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Fort Walton Beach, FL

Photo: Wikipedia

Fort Walton Beach, FL

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 55
Population20,956
Foreign Born5.3%
Population Density2,741people per mi²
Median Age39.2 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B+
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

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

107/100

7% above national average

A

The Real Cost of Living in Fort Walton Beach, Florida

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $20k$38k
Comfortable $58k$85k
Luxury $120k+$186k+
Elite (Top 5%) $144k+$223k+
Affordability Ratio

79%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean86%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
17
Poor
6
Negative
6

Groceries

1 within 10 miles

2.1mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

2.6mi

Airport

Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport

6.6mi

Post Office

USPS — Fort Walton Beach, FL

0.4mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

1 private club within 10 miles.

Golf3Nearest 3 mi
Camping20Nearest 2.7 mi
Marina15Nearest 1.1 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range5Nearest 3.1 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$67k+7.7%
11% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$610k
7% below US avg
College Educated
27.8%
21% below US avg
WFH
7.8%
45% below US avg
Homeownership
59.7%
9% below US avg
Median Home
$296k
5% 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 Fort Walton Beach, 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

Growing Season323 days360 frost-free
Annual Rainfall66.7"
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
Great1002 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor2,741/sq mi
Fallout Danger
D
Poor10 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorHurricane
Border / Coast
D
Poorborder 719 mi · coast 1.4 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$134.5M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityNew Orleans384k people are 209 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital139 miTallahassee, FL
Nearest Prison20 mi1 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T06:58:07.000Z

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