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Living in
West Pensacola.
West Pensacola is an unincorporated community in Escambia County, FL. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in West Pensacola
Living in West Pensacola means settling into a working-class neighborhood that's genuinely affordable compared to most of Florida—median home values around $116k and rent under $1,100 keeps housing costs reasonable enough that you're not drowning in expenses, which matters when the median household income sits around $41k. The area is solidly urban (it's only 4 miles from downtown), so you've got walkable pockets and local spots without the sprawl, though you'll still need a car for most errands and the 24-minute average commute to jobs elsewhere. The community here is diverse and rooted—about a third African American, with growing Asian and white populations—and locals actually stick around rather than treating this as a temporary stop, which gives the neighborhood real stability and multigenerational social ties.
West Pensacola at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
25.8%
Foreign-Born
5.8%
Broadband Internet
83.9%
of households
Population Growth
-1.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in West Pensacola: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West Pensacola, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (19.3%), and 4.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.8%
of residents
65 and Older
16.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.6%
of households
Married Couples
29.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.40
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 32% below FL average
Rent, home values, and income in West Pensacola
In West Pensacola, rent runs 32% below the FL average, and home values are 68% below the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$670
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
49.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.9%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above FL average
Unemployment in West Pensacola
Unemployment in Escambia County, which includes West Pensacola, is 0.4 percentage points higher than the FL average.
Unemployment rate
West Pensacola: Escambia County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Escambia County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What West Pensacola Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.9 min avg
How West Pensacola residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West Pensacola, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 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 51% above national average
Crime rates for 2020
Older dataThe latest complete year reported to the FBI is 2020. It's compared with the national rate for 2020.
Violent crime in the area policed by the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, which covers West Pensacola, runs 51% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
601.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (399 national, 2020)
Property Crime Rate
2,553.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,955 national, 2020)
Policed by Escambia County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
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 West 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 West 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
West 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
68.3"
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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in West Pensacola
Uninsured
18.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside West Pensacola's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Sacred Heart Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.7 mi away · Pensacola
HCA Florida West Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7 mi away · Pensacola
Gulf Breeze Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8 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.
Education16.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West Pensacola
West Pensacola's student/teacher ratio is 16.0:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 13.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
13.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near West Pensacola (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 9,330 students · in-state tuition $6,360 · 64% graduate · median earnings $52,902 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,538 students · in-state tuition $2,363 · 37% graduate · median earnings $41,050 (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, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for West Pensacola
West Pensacola has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Gulf Islands National Seashore (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gulf Islands National Seashore
National Seashore
7 mi awayPublic Libraries in West Pensacola
Brownsville Community Center
3200 W. Desoto Street, Pensacola
Ebonwood Community Center
3511 W. Scott Street, Pensacola
Cities Near West Pensacola
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West Pensacola?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West Pensacola FAQ
Is West Pensacola, Florida affordable?⌄
West Pensacola's median rent is $1,138/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $40,511/year. Median home value is $116,100.
Is West Pensacola, Florida safe?⌄
West Pensacola is policed by the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 602 per 100,000 residents in 2020, which is above the national average of 399/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2554 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in West Pensacola, Florida?⌄
Escambia County, which includes West Pensacola, has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in West Pensacola, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in West Pensacola is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,138/month and median household income is $40,511/year. The median home value is $116,100. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in West Pensacola, Florida?⌄
The average commute in West Pensacola is 25 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