Gulfport-Biloxi receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Ocala
Gulfport-Biloxi
Opportunity
41 · Bottom 21%
vs58 · Top 44%
Growth
79 · Top 7%
vs76 · Top 10%
Climate
84 · Top 3%
vs78 · Top 7%
Physical resilience
22 · Bottom 11%
vs25 · Bottom 14%
Housing affordability
73 · Bottom 14%
vs90 · Bottom 36%
Access
70 · Bottom 38%
vs85 · Top 33%
Economic stability
30 · Bottom 20%
vs43 · Bottom 39%
Measured values
| Metric | Ocala | Gulfport-Biloxi | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 400,078 | 421,201 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,010 | $62,418 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,539 | $34,345 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 252/sq mi | 190/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $243,100 | $205,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,277 | $1,097 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.5% | 68.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.7% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.1% | -0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.4% | 26.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 15.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 5,645 | 3,323 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 14.1 | 7.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -11.0% | 6.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 46°F | 42°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 51.6" | 62.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 57 mi | 28 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 27.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 47.9 | 39.8 | 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
Ocala
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, wildfire.
Gulfport-Biloxi
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, coastal flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Ocala
57
Your Score
55
Area Score
Gulfport-Biloxi
65
Your Score
63
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Ocala, FL Metro Area · Gulfport-Biloxi, MS Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology