Thinking of Moving to Pensacola?

Discover what living in the Panhandle is like.

If you're thinking about relocating to Pensacola and in the process of researching various cities around Florida, you're in the right place. This page has been assembled to help you gain a better understanding of Pensacola and the Emerald Coast of Florida, what the area offers residents in terms of lifestyle, amenities, employment and healthcare. We also encourage you to reach out to Natalie Carmichael, our Pensacola relocation expert as she is glad to answer any questions you may have about the area, including the Pensacola real estate market, housing and living costs.

About Pensacola, FL

Pensacola is the most northwestern city in the Florida panhandle and is only 13 miles from the Alabama state border. The waterfront city, known for its white sand beaches and rich historical past, offers year-round residents a high-quality of life with endless outdoor activities, a strong employment market and top-rated healthcare. Pensacola’s population is approximately 54,000 (total Escambia County population is 321,905 persons).

Experience Pensacola and our beautiful white-sand beaches in the below video. Make sure your volume is on.

Pensacola Awards and Accolades

Pensacola commonly receives awards and accolades each year for it Gulf beaches, top-rated healthcare and area attractions. View recent awards below.

• 2022
  
  Pensacola Ranks as a TOP 10 "Best Place to Retire" - US News & World Report

  Pensacola Beach Recognized as a "Top White Sand Beach" in Florida - Trips to Discover
• 2021
  
  Pensacola is Named the 5th "Best Place to Live" in Florida - US News & World Report

  Pensacola Ranks as a Top 10 City To Retire In Florida - Investment U
• 2020
  
  Pensacola Named as 1 of 12 Best Cities to Visit in Florida - Trips To Discover

  Pensacola Beach Ranks as the #4 Top Beach in the USA - Trip Advisor

  Pensacola Named as a Top 100 "Best Small City in America" - Resonance Consultancy

Top 10 Reasons to Relocate to Pensacola

1. Pensacola is a Top-Rated City to Live In
   
   With its small-town charm, rich historic heritage, emerald-colored gulf waters and attractive real estate prices, Pensacola is commonly ranked as a top Florida city to call home. In 2021, Penscola was offically ranked as the #5 "Best Place to Live" in all of Florida by US News & World Report (see rankings below).
   
   

   FLORIDA'S BEST PLACES
   TO LIVE
    IN 2021 

   Best Places to Live in Florida (2021)

   #	City Name	Average Home Price	Average Age
   1	Naples, FL	$546,165	66.0
   2	Sarasota, FL	$447,009	49.2
   3	Melbourne, FL	$344,751	42.6
   4	Jacksonville, FL	$288,061	35.9
   5	Pensacola, FL	$233,357	36.9

     Source: US News & World Report

   Close Window

   View of Pensacola Beach from the Gulf Pier
2. Pensacola Has Beautiful White Sand Beaches
   
   Pensacola's gulf beaches rank among the most beautiful in all of Florida and regularly receive top ratings each year by popular review sites such as Trip Advisor, Dr. Beach and USA Today. In 2020, Pensacola Beach officially ranked as the #4 "Best Beach in America" by Trip Advisor. The sugar like white powder sand, which stays cool on a hot summer's day, is located along the barrier islands of Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. See the coastline from the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier.
3. Pensacola Offers Affordable Real Estate
   
   The Pensacola real estate market offers some of the most attractive housing prices in all of Florida as compared to the larger, more poluated metropolitan areas of the state. In early April of 2022, the median Pensacola home price is $233,357 and this represents a 30% year-over-year increase. Living gulf side or on the Intracoastal waterway will cost you more for the amazing water views. For exact housing prices and a list of current homes matching your criteria, contact Natalie Carmichael, our Pensacola relocation expert listed on this page.
4. Florida Does Not Have a State Income Tax
   
   One of the biggest benefits of being a Florida resident is the lack of a state income tax. This allows you to keep more of your income. In place of the state tax, Florida earns revenues from the millions of tourists that vacation in our state each year through a 7% sales tax (state level) and a 5% tourist tax (county level) on revenues from rental properties and hotel stays that are for a term of six month or less. Once you become a Florida resident, you will be thankful for the tourists as they pay your share of the state taxes.
5. Pensacola is a Year-Round Playground for Outdoor Activities
   
   With 224 sunny days each year and average temperature of 68' year-round, Pensacola is a the ideal city to enjoy outdoor activities by land, sea and air. If you enjoy playing on the water, experience stand-up paddle boarding, kayak through our mangroves or go for a boat ride. By land, play a round of golf or explore our many recreational parks and nature trails. If you're feeling more adventurous, try parasailing or paragliding over the gulf.
6. Pensacola Has Great Cuisine & Dining Options
   
   Downtown Pensacola area and the surrounding keys offering many great dining choices. The quaint, historic downtown area offers a full mix of cuisines from casual eateries to 5-star, fine dining restaurants. Pensacola also offers hip and trendy craft beers establishments that have live entertainment, many on a daily basis. If you preference is dining with a water view, there are lots of popular places near Pensacola Bay and Seville Harbor.
7. Pensacola Has Top-Rated Healthcare
   
   When relocating to a new city, especially in your retirement years, it's important to have quality healthcare available to you for regular check-ups and emergency care. Pensacola's main hospital, West Florida Hospital, has been Named One of the Nation's 100 Top Hospitals for Three Years in a Row by Truven Health Analytics. Truven Health Analytics is a part of IBM Watson Health.
8. Pensacola Has a Strong Employment Market
   
   Pensacola's job and employment market has been very strong in recent years with an unemployment rate in the low 4% range (below the nation's average). Top sectors of employment in the Pensacola area include military, tourism and hospitality, medical and healthcare services, education, retail and various professional services. The largest non-military employers in Escambia County include the local School District, Baptist Health Care Corporation and The University of West Florida.
9. Pensacola is Rich with Historical Heritage
   
   Pensacola is said to be the first European settlement in the New World as the city lies claim to the nation's first settlement by Spanish sailor Don Tristan de Luna in 1559. Residents and visitors alike can view popular historical sites contained with an eight-and-a-half acre Historic Pensacola Village district located downtown Pensacola. This area includes many popular historical sites such as the Pensacola Lighthouse, Fort Pickens, Fort Barrancas and Emanual Point just to name a few.

   Close Window

   An old war canon at Fort Pickens
10. Many Wildlife, Parks & Nature Trails to Explore
    
    The Pensacola area offers miles of natural Florida beauty and wildlife along its protected Gulf Coast, which is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. On Pensacola Beach, one popular attraction is the 8.5 mile Eco-Trail which allows you to experience the local ecology including wild birds, turtles, crabs and sea life. There are 29 stops total on the eco-trail. Each stop provides you with maps and pictures to guide you in your exploration of the winding trail.