RANK #432 / 1001 NAT · #16 / 41 FL · POP 325,923
1YR FORECAST: -0.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +18%
Escambia County, Florida, is distinguished by Naval Air Station Pensacola, known as the "Cradle of Naval Aviation" and home to the Blue Angels flight demonstration team. Located in the westernmost part of the Florida Panhandle, bordering Alabama and the Gulf of Mexico, the county seat is Pensacola. Commutes average 23.5 minutes, with public transit options including fixed-route bus service and trolleys in Pensacola and on the University of West Florida campus. The community offers access to white sand beaches and emerald Gulf waters at places like Perdido Key State Park and Big Lagoon State Park, which provide opportunities for swimming, fishing, kayaking, and hiking.
Life in Escambia County blends suburban and urban elements, attracting families, retirees, and young professionals. The economy is diversified, with significant contributions from the military, tourism, and healthcare. Naval Air Station Pensacola is a major employer, with over 16,000 military and 7,400 civilian personnel. The county also focuses on environmental initiatives, including marine resource management and coastal restoration projects, such as dune restoration and living shorelines. The Escambia County School District serves the area, with schools like Pensacola High School.
Escambia County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.4% YoY, population +0.8%, wages +4.0%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 9.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Escambia County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Escambia County scores 56/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#432). Median household income is $67,500 and job growth is running at +0.7%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Escambia County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $257,200 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.26, with rents averaging $1,321/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Escambia County's population is growing — up +0.8% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.7%). Home values shifted +1.4% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.01% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Escambia County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.