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Fort Walton Beach, FL

View of Fort Walton Beach, FL
Image credit: Skye Marthaler / CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
21,097
U.S. Census Population Estimates Program · 2025
Elevation
8 ft
Median Home Value
$321,800
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
Median Rent
$1,307/mo
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
Median Income
$68,538
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024

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Fort Walton Beach in context.

OverallBest places in FloridaPopulation rankingHighest population places in FloridaNearest larger communityCrestview, Florida22 miles away · 31,193 residents.

About Fort Walton Beach

Fort Walton Beach is a Florida Panhandle city on the Emerald Coast, shaped by tourism, beaches, and the military. The area has deep Indigenous history tied to the mound-building Fort Walton culture, and its modern economy leans heavily on nearby military installations as well as visitors drawn to the Gulf. Fort Walton Beach is more workaday than Destin, with neighborhoods, local services, and military families behind the beach economy. It feels coastal, practical, and closely connected to Eglin Air Force Base.

Top Rating Signals

Highest current ratings for this town.

Low State Income TaxA+100.0ratingLower Projected Late-Century County-Area Exposure to Sea-Level RiseA+98.8ratingNearby Hospital Emergency DepartmentsA+98.5rating

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