100K-$125K
10.4%
$125K-$150K
5.3%
$150K-$200K
4.7%
$200K+
7.7%

Employment

4.5% Unemployment Rate State: 4.8%|National: 5.2%
63.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 56.3%
Renter 43.7%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.3x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,327/mo 25.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

56out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 65 | National average: 61

Education

Panama City Rankings in Florida

#125 Population of 955
#605 Median Income of 911
#513 Education of 955
#600 Home Value of 901

Other Cities in Bay County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Lynn Haven 20,081 $80,973 6.5% $320,000
Panama City Beach 18,971 $80,941 10.0% $441,300
Upper Grand Lagoon 17,232 $82,157 8.1% $373,200
Callaway 13,496 $65,609 9.6% $250,300
Springfield 8,230 $54,462 22.3% $188,600
Parker 4,509 $69,657 6.8% $224,200
Lower Grand Lagoon 4,287 $74,044 15.3% $397,200
Laguna Beach 3,830 $76,607 5.5% $438,100
Cedar Grove 3,802 $74,625 17.5% $176,100
Pretty Bayou 2,906 $85,208 5.8% $298,900

Cities Similar to Panama City

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Haines City34,234$65,975$288,90019.7%16.1%
Biscayne Gardens35,472$55,165$414,80019.4%22.6%
West Little River33,890$56,436$375,30018.3%17.7%
Kendall West35,912$69,554$409,50032.9%11.9%
Egypt Lake-Leto35,873$54,032$315,10024.6%16.8%

Population Overview

Panama City is a mid-sized community located in Florida, within Bay County. The total population is 34,979. It ranks as the 125th most populous out of 955 Census-designated places in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Panama City is 39.5 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 42.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Panama City is $62,265. This is 16% lower than the state median of $74,568. It is also 23% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.6%. This is 40% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 8% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $268,900. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $359,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 56.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% lower than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Panama City is White (non-Hispanic), making up 61.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 20.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (9.7%) is well below the state average of 27.4%.

Education

26.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 34.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Panama City, Florida is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Florida state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 955 Census-designated places in Florida. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Panama City, Florida?

Panama City, Florida has a population of 34,979 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Panama City, FL?

The median household income in Panama City is $62,265, which is 23% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Panama City, FL?

The poverty rate in Panama City is 17.6%. This means approximately 6,030 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Panama City, Florida?

Panama City's population is 61.8% White, 20.1% Black, 9.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.7% Asian.

What is the median home value in Panama City, FL?

The median home value in Panama City is $268,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x.

How educated is Panama City, Florida?

26.5% of adults (25+) in Panama City hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 10.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.