Best 8 Places to Live in Pensacola, FL

In the Sunshine State’s Panhandle awaits the thriving city of Pensacola, Florida. Known for its sugar-white sandy beaches and emerald-green waters, Pensacola is a prime destination for beachgoers and nature lovers alike. While many residents move into town for the Naval Air Station Pensacola, others are drawn to the area for its affordable cost of living, laid-back lifestyle, and small-town feel. The metro area only has 500,000 people, with just 51,000 in the city itself!

Pensacola has many great places to live, especially if you’re interested in a waterfront lifestyle. It sits right on Pensacola and Escambia Bay, sheltered from the Gulf of Mexico by Santa Rosa Island. Start your home search in Pensacola with these top neighborhood picks:

Tiger Point

With a rural feel, this neighborhood is known for its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and the Tiger Point Golf Course with its panoramic views. It sits on the peninsula separating Pensacola Bay from Santa Rosa Sound. Some evaluators have ranked it the second-best community to raise a family in Pensacola and as a top 10 suburb to buy a home.

Residents have a local park with a sporting association for softball, baseball, football, and soccer. The beach borders the Santa Rosa Sound, a 33-mile-long waterway between the mainland and Santa Rosa Island.

The Tiger Point subdivisions have expanded over time through different construction and development phases. Although there is a homeowners association that regulates architectural review requirements, you will find a diverse number of homes in various styles throughout the area. This area’s neighborhoods include Champions Green, Champions Tee, Lions Gate, Oak Pointe, Players Club East, Sawgrass, Tiger Lake, and Willow Wood.

In November 2022, Tiger Point had 37 listings with a median home price of $506,000.

Gulf Breeze

Gulf Breeze is an affluent community of around 6,000 residents located right on the end of the Fairpoint peninsula, bordered by Santa Rosa Sound and Pensacola Bay. It has a quaint downtown area with mom-and-pop shops and restaurants.

One of the benefits residents have is abundant outdoor and waterfront activities. The local Pensacola Beach is picturesque with white-sand dunes and turquoise waters. Watch the wildlife from Brackenridge Nature Trail or go boating for dolphin watching. The Naval Live Oaks portion of the Gulf Islands National Seashore borders Gulf Breeze on the east, isolating it from other Santa Rosa towns.

The community has its own school district, Gulf Breeze Schools, which includes three elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one charter school. The average student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1.

Locals are also easily connected to the mainland over the Pensacola Bay Bridge and to the island with Highway 299 dropping directly into Pensacola Beach.

There are plenty of family-friendly activities in Gulf Breeze, including a children’s splash pad, three parks, and recreational facilities. A Publix is conveniently right in Gulf Breeze.

With 18 miles of waterfront, you can find beautiful waterfront homes. You’ll also find developed communities dating back to the 1960s. In November 2022, Gulf Breeze had 440 listings with a median home price of $470,900.

Oriole Beach

Once a sleepy beach cottage and fishing retreat, this census-designated place is an unincorporated community and is now a highly desirable area to live in the Pensacola metro. Also on Fairpoint Peninsula, it is bordered by the Naval Live Oaks Nature Preserve and Tiger Point.

The area is known for its fishing, swimming, and bird-watching opportunities. You can jump on the Childers Trail, a 28-mile bicycling path that loops around the Fairmount Peninsula. Pensacola Beach is three miles south of Oriole Beach. Bay Street is the “Main Street,” although it’s not developed with stores or dining. Nearby Tiger Point is where residents go for their groceries and daily necessities.

The only school in Oriole Beach is elementary, but students can attend nearby public schools in the Santa Rosa County School District.

In November 2020, Oriole Beach had eight listings with a median home price of $469,900.

Belmont-DeVilliers

This historic neighborhood is located in the center of Pensacola. It’s known for its tree-lined streets, shotgun houses, and bungalows. The community served as the historic center of the African-American community during segregation.

