Pensacola Awards and Accolades

• 2024
  Pensacola Named a “Best Beach Town to Retire in the U.S.” – US News & World Report Pensacola Ranks as a TOP 10 “Best Place” to Live in Florida – Forbes
• 2023
  Pensacola Named a Top 10 “Best Small City in the U.S.” – Conde Nast Traveler  Pensacola Beach Recognized as a “Top White Sand Beach” in Florida – Trips to Discover

Top 10 Reasons to Relocate to Pensacola

1. Pensacola is a Top-Rated City to Retire In
   With its small-town charm, rich historic heritage, emerald-colored gulf waters and attractive real estate prices, Pensacola is commonly ranked as a top Florida city to retire in. In March of 2024, Penscola was offically ranked as a “Top 10” Best Beach Town to Retire In by US News & World Report ( view ranking ).
2. Pensacola Has Beautiful White Sand Beaches
   Pensacola’s gulf beaches rank among the most beautiful in all of Florida and regularly receive top ratings each year by popular review sites such as Trip Advisor, Dr. Beach and USA Today. In 2024, Pensacola Beach ranks as a “Top 10” “Best Beach in Florida” by Trip Advisor. The sugar like white powder sand, which stays cool on a hot summer’s day, is located along the barrier islands of Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. See the coastline view from the Pensacola’s Gulf Pier.
3. Pensacola Offers Affordable Real Estate
   The Pensacola real estate market offers some of the most attractive housing prices in all of Florida as compared to the larger, more poluated metropolitan areas of the state. At the start of April 2024, the median Pensacola home price is $264,741 and this represents a 2.4% year-over-year increase. Living gulf side or on the Intracoastal waterway will cost you more for the amazing water views. For exact housing prices and a list of current homes matching your criteria, contact Laura Reynolds, our Pensacola relocation expert listed on this page.
4. Florida Does Not Have a State Income Tax
   One of the biggest benefits of being a Florida resident is the lack of a state income tax. This allows you to keep more of your income. In place of the state tax, Florida earns revenues from the millions of tourists that vacation in our state each year through a 7% sales tax (state level) and a 5% tourist tax (county level) on revenues from rental properties and hotel stays that are for a term of six month or less. Once you become a Florida resident, you will be thankful for the tourists as they pay your share of the state taxes.
5. Pensacola is a Year-Round Playground for Outdoor Activities
   With 224 sunny days each year and average temperature of 68′ year-round, Pensacola is a the ideal city to enjoy outdoor activities by land, sea and air. If you enjoy playing on the water, experience stand-up paddle boarding, kayak in the Bay or go for a boat ride. By land, play a round of golf or explore our many recreational parks and nature trails. If you’re feeling more adventurous, try parasailing or paragliding over the gulf.
6. Pensacola Has Great Cuisine & Dining Options
   Downtown Pensacola area and the surrounding keys offering many great dining choices. The quaint, historic downtown area offers a full mix of cuisines from casual eateries to 5-star, fine dining restaurants. Pensacola also offers hip and trendy craft beers establishments that have live entertainment, many on a daily basis. If you preference is dining with a water view, there are lots of popular places near Pensacola Bay and Seville Harbor.
7. Pensacola Has Top-Rated Healthcare
   When relocating to a new city, especially in your retirement years, it’s important to have quality healthcare available to you for regular check-ups and emergency care. Pensacola’s main hospital, West Florida Hospital, has been Named One of the Nation’s 100 Top Hospitals for Three Years in a Row by Truven Health Analytics. Truven Health Analytics is a part of IBM Watson Health.
8. Pensacola Has a Strong Employment Market
   Pensacola’s job and employment market has been very strong post Covid with a current unemployment rate of 3.4% (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Feb 2024). Top sectors of employment in the Pensacola area include military, tourism and hospitality, medical and healthcare services, education, retail and various professional services. The largest non-military employers in Escambia County include the local School District, Baptist Health Care Corporation and The University of West Florida.
9. Pensacola is Rich with Historical Heritage
   Pensacola is said to be the first European settlement in the New World as the city lies claim to the nation’s first settlement by Spanish sailor Don Tristan de Luna in 1559. Residents and visitors alike can view popular historical sites contained with an eight-and-a-half acre Historic Pensacola Village district located downtown Pensacola. This area includes many popular historical sites such as the Pensacola Lighthouse, Fort Pickens, Fort Barrancas and Emanual Point just to name a few.
10. Many Wildlife, Parks & Nature Trails to Explore
    The Pensacola area offers miles of natural Florida beauty and wildlife along its protected Gulf Coast, which is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. On Pensacola Beach, one popular attraction is the 8.5 mile Eco-Trail which allows you to experience the local ecology including wild birds, turtles, crabs and sea life. There are 29 stops total on the eco-trail. Each stop provides you with maps and pictures to guide you in your exploration of the winding trail.