Jacksonville and Panama City-Panama City Beach receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Jacksonville | Panama City-Panama City Beach | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 207,906 | 211,922 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $68,148 | $71,514 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,305 | $39,174 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 273/sq mi | 158/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $236,400 | $294,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,265 | $1,456 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.7% | 68.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 4.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.9% | -0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.0% | 27.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 12.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,868 | 2,126 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 9.0 | 10.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 32.6% | -12.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 45°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 40 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 26.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 27.7 | 41.1 | 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
Jacksonville
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Panama City-Panama City Beach
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Jacksonville, NC Metro Area · Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology