© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Pensacola.
About
Life in Pensacola
If you're considering Pensacola, understand that military presence shapes everything here—the Naval Air Station is the dominant employer and cultural anchor, which brings stability but also means the economy doesn't diversify much beyond that. The cost of living is reasonable; median rent around $1,322 monthly and median home values near $314,400 are manageable compared to many Florida markets, though housing inventory can tighten after hurricane seasons. The weather is typically mild winters (average January temps around 53°F) with hot, humid summers reaching the low 90s and frequent afternoon thunderstorms—but here's the real trade-off: Pensacola sits squarely in hurricane territory.
Pensacola at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.6%
Foreign-Born
5.1%
Broadband Internet
92.4%
of households
Population Growth
-1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.1% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Pensacola: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Pensacola, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (15.6%), and 2.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.7%
of residents
65 and Older
21.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.5%
of households
Married Couples
35.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.12
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 21% below FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Pensacola
In Pensacola, rent runs 21% below the FL average, and home values are 12% below the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,852
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $264,868 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for FL
Unemployment in Pensacola
Unemployment in Pensacola is close to the FL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Pensacola Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22 min avg
How Pensacola residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Pensacola, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 76% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Pensacola International Airport (PNS)
Small hub1.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 76% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Pensacola runs 76% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
78.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
383.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Pensacola Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Escambia County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Escambia County, which includes Pensacola, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Tornado | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 12 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2020 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 2 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2018 | 12 | Rip Current | $60,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Escambia County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Escambia County, which includes Pensacola, is typically good — 269 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
269
per year
Moderate Days
95
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Escambia County, county-wide
Climate91°F summers, 46°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Pensacola has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and warm winters (avg low 46°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/60°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/75°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/61°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
65°/46°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
69.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
68
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
11
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
115
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63°F | 44°F | 5.03" |
| Feb | 66°F | 47°F | 4.77" |
| Mar | 72°F | 53°F | 5.25" |
| Apr | 78°F | 59°F | 5.52" |
| May | 85°F | 67°F | 3.90" |
| Jun | 90°F | 74°F | 7.32" |
| Jul | 92°F | 75°F | 7.89" |
| Aug | 91°F | 75°F | 7.50" |
| Sep | 89°F | 72°F | 6.61" |
| Oct | 81°F | 62°F | 4.70" |
| Nov | 72°F | 51°F | 4.42" |
| Dec | 65°F | 46°F | 5.40" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Pensacola
Pensacola has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
11.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Sacred Heart Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Baptist Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
HCA Florida West Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.4 mi away · Pensacola
Gulf Breeze Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.1 mi away · Gulf Breeze
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education20.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Pensacola
Pensacola's student/teacher ratio is 20.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 43.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
18
within city limits
Private Schools
11
within city limits
College Degree Rate
43.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Pensacola
Public · 2-year · 7,538 students · in-state tuition $2,363 · 37% graduate · median earnings $41,050 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 9,330 students · in-state tuition $6,360 · 64% graduate · median earnings $52,902 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Gulf Islands National Seashore, 9 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Pensacola
Pensacola has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Gulf Islands National Seashore (9 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gulf Islands National Seashore
National Seashore
9 mi awayPublic Libraries in Pensacola
West Florida Public Library System
239 North Spring Street, Pensacola
Lucia M. Tryon Branch
1200 Langley Avenue, Pensacola
West Florida Genealogy Library
5740 North Ninth Avenue, Pensacola
Westside Branch Library
1301 West Gregory Street, Pensacola
Cities Near Pensacola
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Pensacola?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Pensacola FAQ
Is Pensacola, Florida affordable?⌄
Pensacola's median rent is $1,322/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $74,212/year. Median home value is $314,400.
Is Pensacola, Florida safe?⌄
Pensacola's violent crime rate was 78 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 383 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Pensacola, Florida?⌄
Pensacola has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Pensacola, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Pensacola is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,322/month and median household income is $74,212/year. The median home value is $314,400. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Pensacola, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Pensacola is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from