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Fort Walton Beach, Florida

city · Okaloosa County

At a glance

21,025
Population
$321,800
Median home value (all homes)
6% above U.S. median
$325,397
Typical market value
Zillow, 2026-07
$1,307/mo
Median rent
3% below U.S. median
$68,538
Median household income
13% below U.S. median
22.7 min
Average commute
87.7%
Homes with broadband
68.03%
Locations with fiber available
3.5%
Unemployment

Cost of living (Clay Affordability Index)

CAI 102 — 2% above the national average. how it's computed

Housing24% above
Goods & services2% below
Utilities1% below
Taxes63% below
Insurance49% above
Commute cost18% below
For business: Florida is CBII band 2/5 · time to build band 1/5. See state page for the breakdown.

Living here

Colleges in town:
Nearest 4-year college12 mi
Nearest community college34 mi
Nearest technical college3 mi
High school graduates91.9%
College graduates29.7%

Doing business here

Economic development contacts, most local first:

city Fort Walton Beach Economic Development
City of Fort Walton Beach government page featuring the Community Redevelopment Agency, project dashboard, staff directory, and information on public services for residents and businesses.
state Enterprise Florida
Florida-based economic development organization page offering business development, export resources, and international trade information, with contact details for a regional business development team.
state Florida Economic Development Council
Florida Economic Development Council is a Florida-based economic development organization with a board of directors and staff, offering membership, advocacy, events, and professional development for Florida's economic development professionals.
State sales taxYes
State income taxNone
Right-to-work stateYes

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