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COUNTY

Bay County

Florida · 204,479 residents (2025 est.) · 759 sq mi
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Part of the Panama City metro area
The short version

Bay County is a county of 186,393 people in Florida. Few US counties rank higher on income. 38,176 more people live here than in 2000. About 30% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The foreign-born share is 9%. 82% were living in the same home a year earlier.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 104%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
186,393
+26%since 2000
from 148,217 in 2000
204,479 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
246 / sq mi
+14%since 2009
from 215 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
41.0
+10%since 2000
from 37.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
759 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
121K139K157K175K192K19902000201020202024Bay County
2024186K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.5%(10,295)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.9%(10,905)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.1%(11,369)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.4%(10,072)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.8%(10,809)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.4%(24,939)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.9%(24,036)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.3%(22,870)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.5%(27,020)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411%(20,522)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.4%(10,055)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.9%(3,501)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$73,533
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,092 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$40,782
+118%since 2000
from $18,700 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.9%
+23.5 ptssince 2009
from 25.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.441
+6%since 2010
from 0.416 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services7.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade5.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$310,500
+104%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $83,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,484
+52%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $536 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.8%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 68.6% in 2000
33.2% rent
Vacancy rate
27.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.33 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.32 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
22.9%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 29.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
57.2%
+14.4 ptssince 2009
from 42.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.2
+10%since 2009
from 3.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
66
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic82.8%(122,708)
Black10.5%(15,526)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(3,591)
Asian1.7%(2,534)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic72.7%(135,483)
Black9.8%(18,301)
Hispanic / Latino9.2%(17,061)
Asian2%(3,806)
Other6.3%(11,742)
Diversity Score
56
+32%since 2009
from 43 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
28
−4%since 2020
from 30 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.8%(5,234)
Puerto Rican2.1%(3,941)
Central American1.7%(3,078)
South American1.3%(2,342)
Honduran0.8%(1,584)
Cuban0.6%(1,177)
Colombian0.4%(662)
Venezuelan0.3%(537)
Panamanian0.2%(414)
Argentine0.2%(381)
Dominican0.2%(349)
Nicaraguan0.2%(319)
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data
Guatemalan0.2%(312)
Peruvian0.2%(296)
Spaniard0.2%(289)
Chilean0.1%(241)
Salvadoran0.1%(225)
Costa Rican0.1%(224)
Ecuadorian0.1%(142)
Uruguayan0%(44)
Bolivian0%(32)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.5%(1,018)
Filipino0.5%(948)
Korean0.3%(546)
Asian Indian0.2%(438)
Chinese0.2%(291)
Thai0.1%(220)
Pakistani0.1%(191)
Japanese0%(50)
Laotian0%(19)
Taiwanese0%(15)
Pacific Islander origin
Guamanian0%(82)
Chamorro0%(74)
Samoan0%(31)
Ancestry
English13.9%(25,873)
Irish11%(20,511)
German10.6%(19,790)
American8.8%(16,423)
Italian3.8%(7,156)
French2.8%(5,254)
Scottish2.3%(4,268)
Polish2%(3,717)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(2,387)
Norwegian1%(1,837)
West Indian1%(1,823)
Dutch0.8%(1,545)
+ 46 more ancestry groups with data
Jamaican0.8%(1,402)
British0.7%(1,313)
Swedish0.6%(1,123)
Arab0.5%(1,013)
Welsh0.5%(840)
Greek0.4%(721)
Czech0.3%(649)
Russian0.3%(634)
Brazilian0.2%(454)
Egyptian0.2%(447)
Portuguese0.2%(430)
Danish0.2%(376)
Guyanese0.2%(376)
Hungarian0.2%(348)
Lithuanian0.2%(290)
Austrian0.2%(289)
Ukrainian0.1%(269)
Finnish0.1%(268)
Canadian0.1%(250)
Swiss0.1%(241)
Lebanese0.1%(200)
Belgian0.1%(162)
Palestinian0.1%(131)
Turkish0.1%(115)
Moroccan0.1%(102)
Cape Verdean0.1%(100)
Syrian0.1%(99)
Slovak0.1%(96)
Croatian0.1%(94)
Haitian0%(75)
Bulgarian0%(70)
Ghanaian0%(67)
Romanian0%(56)
Latvian0%(46)
Ethiopian0%(46)
Israeli0%(19)
Slovene0%(19)
Serbian0%(17)
Armenian0%(15)
Barbadian0%(15)
Iranian0%(9)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.6%
+12.0 ptssince 2000
from 17.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.4%
+10.4 ptssince 2000
from 81.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.7%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 6.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.9 min
+76%since 2000
from 13.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.1%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 80.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.1%
+7.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.9%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 8.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.6%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 65.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
74.2%
+3.3 ptssince 2020
from 70.9% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
11.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.7%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 30.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
8.6%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
13.6%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.4%
+2.1 ptssince 2012
from 15.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
14.4%
−4.3 ptssince 2013
from 18.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.8%
+12.4 ptssince 2017
from 80.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
97.3%
+3.7 ptssince 2020
from 93.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
82.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2020
from 79.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
89.1%
−4.0 ptssince 2016
from 93.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.7%
+3.4 ptssince 2016
from 3.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.4%(23,123)
Married54.6%(41,512)
Widowed2.7%(2,056)
Divorced12.2%(9,271)
Women 15+
Never married24.4%(19,029)
Married51.8%(40,298)
Widowed9.2%(7,131)
Divorced14.6%(11,404)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
14.4%
−4.3 ptssince 2013
from 18.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
41.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 42.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
17.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2020
from 15.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
20.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 20.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
17.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2020
from 18.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
4.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2020
from 5.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
63.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2020
from 65.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
36.8%
−1.3 ptssince 2020
from 38.1% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)35.6%(6,996)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)43.5%(8,550)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era26.6%(5,224)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War3.3%(652)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.6%(126)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 19,659 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Pop 194,170
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Places similar to Bay County
Head to head

Compare Bay County to nearby counties

BAY COUNTY VS
Calhoun County
Income$50,517−31%
Home value$145,300−53%
Population13,289−94%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAY COUNTY VS
Gulf County
Income$61,179−17%
Home value$250,000−19%
Population15,943−92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAY COUNTY VS
Washington County
Income$58,210−21%
Home value$171,000−45%
Population26,695−87%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAY COUNTY VS
Liberty County
Income$58,671−20%
Home value$127,300−59%
Population8,035−96%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Bay County, Florida?

Bay County, Florida has about 186,393 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Bay County, Florida?

The typical household in Bay County, Florida earns about $73,533 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Bay County, Florida expensive?

In Bay County, Florida, the median home is worth about $310,500, and the typical rent is about $1,484 a month.

How educated are people in Bay County, Florida?

About 29.6% of adults age 25 and over in Bay County, Florida hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Bay County, Florida?

About 11.9% of people in Bay County, Florida live below the federal poverty line.

Has Bay County, Florida grown since 1990?

Yes, Bay County, Florida has grown since 1990. The population has added about 59,399 residents, a change of about 47 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →