The Pensacola metro is home to 516,994 people (up 7.3% over five years), with a median household income of $73,588. Typical rent of $1,735/month works out to 28.3% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Pensacola's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 23.0% |
| Retail trade | 12.2% |
| Professional & management | 11.9% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 10.6% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 9.5% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 28.3% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Pensacola market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,735/month suggests a household income around $69,000/year. The metro's median household income is $73,588.
By workforce share: Education & health care (23.0%), Retail trade (12.2%), Professional & management (11.9%) (Census ACS 5-year).