Destin receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Fort Walton Beach
Destin
Opportunity
44 · Bottom 24%
vs51 · Bottom 39%
Growth
42 · Bottom 35%
vs52 · Top 47%
Climate
78 · Top 21%
vs78 · Top 21%
Physical resilience
19 · Bottom 12%
vs19 · Bottom 12%
Housing affordability
70 · Bottom 34%
vs56 · Bottom 16%
Schools
29 · Bottom 22%
vs74 · Top 22%
Access
89 · Bottom 38%
vs87 · Bottom 33%
Economic stability
52 · Bottom 35%
vs53 · Bottom 36%
Measured values
| Metric | Fort Walton Beach | Destin | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,025 | 14,077 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $68,538 | $89,011 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,937 | $60,205 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,752/sq mi | 1,878/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $321,800 | $490,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,307 | $1,936 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.8% | 69.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.7% | 46.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 7.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 33 | 67 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.6 | 4.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 153.8% | 31.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 45°F | 45°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 55.4" | 55.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 25 mi | 26 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 26.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.1 | 41.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 3 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.49 | 18.61 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 45.8% | 72.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 49.0% | 65.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 59.9% | 38.2% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Fort Walton Beach
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Destin
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Fort Walton Beach
53
Your Score
48
Area Score
Destin
59
Your Score
55
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Fort Walton Beach, FL · Destin, FL · How this is calculated: methodology