CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

30.18° N · 85.76° W · GEOID 1273312

Upper Grand Lagoon

Bay County, Florida · part of the Panama City, FL metro

FloridaUpper Grand Lagoon, FLUpper Grand LagoonUpper Grand Lagoon

The short answer

Upper Grand Lagoon is home to 17,232 people. Median household income is $82,157 a year and median rent is $1,667 a month, 24.3% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $373,200, about 4.5x annual median household income.

Upper Grand Lagoon stands out for what is close at hand. OpenStreetMap shows 1.2 parks per 10,000 residents, fewer than in 96% of places its size.

53OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Average

Upper Grand Lagoon scores better than 53% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 94th of 474 in Florida.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%28
Economy 20%73
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%29
Education 10%60
Commute 10%76
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$1,667
22% above the median place
Median household income
$82,157
2% above the median place
Median home value
$373,200
17% above the median place
Unemployment
2.6%
46% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Upper Grand Lagoon

  • Work and commutingOpenStreetMap shows 0 bus and rail stops per square mile, fewer than in 78% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 474 Florida places we track.
01

Moving to Upper Grand Lagoon

Bay County gains about 29.0 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in14,084
Moved out9,911
Net+4,173

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Washington County, FL342459−117
Gulf County, FL196176+20

Within Florida, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within FloridaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$75K
Leavers$61K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Bay County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
8.5% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 4.7% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Bay County report $74,900 a year in income on average; those leaving, $61,100, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$66,700 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,667 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,917 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $373,200.
Getting to work
21 minutes each way on average; 11.0% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Seabrook, TX matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved from another state1
4.7%
138% above the median place
Moved here in the past year1
8.5%
48% above the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people7
29.0
above the median place (median -0.6)
All 5 moving measures
MeasureUpper Grand LagoonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year18.5%48% above
Moved from another state14.7%138% above
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure29.0above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$74,8946% above
Income of households moving out7County figure$61,07313% below
02

What it costs to live here

Owning with a mortgage costs only about $250 a month more than the median rent, a smaller gap than in 80% of the 2,298 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

Upper Grand Lagoon24.3%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$66,680
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
24.3%
19% above the median place
Home price to income
4.5x
19% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
24%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$63,600
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Upper Grand Lagoon, $1,667 a month, and local prices for everything else (97.5 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Upper Grand Lagoon, but easier on the budget

Places that match Upper Grand Lagoon on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Seabrook, TX9517.2% vs 24.3%$23,500Compare
Easton, MD9219.2% vs 24.3%n/aCompare
Grove, OK9018.8% vs 24.3%n/aCompare
Ocean Springs, MS8720.4% vs 24.3%$3,300Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Upper Grand Lagoon.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Upper Grand Lagoon? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Vacant homes1
16.4%
133% above the median place
Median year built1
1995
1% above the median place
Property tax rate1
0.7%
27% below the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureUpper Grand LagoonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,66722% above
Rent to income124.3%19% above
Property tax rate10.7%27% below
Home price to income14.5x19% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure97.34% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,6512% above
HUD area median income4County figure$98,9008% below
Property tax paid (median)1$2,45225% below
Median home value1$373,20017% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure2.4%24% below
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure48.4%6% below
Homeownership162.3%6% below
Renters paying 30%+156.8%12% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,9172% above
Vacant homes116.4%133% above
Median year built119951% above
03

Work and pay

Unemployment averaged 2.6% over the survey period, lower than in 91% of the 2,058 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Unemployment1
2.6%
46% below the median place
Mean commute1
21 min
16% below the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Income per person$49,446 +23%
Poverty rate8.1% −25%
Works from home11.0% −12%
Median household income$82,157 +2%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureUpper Grand LagoonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$82,1572% above
Income per person1$49,44623% above
Unemployment12.6%46% below
Average annual pay6County figure$55,56016% below
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure4.0%8% above
Jobs6County figure83,25145% below
Poverty rate18.1%25% below
Mean commute121 min16% below
Works from home111.0%12% below
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

The median resident is 45.8 years old, older than in 89% of the 2,300 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

No health insurance1
14.8%
131% above the median place
Median age1
45.8
17% above the median place
Household size1
2.2
13% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

High school or higher96.5% +5%
Born abroad16.0% +81%
Homes with broadband94.3% +2%
Bachelor's or higher37.0% +16%
All 8 people measures
MeasureUpper Grand LagoonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population117,2322660th largest
Median age145.817% above
Bachelor's or higher137.0%16% above
High school or higher196.5%5% above
Household size12.213% below
Born abroad116.0%81% above
No health insurance114.8%131% above
Homes with broadband194.3%2% above
05

Life in Upper Grand Lagoon

OpenStreetMap shows 0 libraries per 10,000 residents, fewer than in 86% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 474 Florida places we track.

12 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents1.2 −89%
Playgrounds per 10k1.2 −88%
Grocery stores per 10k2.3 +9%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k21.5 +93%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −90%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Gulf Islands National Seashore 75 miles
  • Jimmy Carter National Historical Park 152 miles
  • Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site 156 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars25.4 +22%
Shops44.0 +45%
Arts, recreation and fitness4.6 +12%
Doctors' offices and clinics24.4 +21%
Child care centers2.0 −13%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site10
74.5
142% above the median place
Shops per 10k8
44.0
45% above the median place
Restaurants and bars per 10k8
25.4
22% above the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureUpper Grand LagoonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure50above (median 9)
Public school students12County figure27,672above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher12County figure17.111% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure25.422% above
Shops per 10k8County figure44.045% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure4.612% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure24.421% above
Child care centers per 10k8County figure2.013% below
Parks per 10k91.289% below
Playgrounds per 10k91.288% below
Grocery stores per 10k92.39% above
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k921.593% above
Libraries per 10k90.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails90.290% below
Transit stops per sq mi90.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1074.5142% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles100below (median 2)
National Register listings11County figure128% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

Annual precipitation is 58.3 in, 33% above the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Upper Grand Lagoon. Larger places are fetched first.

Annual precipitation13
58.3 in
33% above the median place
Hurricane risk14
98.7
40% above the median place
January average low13
42°F
68% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureUpper Grand LagoonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure91°F4% above
January average low13County figure42°F68% above
Average temperature13County figure68°F24% above
Annual precipitation13County figure58.3 in33% above
Natural hazard risk14County figure94.12% above
Hurricane risk14County figure98.740% above
Tornado risk14County figure94.116% above
Wildfire risk14County figure75.724% above
Heat wave risk14County figure84.36% below
Median air quality index15County figure442% above
Good air days15County figure66.4%3% below
08

Upper Grand Lagoon in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 25% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 24% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Upper Grand Lagoon does better than 27% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 77%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,667/mo (2024)$2,160/mo$1,780 to $2,640/mo+4.4%
Median household income$82,157 (2024)$105,000$88,500 to $124,000+4.2%
Median home value$373,200 (2024)$546,000$396,000 to $752,000+6.6%

The median home would be worth 5.2 years of the median income in 2030, against 4.5 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Upper Grand Lagoon

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
New Windsor, NY$1,666$81,340Compare
Bardmoor, FL$1,706$89,400Compare
Randallstown, MD$1,577$85,735Compare
Panama City Beach, FL$1,791$80,941Compare
Panama City Beach, FLRandallstown, MDBardmoor, FLNew Windsor, NYUpper Grand Lagoon, FLUpper Grand LagoonNew WindsorBardmoorRandallstownPanama City BeachUpper Grand LagoonNew WindsorBardmoorRandallstownPanama City Beach

Places built like Upper Grand Lagoon

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Upper Grand Lagoon performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Upper Grand Lagoon, FL24.3%6.6%/yrn/a
Panama City Beach, FL26.6%4.8%/yr12.7%Compare
Easton, MD19.2%3.9%/yr1.0%Compare
Fruitville, FL28.8%1.7%/yrn/aCompare
Stuart, FL31.6%4.7%/yr11.9%Compare
Orange City, FL33.4%7.4%/yr20.5%Compare
Myrtle Beach, SC25.1%6.9%/yr14.7%Compare

Common questions

Is Upper Grand Lagoon a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 53 out of 100, better than 53% of the places we rate and 94th of 474 in Florida. OpenStreetMap shows 0 bus and rail stops per square mile, fewer than in 78% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 474 Florida places we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 20 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Upper Grand Lagoon expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 24.3% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $373,200.

What salary do you need to live in Upper Grand Lagoon?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $66,680 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Upper Grand Lagoon?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are New Windsor, NY, Bardmoor, FL, Randallstown, MD and Panama City Beach, FL.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  15. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Upper Grand Lagoon with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Upper Grand Lagoon itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/upper-grand-lagoon-florida

Citytistics. “Upper Grand Lagoon, Florida.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/upper-grand-lagoon-florida/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.