CountyScore

Bay County

Florida · FL

#46 in Florida
62.2
County Score

County Report Card

About Bay County, Florida

Bay Ranks Solidly Above National Median

Bay County's composite score of 68.1 exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 36th percentile nationally. The county performs respectably on the national livability stage.

Slightly Below Florida Average

Bay's 68.1 score trails Florida's average of 69.4 by just 1.3 points, ranking it near the state middle. The county competes well among peers but has limited room for improvement to reach the top tier.

Tax Advantage and Solid Incomes

Bay County leads with a tax score of 85.5 and an effective tax rate of 0.597%, the second-lowest in this group. Median household income of $70,188 demonstrates solid earning power for working families.

Housing Costs Rising

The cost score of 64.7 reflects median gross rent of $1,424 and median home values of $276,900, on the higher end of this county group. Safety, health, schools, and environmental quality data remain pending.

Suits Middle-Income, Tax-Focused Families

Bay County appeals to households valuing tax efficiency and moderate income levels willing to accept moderately higher housing costs. The county offers a balanced mix of fiscal benefits and affordability trade-offs.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax85.5Cost64.7SafetyComing SoonHealth65.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome29.2Risk5.9WaterComing Soon
🏛85.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠64.7
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼29.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤65.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡5.9
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Bay County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Douglas County
Georgia
62.2
Median income: $80,764
Muscogee County
Georgia
62.2
Median income: $56,622
Sumter County
Georgia
62.2
Median income: $41,877
Douglas County
Illinois
62.2
Median income: $74,186
Linn County
Iowa
62.2
Median income: $76,421

Deep Dives

Bay County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Bay County

via TaxByCounty

Bay County keeps taxes moderate

Bay's effective tax rate of 0.597% falls notably below the national median of 0.73%, placing it near the 35th percentile nationally. The median property tax of $1,653 runs $1,037 below the national median despite home values nearly matching the national average.

Bay ranks among Florida's lowest

Bay County's 0.597% effective rate sits well below Florida's state average of 0.731%. Homeowners pay a median of $1,653 in annual taxes, nearly $230 less than the state average of $1,885.

Bay and Calhoun compete for lowest

Bay's 0.597% rate edges out several North Florida neighbors, including Alachua (0.983%) and Bradford (0.567%). Only Calhoun County undercuts Bay slightly at 0.554%, making this region a tax-conscious haven.

Your annual tax bill in Bay

On a median home value of $276,900, Bay residents pay approximately $1,653 in annual property taxes. With mortgage-related expenses factored in, the total bill reaches roughly $1,845 per year.

Review your assessment for savings

Some Bay County homeowners still overpay due to inflated assessments from recent market shifts. Filing an informal appeal with the Property Appraiser is cost-free and could uncover additional tax savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Bay County

via CostByCounty

Bay County rents squeeze middle-class budgets

Bay County renters devote 24.4% of income to housing—above the national comfort zone—on a median rent of $1,424. That's among the highest rents in North Florida despite a median income of $70,188, just shy of the national average.

Above-average housing costs across Florida

Bay's rent-to-income ratio of 24.4% exceeds Florida's 22.5% state average, and its $1,424 median rent ranks in the upper third of the state. The county's proximity to Panama City and coastal appeal drive these premium prices.

Most expensive option in the panhandle

Bay County's $1,424 rent dwarfs rural Calhoun ($680) and Bradford ($838) but also exceeds Alachua ($1,255). Only Brevard and Broward counties command higher monthly rents statewide.

Renters feel the pinch more than owners

Bay County renters pay 24.4% of income while homeowners spend 19.7%—a 4.7-point gap revealing rental market stress. The $276,900 median home value and $1,155 monthly owner cost suggest better long-term economics for buyers.

Coastal living carries a premium here

Bay County's beach proximity and Panama City amenities command premium rents exceeding most of Florida. Renters seeking more breathing room should compare Alachua or Bradford; homebuyers may find better value across the state.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Bay County

via IncomeByCounty

Bay matches national income levels

Bay County's median household income of $70,188 sits just $4,567 below the national median of $74,755, reflecting solid economic performance. This places Bay in the upper-middle tier of U.S. counties, driven largely by military installations and port-related employment.

