Largest Cities in the Florida Panhandle

Ranked by 2022/2023 population estimates (city proper):

1. Tallahassee — 196,164 (state capital, Leon County)
2. Pensacola — 53,752 (Escambia County; metro 510k)
3. Panama City — 36,800 (Bay County; metro 200k)
4. Crestview — 27,000 (Okaloosa County; metro 280k with FWB/Destin)
5. Fort Walton Beach — 20,500 (Okaloosa)
6. Destin — 14,200 (Okaloosa; tourism swells to 50k+ daily)
7. Niceville — 16,000 (Okaloosa; Eglin AFB adjacent)
8. Mary Esther — 7,900 (Okaloosa)
9. Shalimar — 7,500 (Okaloosa)
10. DeFuniak Springs — 5,800 (Walton County; historic Chautauqua)

Notes

• Tallahassee is inland (not coastal) but included in Panhandle definitions (west of Apalachicola River).
• Pensacola is the largest coastal city.
• Okaloosa County (FWB, Destin, Niceville, Crestview, Shalimar, Mary Esther) forms the Fort Walton Beach–Crestview–Destin MSA (~280k).
• Panama City MSA (~200k) includes Lynn Haven, Callaway, Panama City Beach.