AreaScoop
Destin, FL

Photo: Wikipedia

Destin, FL

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 35
Population14,018
Foreign Born9.2%
Population Density1,870people per mi²
Median Age41.5 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

163/100

63% above national average

C+

The Real Cost of Living in Destin, Florida

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $31k$57k
Comfortable $88k$130k
Luxury $161k+$250k+
Elite (Top 5%) $218k+$338k+
Affordability Ratio

69%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean96%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
30
Positive
1
Poor
0
Negative
2

Groceries

3 within 10 miles

2mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

6.5mi

Airport

Destin Executive Airport (DTS)

0.9mi

Post Office

USPS — Fort Walton Beach, FL

7.8mi

Critical Amenities

Golf10Nearest 2.8 mi
Camping20Nearest 2.5 mi
Marina19Nearest 0.7 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 167.5 mi
Gun Range2Nearest 8.6 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
B
Good

An upper-middle-class area. Household wealth, education levels, and homeownership run ahead of national benchmarks.

Median HHI
$89k+2.7%
19% above US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$877k
34% above US avg
College Educated
46.0%
31% above US avg
WFH
15.3%
7% above US avg
Homeownership
69.8%
7% above US avg
Median Home
$455k
61% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
B+
Safe

Generally safer than 73% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
9.0
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+79.1%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+74.5%
Homicide
0.02 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Robbery
0.23 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Aggravated Assault
1.25 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg

Property Crime

5yr+83.8%
Burglary
0.82 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Larceny-Theft
6.09 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
0.43 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+18Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Destin, Florida
Dem Rep
40%50%60%2000200420082012201620202024

Inherited from parent state — no local data available.

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
B-
Fair9.1% of income
Property Rights
B+
GoodIJ Grade B+
Firearm Rights
B-
GoodFPC Grade B-
Homeschooling
A+
GreatNo notice required

Energy independence: Importer (10% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
B
Broadly OpenTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
C+
LimitedMedical only

Homesteading

Hardiness Zone9A~23°F min
Growing Season309 days359 frost-free
Annual Rainfall68.8"
Elevation33 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A
Good998 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,870/sq mi
Fallout Danger
C
Weak13 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorHurricane
Border / Coast
D
Poorborder 725 mi · coast 1.3 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$134.5M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityNew Orleans384k people are 216 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital131 miTallahassee, FL
Nearest Prison21 mi1 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T06:57:33.000Z

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