Today there are preservation guidelines in place that blend revitalization with historic architecture. Plans call for a highly walkable community while preserving its cultural traditions. The popular Five Sisters Blues Cafe is part of the local business tradition, which includes art galleries, clothing stores, restaurants, and cafes.

In November 2022, Belmont-DeVilliers had 12 listings with a median home price of $415,000. Some homes date to the 1940s and 1950s.

East Hill

One of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, historic East Hill is located on a bluff overlooking Pensacola Bay. It’s known for its Victorian-style homes, tree-lined streets, and small-town feel. In the late 1800s, the town’s wealthy came here to build their homes on higher ground.

At Bayview Park, residents can enjoy walking trails, playgrounds, tennis courts, and a dog park on the bayou. Other pocket parks are around the neighborhood. Along 12th Avenue, the local businesses include a brewery and restaurants.

Students in East Hill attend schools in the Escambia County School District, Cook Elementary School, or are close to the private Montessori School of Pensacola.

Today East Hill is a collection of charming cottages, Spanish-influenced architecture, craftsman homes, and grand estates. This is an eclectic range of styles, and some are waterfront properties. In November 2022, East Hill had 20 listings with a median home price of $569,900.

East Pensacola Heights

Another one of the city’s historic neighborhoods, East Pensacola Heights sits across from East Hill, overlooking downtown Pensacola and the Bay. It’s thought this is where Tristan de Luna set up the first settlement in the Americas.

Modern East Pensacola Heights is coveted for its city views, historic homes, and small-town feel. The moss-draped oaks give it that classic old Florida coastal town feel.

At “Restaurant Row,” you can eat gourmet pizza in the basement of a converted early-20th-century hospital, shop for upscale home décor, get a burger at some of the city’s oldest diners or check out the water view from a boardwalk high on the bluffs.

Students in East Pensacola Heights attend schools in the Escambia County School District; Suter Elementary is the only one in the neighborhood.

Real estate varies from coastal cottages in a 1920s style to modern construction mimicking the look. In November 2022, East Pensacola Heights had 15 listings with a median home price of $300,000.

Ferry Pass

Ferry Pass is a census-designated place in Escambia County, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Pensacola. The area is known for its affordable housing, good schools, and family-friendly atmosphere.

Residents are in a great location, with the Pensacola Airport to the south and the University of West Florida in the north. I-10 runs east-west, providing quick access to the metro and destinations beyond. The east side borders Escambia Bay.

Ferry Pass is served by the Escambia County School District. The area includes Ferry Pass Elementary School, Bellview Middle School, and Escambia High School.

Some popular neighborhoods in Ferry Pass are Baywoods, Charter Oaks, and Northpointe. In November 2022, Ferry Pass had 135 listings with a median home price of $270,000.

Pace

Pace has evolved from a rural Panhandle hamlet centered around a lumber mill into the Pensacola bedroom community. Located in Santa Rosa County, it’s about a 30-minute drive from Pensacola. The area is known for its affordable housing, good schools, and family-friendly atmosphere. The Census reports its population grew 171% from 2000 to 2010.

Residents of Pace have their lifestyle needs met by a combination of big-name retailers and local businesses. There’s a Walmart and Target in the community, plus a selection of chain restaurants.

Stonebrook Golf Course is a semi-private 18-hole course that opened to the public in 1989. It measures 6,875 yards from the longest tees and has difficulty levels to accommodate players of all skill levels, with five sets of tees.

Pace is served by the Santa Rosa County School District. Schools in the area typically score an “A” or “B” rating on Florida’s state grading system.

In November 2020, Pace had 485 listings with a median home price of $349,900.

Living in Pensacola

Pensacola is a culturally rich city with a diverse population. The city offers residents a suburban feel, and most own their homes. Plus, living in Pensacola is relatively affordable for a waterfront city. The numerous parks, museums, and festivals throughout the year keep residents busy.

If you’re considering moving to Pensacola, these neighborhoods can be places to start your home search.