Gulf Coast Living

Housing/Cost of Living/Taxes
Homebuyers in Pensacola can receive better value for their housing dollar than other parts of the country. Consumers living in Northwest Florida continue to experience a lower cost of living than the national average. Pensacola ranks 97.9 percent out of the U.S. Constant Index Value of 100 percent.

A three bedroom and two bath home in a family neighborhood sells from $131,000 to $171,000. You can find everything from upscale neighborhoods, waterfront, secluded, suburban, as well as great downtown homes full of history and charm. Living is easy with some of Florida's best-rated schools and universities just down the street. All homes are 10-20 minutes from any one of Baptist Health Care facilities.
The city also enjoys no personal income tax and the lowest property taxes in the state. Sales tax is 7 percent and does not apply to groceries and prescription drugs

Gulf Coast Living
The Pensacola Bay area represents 1,679 square miles of white sandy beaches from Navarre to Pensacola Beach to Perdido Key. Many of these beaches have been rated among the 10 best in the country. With 343 days of sunshine a year, there is plenty of time to wiggle your feet in the sand and sit back and enjoy this amazing coastal lifestyle

Located at the edge of the Florida Panhandle, Pensacola is easy to get to and remains one of the last places to experience Florida the way it used to be. We are a growing community rich in history and natural resources. The area offers a diversity of cultural amenities found in much larger cities while still retaining its wonderful southern charm and more relaxed pace of a mid-sized community. Pensacola is also three hours from New Orleans, four hours from Atlanta and has more than 40 nonstop flights to major cities. We also have the I-10 Interstate corridor that reaches coast to coast Residents and tourists alike are drawn here by the alluring emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Do not forget about our beautiful Pensacola Bay and the many lakes and rivers. Our waters are perfect for sailing, fishing, snorkeling, relaxing or anything your heart desires. Pensacola truly is the American South.

Climate
On the Gulf Coast, we are blessed with short, mild winters. With warm temperatures and cool gulf breezes it is no wonder everyone in Pensacola loves the outdoors.
Average High Temperature: 77 degrees
Average Low Temperature: 60 degrees
Average Snowfall: 0 inches!
Sailing conditions: Almost always perfect!

Population
The city of Pensacola is an exciting place to live, and a great place to establish your career in medicine. Pensacola has a mix of young professionals, retirees and service industry workers. According to the State of Florida, Escambia County will experience a growth rate of 7.9 percent from 2002 to 2007. Baptist Health Care serves a market area of about 835,566. With a growing population, this creates opportunities in all fields of medicine. Since Baptist Health Care has facilities in five counties, it continues to follow our mission of providing quality healthcare to the communities we serve.
Pensacola is ranked 2nd in Money Magazine's Best Places to Live in 1998 and ranks 24th in the annual list of the hottest cities for manufacturing expansion and relocation by Expansion Management Magazine.
The youthful populations of Pensacola Junior College, The University of West Florida, Pensacola Naval Air Station, and Whiting Field NAS combine with large groups of military and civilian retirees to enhance the area's quality of life. With so much growth in our area, it is amazing how Pensacola remains a relaxed, southern culture.

Gulf Coast Area Schools
The Pensacola Bay Area is home to public, private and church-based education. Public and private education in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties encompass grades K-12 and vocational training. Pensacola Junior College and the University of West Florida provide higher education locally.

Culture
Pensacola is not lacking culture - we have everything from the arts to history to entertainment.
There are more than 100 non-profit organizations dedicated to the arts in Northwest Florida. Pensacola has the Pensacola Cultural Center, the Pensacola Civic Center, the Saenger Theatre, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, the Pensacola Museum of Art and much more
The fall and spring seasons bring dozens of outdoor festivals to Pensacola. Mardis Gras begins the festival year, followed by Spring Fest, Fiesta of Five Flags, the Pensacola Jazz Festival, Grace Festival, the Seafood Festival and many more. In the fall, more than 200,000 people attend the Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival which features the works of artists from across the country.
The Pensacola Civic Center hosts the top names in rock, country, and popular music - everything from Elton John and Sting to John Mayer and Shania Twain.
The Saenger Theatre offers a full season of local and national entertainment, from plays and operas, to symphony concerts, Broadway shows, comedy and dance. The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra plays there on a regular basis.
The Pensacola Little Theatre, Pensacola Junior College, the University of West Florida Theatre Department and Pensacola Christian College also present musical and dramatic productions. The public school system also sponsors the 140-member Escambia County Youth Orchestra.
The Northwest Florida Arts Council keeps a listing of all the events and organizations dedicated to the arts. The website is www.artsnwfl.org and provides a full calendar of events

With sunshine throughout the year, there are plenty of recreational activities to keep Pensacolians busy. There are activities for both families and singles, which include beautifully landscaped golf courses, two outlet malls, an amazing historical district, the Pensacola opera and many festivals and special events.

There are nine golf courses in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. The Moors Golf Club is the site of the Blue Angel Classic, a Senior PGA Tournament. Pensacola was home of the PGA Pensacola Open from 1978-1987.

Shopping is always an adventure in the Pensacola Bay area. From antiques to high fashion items, you literally can shop till you drop! Eclectic locally owned specialty and antique shops dot the streets of downtown. There are two regional indoor malls; Cordova mall in the central part of Pensacola and University Mall located in north Pensacola. Both malls have over 200 tenants combined including Parisan's, Dillard's, McRae's, JC Penney, and many more.

There are also two outlet malls located in Destin and Gulf Shores, Alabama. They have outlets such as Off Saks, Anne Taylor, Banana Republic, and Nike.
For tennis enthusiasts, the area has a mix of clay courts and hard courts in public and private settings. There are leagues for all ages and skill levels.
And how can you forget the water sports! Excellent fresh and salt-water fishing are available in the Gulf of Mexico and the many bayous, bays and rivers of Northwest Florida.

From April through October you can take a dip in our warm waters. Our deep, sheltered waters are perfect for sailing. Area rivers also offer tubeing, canoeing, water skiing and jet skiing.

Children can participate in youth sports leagues for basketball, football, baseball and softball, soccer, tennis, and swimming.

Other recreational activities include camping, horseback riding, hiking and sightseeing historic Ft. Pickens, the Naval Museum of Naval Aviation and The Zoo. The Naval Museum of Naval Aviation is home to 150 restored aircraft. It is also where the Blue Angels call home base. They perform July through November. The Zoo is home to more than 700 wild, not-so-wild and endangered animals and lush botanical gardens

Gulf Coast Living - Churches and Synagogues

Heralded as the "Bible Belt", Pensacola has a large number of churches of almost every denomination. Historical churches sprinkle the area and provide a special cultural flavor. Their tall bell towers, beautiful marble pillars and stain glass windows are a treasured part of Northwest Florida's rich history. Roman Catholic churches trace their presence to Spanish priests who were in Pensacola in the 1600s. In the 1800s, Protestant churches were established.

There are two Jewish synagogues in Pensacola and an Islamic center. There has also been a growth of churches with an emphasis on evangelism and personal spiritual growth