32502 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
32502
32548
Opportunity
49 · Bottom 38%
vs43 · Bottom 26%
Growth
41 · Bottom 35%
vs40 · Bottom 34%
Climate
81 · Top 17%
vs78 · Top 22%
Physical resilience
14 · Bottom 10%
vs19 · Bottom 13%
Housing affordability
64 · Bottom 27%
vs63 · Bottom 26%
Access
72 · Bottom 13%
vs87 · Bottom 32%
Economic stability
46 · Bottom 27%
vs45 · Bottom 25%
Measured values
| Metric | 32502 | 32548 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,231 | 23,774 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,207 | $65,342 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,880 | $40,604 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,576/sq mi | 1,970/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $307,800 | $321,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,461 | $1,345 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.0% | 58.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.6% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.6% | 33.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 15.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 114 | 33 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.1 | 1.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -1.7% | 153.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 44°F | 45°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 68.3" | 55.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 49 mi | 26 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 25.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.8 | 40.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
32502
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
32548
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: 32502 — Pensacola, FL · 32548 — Fort Walton Beach, FL · How this is calculated: methodology