Okaloosa County today
| Typical value | |
|---|---|
| Single family house | $339,000 |
| Condo or townhome | $486,000 |
What this means
Okaloosa County prices barely moved in the past year (+0.8%), now 3.7% below the Aug 2022 peak.
Permits January to September 2026: 1,034 homes, 42% more than 2025.
Sources and method: how these figures are built.
Quick facts
| Okaloosa County | Compared with Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| Population, 2025 estimate | 221,810 | 0.9% of Florida |
| Growth since 2020 | 4.8% | -4.1 pts |
| Median home value | $351,200 | 2% lower |
| Median gross rent | $1,612 | 3% lower |
| Median household income | $81,998 | 10% higher |
| Owner occupied homes | 68.4% | +0.8 pts |
| Residents 65 and older | 16.6% | -4.7 pts |
| Average commute | 26 min | 6% lower |
| Homes built 2010 or later | 15.1% | +0.9 pts |
| Housing units permitted in 2025 per 1,000 residents | 4.8 | 37% lower |
| Veterans, share of adults | 20.4% | +13.0 pts |
| Median property tax paid | $2,011 | 26% lower |
| Average homeowners insurance with wind | $3,889 |
Census figures are 2020 to 2024 averages; see sources and methods.
Living in Okaloosa County
Three things set apart Okaloosa County: a large veteran community (20.4% of adults); a younger population (16.6% age 65 or older); and lower property tax bills relative to value (0.57%).
Northwest county stretching from the Gulf to the Alabama line, with large forests and white sand beaches. Crestview is the county seat, and the county dates to 1915.
Largest communities: Crestview, Wright and Fort Walton Beach. Crestview alone has about 28,773 residents.
What anchors the area
- Colleges: Northwest Florida State College (Niceville)
- Commercial airports: Destin Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS)
- Military: Eglin Air Force Base; Hurlburt Field
- Known for: Henderson Beach State Park; Blackwater River State Forest; Rocky Bayou State Park
In a typical year 6.2% of residents moved in from out of state, above the Florida rate of 2.9%.
Growth and where it is heading
From 211,667 residents in 2020 to 221,810 in 2025: that is 4.8%, compared with 8.9% statewide. The 2024 to 2025 change was +0.77%.
| 2025 building permits | Units |
|---|---|
| Single family | 987 |
| 2 to 4 units | 65 |
| 5 or more units | 5 |
| Total | 1,057 |
| Per 1,000 residents | 4.8 (well below Florida, 7.6) |
What the regional research shows
Destin and Fort Walton Beach vacation rentals earned a median of about $51,944 a year for a 3 bedroom and $59,194 for a 4 bedroom in the 12 months to May 2026, with about 4,087 active listings (AirDNA data via The Short Term Shop). In Destin, houses and townhomes must sit in an approved district, register yearly and follow occupancy and parking limits (Destin rules guide, 2026). Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field anchor long term rental demand inland.
See the Panhandle and Big Bend investor guide for regional corridors.
Risks to price in
| Year | Hurricane | Category at landfall |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Isaias | 2 |
Landfalls and named damage since 2000, from the state record.
Okaloosa County homeowners paid $3,889 a year on average for coverage that includes wind (state insurance regulator, March 2026).
Coastal county: check the flood zone and elevation of every address.
30.2% of homes predate 1980, so expect four point inspections and roof questions from insurers. Insurance and inspections
13.1% of homes are in buildings of 20 or more units. Condo reserve and inspection rules can raise dues and limit financing. Condo financing
Flood, storms and jobs
| Okaloosa County | Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| Homes in a FEMA high risk flood zone | 5,078 (6.4%) | 13.3% |
| Homes with federal flood insurance | 8,128 (10.2%) | 13.7% |
| Insured share inside high risk zones | 73.9% | |
| Flood insurance claims since 2000 | 4,491, $161,403,109 paid | |
| Costliest flood events for insured homes | Hurricane Ivan ($112,810,925); Hurricane Dennis ($17,960,151); Hurricane Sally ($10,243,544) | |
| Major federal disasters declared since 2000 | 18 (12 hurricane, 3 severe storm, 2 tropical storm) |
Federal flood policies in high risk zones get 25% off here, thanks to the county (unincorporated areas)'s CRS class 5 rating. Current map: 03/09/21.
