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CITY

Fort Walton Beach

Florida · 21,097 residents (2025 est.) · 7.66 sq mi
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The short version

Fort Walton Beach has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $68,538. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $321,800.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 102%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
21,025
+5%since 2000
from 19,973 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,745 / sq mi
+5%since 2000
from 2,607 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.1
+1%since 2000
from 38.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:21,097 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
19K20K21K22K22K1990201020202024Fort Walton Beach
202421K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$68,538
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,153 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,937
+80%since 2000
from $21,085 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.3%
+20.3 ptssince 2009
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.3%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.432
+3%since 2010
from 0.418 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade5.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance5.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$321,800
+102%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $87,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,307
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $586 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
61.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2000
from 64.1% in 2000
38.2% rent
Vacancy rate
10.9%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
25.2%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 29.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
53.2%
+12.0 ptssince 2009
from 41.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.7
+116%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
58
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fort Walton Beach on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic76.5%(15,274)
Black13.2%(2,641)
Hispanic / Latino4%(807)
Asian2.7%(533)
Other0%
Diversity Score43.7%(8,724)
2024
White, non-Hispanic64%(13,458)
Black11.6%(2,431)
Hispanic / Latino13%(2,743)
Asian4%(832)
Other7.4%(1,561)
Diversity Score69.1%(14,529)
Diversity Score
69
+58%since 2000
from 44 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.7%
+8.3 ptssince 2000
from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.9%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 89.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.1%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 7.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.7 min
+72%since 2000
from 13.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.2%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 78.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.9%
−7.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.4%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.2%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.5%
−6.2 ptssince 2011
from 9.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 66.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
5.3%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.3%
−25.5 ptssince 2009
from 59.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
50.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
9.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
16.9%
−30.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2012
from 15.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
14.9%
−62.8 ptssince 2013
from 77.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.7%
+11.2 ptssince 2017
from 76.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
85.3%
−3.4 ptssince 2016
from 88.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.1%
+4.0 ptssince 2016
from 5.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Fort Walton Beach to nearby cities

FORT WALTON BEACH VS
Wright
Income$70,195+2%
Home value$306,100−5%
Population27,927+32%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT WALTON BEACH VS
Destin
Income$89,011+30%
Home value$490,300+52%
Population14,046−33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT WALTON BEACH VS
Niceville
Income$102,409+49%
Home value$423,500+32%
Population17,948−15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT WALTON BEACH VS
Navarre
Income$105,265+54%
Home value$375,700+17%
Population39,838+89%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?

Fort Walton Beach, Florida has about 21,025 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?

The typical household in Fort Walton Beach, Florida earns about $68,538 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fort Walton Beach, Florida expensive?

In Fort Walton Beach, Florida, the median home is worth about $321,800, and the typical rent is about $1,307 a month.

How educated are people in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?

About 29.7% of adults age 25 and over in Fort Walton Beach, Florida hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?

About 13.3% of people in Fort Walton Beach, Florida live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fort Walton Beach, Florida grown since 1990?

Yes, Fort Walton Beach, Florida has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 443 residents, a change of about -2 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Fort Walton Beach, Florida: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy