Population 15,131 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Gulf County
Household size in Gulf County
| Period | Gulf County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.52 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.54 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.26 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.14 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.38 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Gulf County are small: just 2.14 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.52 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Florida county has smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Gulf County
| Period | Gulf County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.0 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.2 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.1 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.2 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.2 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
Gulf County skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.2, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 44.0 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Gulf County
| Period | Gulf County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.9% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.3% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Gulf County (10.3%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 4.7 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Gulf County
Renters in Gulf County
| Period | Gulf County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.9% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.1% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.8% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.2% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Gulf County is largely a place of homeowners: only 19.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than half of owners (55.6%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 3.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Gulf County
| Period | Gulf County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.1% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.8% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 32.3% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.5% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.6 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Gulf County: 29.5% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 5.6 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Gulf County
| Period | Gulf County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1990 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +5 | +6 |
Gulf County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1990, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Gulf County
| Period | Gulf County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $766 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $799 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $996 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,006 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$240 | +$724 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Gulf County costs $1,006 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $240 a month since 2006–10, up 31%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.2% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Gulf County
Bachelor's degrees in Gulf County
| Period | Gulf County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.7% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.2% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.7% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.5% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Gulf County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 24.5%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 7.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the north.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Gulf County
| Period | Gulf County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.2% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.2% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.4% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.6% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Gulf County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 7.5 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Gulf County
| Period | Gulf County | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.7 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Gulf County has been strong: just 2.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Gulf County has the lowest unemployment rate of any Florida county. Unemployment has fallen 5.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Gulf County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf County | 2.14 | 48.2 | 10.3% | 19.2% | 29.5% | 1990 | $1,006 | 24.5% | 87.6% | 2.6% |
| Franklin County | 2.26 | 48.6 | 9.3% | 19.1% | 35.7% | 1987 | $1,163 | 29.2% | 85.5% | 8.6% |
| Bay County | 2.39 | 41.3 | 11.3% | 33.2% | 17.3% | 1993 | $1,495 | 29.1% | 91.3% | 3.8% |
| Calhoun County | 2.52 | 43.8 | 12.3% | 21.2% | 18.5% | 1985 | $775 | 14.9% | 83.0% | 9.8% |
| Liberty County | 2.42 | 40.7 | 14.3% | 19.9% | 19.3% | 1991 | $929 | 15.1% | 78.5% | 7.6% |
| Wakulla County | 2.61 | 42.0 | 13.1% | 18.1% | 11.8% | 1998 | $1,150 | 24.6% | 89.8% | 3.1% |
| Leon County | 2.28 | 35.3 | 11.6% | 47.4% | 11.7% | 1991 | $1,361 | 50.1% | 93.4% | 6.6% |
| Taylor County | 2.41 | 44.4 | 16.5% | 24.0% | 25.3% | 1984 | $1,016 | 19.0% | 88.1% | 5.2% |
| Madison County | 2.35 | 44.4 | 10.8% | 26.6% | 16.9% | 1987 | $879 | 13.9% | 79.7% | 5.9% |
| Lafayette County | 2.91 | 42.0 | 9.4% | 22.8% | 16.1% | 1990 | $843 | 10.3% | 82.4% | 14.8% |
| Escambia County | 2.46 | 39.0 | 12.1% | 35.2% | 11.7% | 1984 | $1,378 | 29.3% | 90.9% | 5.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Cleveland County, AR · Taylor County, WV · Taylor County, WI · Conejos County, CO · Colfax County, NM · Coffey County, KS · Coal County, OK · Coahoma County, MS · Cloud County, KS · Clinton County, MO
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Gulf County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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