Exceeds Florida's state median

Bay County's $70,188 income outpaces Florida's state average of $65,468 by nearly $5,000, ranking it in the top third of Florida counties. The county's strategic location on the Gulf Coast and military presence provide stable, well-paying employment opportunities.

Regional income leader with Brevard

Bay County ($70,188) matches Baker County ($70,833) and trails only Brevard County ($75,817) in the broader North-Central Florida region. Its per capita income of $38,856 also leads most neighbors, indicating broad-based economic strength across the community.

Housing costs hold steady at 24.4%

Bay County's rent-to-income ratio of 24.4% sits right in the sustainable range for household budgets. With median home values at $276,900, the county balances above-average incomes with reasonable housing costs, though post-hurricane recovery efforts continue to shape the market.

Leverage stability into long-term gains

Bay County's military and infrastructure jobs offer exceptional job security that provides a foundation for wealth-building strategies. Take advantage of this stability to max out retirement contributions, build emergency funds, and consider real estate investment as home values appreciate.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Bay County

via HealthByCounty

Bay County's health gap to America

At 74.2 years, Bay County residents live nearly 2 years less than the U.S. average of 76.1 years. The 16.9% poor/fair health rate is better than the national average of 21%, yet life expectancy lags, suggesting chronic underdiagnosis or late-stage treatment patterns.

Below-average life expectancy in Florida

Bay County's 74.2-year life expectancy trails the state average of 75.8 years by 1.6 years, placing it in Florida's lower-performing quartile. The 16.9% poor/fair health rate ranks slightly better than state peers, but the life expectancy gap hints at deeper healthcare access or economic challenges.

Compared to Panhandle peers

Bay's 74.2-year life expectancy outpaces Bradford County (74.1 years) by a hair but lags Alachua by 3.5 years. With 58 primary care providers per 100,000, Bay has more capacity than Bradford's 14 but remains below regional demand, straining access during peak seasons and after disasters.

Uninsured rates strain local safety nets

At 13.7% uninsured—above the state average of 14.4%—Bay County has more residents without coverage than Brevard or Alachua. The 280 mental health providers per 100,000 offer reasonable behavioral health access, but fragmented primary care means uninsured residents often skip preventive visits and land in emergency departments instead.

Insurance protects your wallet and health

Nearly 1 in 7 Bay County residents lack coverage, facing medical debt and delayed care that worsens outcomes. Explore options at healthcare.gov, Florida's marketplace, or local Federally Qualified Health Centers offering care regardless of insurance status—coverage prevents bankruptcy and catches disease early.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Bay County

via RiskByCounty

Bay County faces substantial hurricane exposure

Bay County's composite risk score of 94.12 ranks in the "Relatively Moderate" category, reflecting its Panhandle coastal location. This score significantly exceeds the U.S. average and positions the county among Florida's higher-risk areas.

Bay ranks high-risk among Florida counties

With a score of 94.12, Bay County exceeds Florida's 75.74 state average by nearly 25 percent. It ranks in the top tier of the state's counties for natural disaster exposure, driven primarily by its Gulf Coast position.

High-risk coastal position defines Bay

Bay County (94.12) significantly exceeds inland neighbors like Bradford (36.86) and Calhoun (44.94) counties. Its risk profile mirrors other Gulf Coast counties, though it ranks slightly below Broward (99.46) and Charlotte (95.20) in overall exposure.

Hurricanes and tornadoes pose dual threats

Hurricane risk dominates at 98.67, making coastal storms Bay County's primary concern, while tornado risk (94.08) adds significant secondary exposure. Combined, these two hazards drive the county's elevated composite risk across most seasons.

Comprehensive wind and flood coverage essential

Bay County residents must secure homeowners insurance with robust hurricane wind coverage, given the 98.67 risk score. Flood insurance is critical for properties in coastal zones and low-lying areas, and consider elevating utilities if you're near storm surge zones.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.