Destin today
What this means
Destin gained 2.6% in value over 12 months, ahead of most of Florida.
Treat these as area figures and confirm rent with comps. Sources and method: how these figures are built.
Quick facts
| Destin | vs Okaloosa County | vs Florida | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,046 (2025 estimate) | ||
| Growth since 2020 | 0.1% | -4.7 pts | -8.8 pts |
| Median home value | $490,300 | 40% higher | 37% higher |
| Median gross rent | $1,936 | 20% higher | 16% higher |
| Median household income | $89,011 | 9% higher | 19% higher |
| Owner occupied homes | 69.7% | +1.3 pts | +2.1 pts |
| Residents 65 and older | 18.3% | +1.7 pts | -3.0 pts |
| Average commute (minutes) | 26 | 1% lower | 7% lower |
| Homes built 2010 or later | 11.1% | -4.0 pts | -3.1 pts |
| Median property tax paid | $3,083 | 53% higher | 13% higher |
Census survey figures are 2020 to 2024 averages; methods.
Living in Destin
Okaloosa County peninsula city between the Gulf and Choctawhatchee Bay, a fishing village incorporated in 1984.
Destin is an incorporated city in Okaloosa County, with its own zoning and rental rules.
Known for: Destin Harbor; East Pass; Crab Island; Destin Fishing Rodeo
Development and roads: Fast growth since the 1980s; US 98 is the main route.
Next to the rest of Okaloosa County, more homes are seasonal or vacation homes (36.7% vs 8.4%); more of the housing is in apartment and condo buildings (52.2% vs 20.1%); the median value of $490,300 is above the county's $351,200 and Census median rent runs higher ($1,936 vs $1,612 countywide).
Closest matches on price and rent: Tamiami ($482,100, $1,939), Bonita Springs ($497,100, $1,882), Winter Garden ($476,000, $1,963).
Growth and housing
The Census estimates 14,046 residents in 2025, up from 14,038 in 2020: 0.1% growth.
| 2025 building permits | Destin |
|---|---|
| Single family | 45 |
| 5 or more units | 0 |
| Total units | 49 |
| Per 1,000 residents | 3.5 |
The typical home here was built around 1992. Apartments and condos make up a large share: 52.2% of homes are in buildings of five or more units. Households average 2.24 people.
Fewer newcomers from out of state than the county average (4.2% vs 6.2%).
Risks to price in
| Risk item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County average homeowners insurance with wind | $3,889 a year |
| Hurricanes tied to Okaloosa County since 2000 | Isaias (2026) |
| Coastal county | check flood zone and elevation per address |
40.7% of homes are in buildings of 20 or more units; condo reserves and inspections decide financing. Condo financing
Flood, storms and jobs
Flood premiums in Destin get a 20% discount in high risk zones because the city holds CRS class 6. Since 2000, flood insurance has paid $38,344,248 on 1,353 claims inside Destin. The Okaloosa County guide covers storms, flood claims and employers; 6.4% of county homes are in high risk flood zones.
Buying a home in Destin
| 2026 loan limits (county) | Amount |
|---|---|
| FHA, one unit | $603,750 |
| Conforming, one unit | $832,750 |
| Median home value here | $490,300 |
Price to income: 5.5x, compared with 4.3x for the county.
- Conventional: mortgage insurance drops off as equity builds.
- FHA: works for the typical $490,300 home here.
- VA: veterans are 14% of adults.
Investing in Destin
Long term rentals
| Destin | vs Okaloosa County | |
|---|---|---|
| Renter occupied homes | 30.3% | -1.3 pts |
| Rental vacancy | 49.1% | +34.8 pts |
| Rent as share of renter income | 29.8% | -2.1 pts |
Short term rentals
Destin is one of Florida's vacation rental markets: 36.7% of homes are held for seasonal or vacation use.
| Short term rental taxes | Rate |
|---|---|
| County tourist development tax | 6% |
| State sales tax | 6% plus any county surtax |
Get the zoning and HOA answer in writing before you count on nightly income. State rules
Property types
| Housing stock | Share |
|---|---|
| Single family detached | 35.4% |
| Buildings with 5+ units | 52.2% |
| Manufactured homes | 0.4% |
Nearby
Other Florida markets
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5 year estimates. 2020 to 2024.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates, Vintage 2025. July 1, 2025.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025 annual. 2025.
- FFIEC HMDA Data Browser, originated loans. 2025 and 2024.
- LendingTree: 2026 FHA loan limits in Florida by county (HUD figures). 2026.
- Florida Realtors: FHFA sets 2026 conforming loan limits. 2026.
- Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research: 2026 local option tourist tax rates. 2026.
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, July 2026 Insurance Stability Unit report (average homeowners premium with wind, as of March 31, 2026). March 31, 2026.
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. week of October 22, 2026.
- Wikipedia: List of counties in Florida. checked October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file. 2024.
- Wikipedia county article and statewide lists (colleges, teams, airports); Florida Defense Support Task Force installation map. checked October 2026.
- Wikipedia article for this place (history, setting, roads). checked October 2026.
- Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), all homes, middle tier, smoothed and seasonally adjusted. September 2026.
- Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (county annual, metro and state quarterly, all transactions). through Q2 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, January to September 2026 and 2025. September 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Residential Penetration Rates. as of August 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims (2000 to 2026). as of September 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book (Community Rating System class). August 2026.
- FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries (2000 to 2026). October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023. 2023.
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020 to 2024, median gross rent by bedrooms (B25031). 2020 to 2024.
- Hurricane landfalls: Wikipedia, List of Florida hurricanes (2000 to present). checked October 2026.
Estimates from public data; they change over time. General information, not investment, tax or legal advice, and not a loan offer. Methods and assumptions.