Fort Walton Beach

Population: 20,956
Median household income: $66,556
Median home value: $296,000

Located in Okaloosa County, Florida, Fort Walton Beach is a community with a population of 20,956. Its median household income of $66,556 runs below the Okaloosa County figure of $79,097.

From 2019 to 2023, Fort Walton Beach's population declined 5.1% from 22,084 to 20,956, while its median home value rose 59.2% from $185,900 to $296,000.

66.1% of homes are single-family detached houses. The typical home was built around 1972.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 20,956
Median age: 39.2 yrs
Median household income: $66,556
Median home value: $296,000
Median gross rent: $1,268
Housing units: 9,888
Homeownership rate: 59.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 27.8%
Unemployment rate: 3.9%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

22,08420,956

Median household income

$54,330$66,556

Median home value

$185,900$296,000

Median gross rent

$988$1,268

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	22,084	$54,330	$185,900	$988
2020	22,144	$54,311	$202,100	$991
2021	20,805	$55,623	$223,100	$1,088
2022	20,919	$61,820	$272,400	$1,181
2023	20,956	$66,556	$296,000	$1,268

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 55.6%

5 to 1716.7%

18 to 247.8%

25 to 3412.7%

35 to 4415.6%

45 to 5410.3%

55 to 6412.5%

65 to 7410.6%

75 and over8.3%

	Count	Share
Under 5	1,173	5.6%
5 to 17	3,497	16.7%
18 to 24	1,630	7.8%
25 to 34	2,651	12.7%
35 to 44	3,259	15.6%
45 to 54	2,162	10.3%
55 to 64	2,618	12.5%
65 to 74	2,229	10.6%
75 and over	1,737	8.3%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	13,576	64.8%
Black or African American	2,611	12.5%
American Indian & Alaska Native	39	0.2%
Asian	1,086	5.2%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	93	0.4%
Some other race	130	0.6%
Two or more races	1,017	4.9%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2,404	11.5%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma8.3%

High school graduate29.4%

Some college or associate's34.5%

Bachelor's degree18.5%

Graduate or professional degree9.2%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	1,218	8.3%
High school graduate	4,307	29.4%
Some college or associate's	5,062	34.5%
Bachelor's degree	2,718	18.5%
Graduate or professional degree	1,351	9.2%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 22 min

Drove alone78.0%

Carpooled7.4%

Public transit0.4%

Walked1.8%

Bicycle1.9%

Worked from home7.8%

Other means2.6%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	8,464	78.0%
Carpooled	807	7.4%
Public transit	38	0.4%
Walked	195	1.8%
Bicycle	210	1.9%
Worked from home	846	7.8%
Other means	285	2.6%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	3,627	36.3%
15 to 29 min	3,939	39.4%
30 to 44 min	1,345	13.5%
45 to 59 min	425	4.3%
60+ min	663	6.6%

Households

Average household size: 2.35
Poverty rate: 13.8% (2,848 of 20,571)

	Count	Share
Family households	5,029	57.5%
Nonfamily households	3,710	42.5%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1972

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	8,739	88.4%
Vacant	1,149	11.6%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	5,218	59.7%
Renter-occupied	3,521	40.3%

1-unit, detached66.1%

1-unit, attached6.6%

2 to 4 units6.0%

5 to 19 units11.5%

20 or more units9.5%

Mobile home & other0.4%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	6,536	66.1%
1-unit, attached	656	6.6%
2 to 4 units	592	6.0%
5 to 19 units	1,134	11.5%
20 or more units	935	9.5%
Mobile home & other	35	0.4%

Geography

Place GEOID: 1224475
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 7.64 sq mi
Water area: 0.08 sq mi
Center point: 30.4249, -86.6218