Signals
Port Salerno
Fort Walton Beach
Opportunity
41 · Bottom 19%
vs44 · Bottom 24%
Climate
86 · Top 8%
vs78 · Top 21%
Physical resilience
13 · Bottom 9%
vs19 · Bottom 12%
Housing affordability
59 · Bottom 19%
vs70 · Bottom 34%
Schools
33 · Bottom 26%
vs29 · Bottom 22%
Access
85 · Bottom 30%
vs89 · Bottom 38%
Economic stability
52 · Bottom 34%
vs52 · Bottom 35%
Measured values
| Metric | Port Salerno | Fort Walton Beach | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,184 | 21,025 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,436 | $68,538 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,117 | $37,937 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,136/sq mi | 2,752/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $352,600 | $321,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,440 | $1,307 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 82.2% | 61.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.5% | 29.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.1% | 13.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 90°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 51°F | 45°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 51.2" | 55.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 32 mi | 25 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.4 min | 23.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 51.2 | 39.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.60 | 18.49 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 47.4% | 45.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 48.8% | 49.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 44.4% | 59.9% | 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
Port Salerno
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Fort Walton Beach
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.
Port Salerno
53
Your Score
—
Area Score
Fort Walton Beach
53
Your Score
48
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Port Salerno, FL · Fort Walton Beach, FL · How this is calculated: methodology