Private employers in Okaloosa County: 64,766 jobs (2023), led by hotels and restaurants (19%), retail (19%), health care and social assistance (16%). Hotels and restaurants hold 19% of those jobs (well above Florida's 13%).
Buying a home in Okaloosa County
| 2026 loan limit, one unit | Amount |
|---|---|
| FHA | $603,750 |
| Conforming (above this is jumbo) | $832,750 |
FHA works at the median price here. FHA limits
Homes cost 4.3 times the median household income here, versus 4.8 statewide. That makes ownership easier to reach than in most of the state.
Loans made here in 2025
| Loan type | Loans | Share | Florida share | Average loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 2,645 | 47.3% | 72.2% | $316,331 |
| FHA | 510 | 9.1% | 17.8% | $280,431 |
| VA | 2,420 | 43.2% | 9.9% | $390,971 |
| USDA | 21 | 0.4% | 0.2% | $266,429 |
| Purpose | Share of 2025 loans |
|---|---|
| Home purchase | 63.8% |
| Cash out refinance | 10.6% |
| Rate and term refinance | 13.1% |
| Home improvement | 5.8% |
That is down 0.1% from 5,604 loans in 2024. VA lending is strong (43.2% of loans).
Loans that fit the local numbers
- Conventional: 47.3% of local loans.
- FHA: median price $351,200 vs limit $603,750.
- VA: veterans are 20.4% of adults (Florida 7.4%).
Down payment help and taxes
Statewide help is available through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Property taxes run about 0.57% of value for current owners (median bill $2,011); a new buyer's bill resets to the purchase price. Homestead and tax caps
Investing in Okaloosa County
DSCR loans often price above this rate. Method. DSCR loans
Run your own numbers
Long term rentals
| Okaloosa County | vs Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| Renter occupied homes | 31.6% | -0.8 pts |
| Rent as share of renter income | 31.9% | -3.3 pts |
| Rental vacancy | 14.3% | +6.7 pts |
Vacancy is high; price rentals carefully.
Short term rentals
| Item | Here |
|---|---|
| County tourist tax | 6% (varies by district) |
| Plus state sales tax | 6% (plus any county surtax) |
| Homes held for seasonal use | 8.4% (+0.6 pts vs Florida) |
| Commercial airport | Destin Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) |
Vacation rental towns with guides: Fort Walton Beach, Destin. Nightly rental rights depend on zoning, local registration and the HOA. State rules
Property types
| Housing stock | Share |
|---|---|
| Single family detached | 64.4% |
| Buildings with 5+ units | 20.1% |
| Manufactured homes | 4.5% |
| 2025 loans on 2 to 4 unit properties | 0.7% |
Largest cities and towns in Okaloosa County
Among places with at least 1,000 residents, Destin has the highest median value ($490,300) and Crestview the lowest ($277,900); Mary Esther shows the best rent to price ratio (6.82% gross).
| Place | Population | Median value | Median rent | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestview | 28,773 | $277,900 | $1,366 | $65,480 |
| Wright | 27,927 | $306,100 | $1,621 | $70,195 |
| Fort Walton Beach | 21,025 | $321,800 | $1,307 | $68,538 |
| Niceville | 16,544 | $423,500 | $1,749 | $102,409 |
| Destin | 14,077 | $490,300 | $1,936 | $89,011 |
| Lake Lorraine | 6,903 | $434,500 | $1,654 | $104,105 |
| Ocean City | 5,941 | $303,900 | $1,443 | $59,039 |
| Valparaiso | 4,885 | $394,700 | $1,366 | $90,110 |
| Mary Esther | 4,061 | $298,900 | $1,699 | $76,890 |
| Hurlburt Field | 2,951 | Not reported | $2,151 | $61,731 |
Census places, including unincorporated communities. Linked places have their own guide.
Compare with neighboring counties
Okaloosa County has the slowest growth in its group; 1 of its 2 neighbors is cheaper by median value.
| County | Median value | Median rent | Growth since 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okaloosa County | $351,200 | $1,612 | 4.8% |
| Santa Rosa County | $329,800 | $1,544 | 12.3% |
| Walton County | $425,100 | $1,741 | 23.9% |
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.
- 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.