Signals
Medulla
Fort Walton Beach
Opportunity
50 · Bottom 38%
vs44 · Bottom 24%
Climate
79 · Top 19%
vs78 · Top 21%
Physical resilience
20 · Bottom 13%
vs19 · Bottom 12%
Housing affordability
74 · Bottom 40%
vs70 · Bottom 34%
Access
100 · Top 1%
vs89 · Bottom 38%
Economic stability
60 · Top 50%
vs52 · Bottom 35%
Measured values
| Metric | Medulla | Fort Walton Beach | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,985 | 21,025 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $70,802 | $68,538 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,515 | $37,937 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,962/sq mi | 2,752/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $319,800 | $321,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,287 | $1,307 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.2% | 61.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.7% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.5% | 29.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 13.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 93°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 52°F | 45°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.1" | 55.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 3 mi | 25 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.2 min | 23.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.6 | 39.1 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Medulla
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hurricane.
Fort Walton Beach
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
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Medulla
64
Your Score
—
Area Score
Fort Walton Beach
53
Your Score
48
Area Score
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Full profiles: Medulla, FL · Fort Walton Beach, FL · How this is calculated: methodology