Cost Of Living
Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.
Crime
Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.
Employment
Higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates are seen in this area. The result is a high score in the employment category.
Housing
High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.
Health & Safety
Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.
Amenities
The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.
Commute
A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.
Located in the state of Florida, Panama City Beach is a medium-sized city with a population of 12,747 residents. According to the most recent Census, 82% of Panama City Beach residents are White, 9% Black and 4% Asian.
Are you trying to decide if living in Panama City Beach is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a positive experience before relocating to any new city in Florida, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. To help you find the best places to live in and around Panama City Beach, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, crime, commute, health & safety, housing and more.
Panama City Beach, FL receives 69 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #417 in Florida and #7,386 in the USA. If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Panama City Beach has higher than average rankings for the following: cost of living (B), education (B-), employment (B+) and housing (A+). The bad news for Panama City Beach, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (D-) and crime (F).
Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that Panama City Beach has an unemployment rate of 1.71% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages, as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving local economy.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Panama City Beach has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Assuming that Panama City Beach meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Panama City Beach. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Panama City Beach are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Panama City Beach come in at $266,900, which is 60% higher than the Florida average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Panama City Beach, the home price to income ratio is 4.1, which is 20.6% higher than the Florida average.
| Statistic | Panama City Beach | Florida | National |
| Average one way commute | 22min | 27min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 83.1% | 79.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.4% | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.0% | 2.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 0.7% | 1.5% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 6.2% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
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