Livability Score

80
/100
i The AreaVibes Livability Score evaluates 9 different categories and creates an overall score out of 100. The higher the score, the better the area.

amenities F

There are not many amenities close to this location.
Coffee (2) F
Blue Collar Café
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Enlightened Studio
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Axis Nutrition Center
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Entertainment (4) F
Fort Walton Beach Bowl
Bowling Alley
Vibe Nightclub & Lounge
Nightclub
Regal Sun Plaza Stadium 8
Cinema
Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum
Museum
Indian Temple Mound Museum
Museum
Suds n Cinema
Cinema
Club 10 Gentlemen's Club
Nightclub
Regal Santa Rosa 10
Cinema
The Bayou
Attraction
Fort Gator
Attraction
Tortoise Hideaway
Attraction
Bird & Reptile Sanctuary
Attraction
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
Zoo
Shoreline Theater
Attraction
Tide Pool
Attraction
Otter Den
Attraction
The Fishin’ Hole
Attraction
Dolphin Pavilion
Attraction
Shark Moat
Attraction
Pinguin Preserve
Attraction
Wild Willy's Adventure Zone
Theme Park
Seal Harbor
Attraction
Turtle Island
Attraction
Stingray Bay
Attraction
Food and Drink (9) F
Whataburger
Fast Food
Jimmy John's
Fast Food
McDonald's
Fast Food
Whataburger
Fast Food
Tropical Smoothie
Fast Food
Whataburger
Fast Food
Captain D's
Fast Food
Whiskey Barn
Alcohol
Moe's Southwest Grill
Fast Food
Nacho-N-Taco Taqueria
Fast Food
Chick-fil-A
Fast Food
Domino's
Fast Food
KC's Sandbar & Grille
Bar
Panda Express
Fast Food
Beach Liquors
Alcohol
Wendy's
Fast Food
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Fast Food
Yard Birds
Fast Food
McDonald's
Fast Food
Panera Bread
Fast Food
Sunset Liquors
Alcohol
Burger King
Fast Food
Cash's Liquors
Alcohol
Schlotzky's Deli
Fast Food
Krystal
Fast Food
Fitness (2) F
Workout Anytime
Gym
Anytime Fitness
Gym
Choctaw Weightlifting
Gym
Planet Fitness
Gym
Elks Lodge
Community Centre
Riptide Fitness Center & Dining Facility
Gym
Groceries (3) F
Winn-Dixie
Grocery Store
Gulf Coast Seafood
Seafood
Publix
Grocery Store
Publix
Grocery Store
Publix
Grocery Store
Walmart Supercenter
Grocery Store
Winn-Dixie
Grocery Store
Food World
Grocery Store
Cookie Spruell
Bakery
Parks (48) A+
Winn Davis Park
Park
Francis Park
Park
Briarwood Park
Park
Triangle Park
Park
Vesta Heights Park
Park
Cinco Bayou Laguna Park
Park
Prestoon Hood Athletic Complex
Park
Glenwood Park and Nature Trail
Park
Jet Stadium
Park
Sunset Park
Park
Chester Pruitt Park
Park
Comet Street Park
Park
Ceclia Park
Park
Garniers Beach Park
Park
City Hall Athletic Complex
Park
Seabreeze Park
Park
Ferry Park
Park
Oakland Heights Park
Park
Sound Park
Park
Stillwell Park
Park
Lions Park
Park
Heritage Park and Cultural Center
Park
Fort Walton Beach Tennis Center
Park
Liza Jackson East Playground
Playground
Liza Jackson Park
Park
Shops (13) D-
Tom Thumb
Convenience Store
Heat Waves
Shoes
Key Chains Bike & Disc
Bicycle
Jewelry & Watch Express
Fashion
Luxe Nail Bar
Beauty
Gap Creek Antiques and Collectibles
Furniture
T-Mobile
Electronics
The Home Depot
Home Improvement
Southern Wholesale Jewelry
Fashion
Elite Nails and Spa
Beauty
TJ Maxx
Department Store
Books-A-Million
Books
La Tee Da
Clothing
Circle K
Convenience Store
Beall's Outlet
Department Store
Raceway
Convenience Store
Cuts by us
Hairdresser
Top Nails
Beauty
Artisans Alley
Gift Shop
Islanders Outlet
Clothing
Shell
Convenience Store
Furniture Savings
Furniture
HelloMolly
Hairdresser
Spencer's Hair Designs
Hairdresser
Home Outlet
Home Improvement
See more Fort Walton Beach amenity data

commute A+

Of all people who commute, 1.1% take public transportation in Fort Walton Beach.
Public Transit Stops (75)
Stops & Stations A+
Cinco Bayou/Cinco Baptist Church
Bus Stop
Memorial/Holmes
Bus Stop
Holmes/Memorial
Bus Stop
Hollywood/Robinwood
Bus Stop
Uptown Station
Bus Stop
Hollywood Boulevard Southwest and Robinwood Drive Southwest
Bus Stop
Robinwood/Hollywood
Bus Stop
Memorial/Shumpert
Bus Stop
Memorial/Victoria
Bus Stop
Gulf Power Company
Bus Stop
Hollywood/Jet
Bus Stop
Hollywood/Bass
Bus Stop
Eglin Parkway Northeast and Highway Avenue Northeast
Bus Stop
Mariner Plaza
Bus Stop
Memorial/Cecelia
Bus Stop
Memorial/Cecelia
Bus Stop
Vincent/Pelham
Bus Stop
Robinwood/Ed Brown
Bus Stop
Robinwood/Ed Brown
Bus Stop
Holmes/Virginia
Bus Stop
Hollywood/Memorial
Bus Stop
Eglin Blvd/Staff
Bus Stop
Hollywood/Memorial
Bus Stop
Water Front Mission
Bus Stop
Vincent/Lang
Bus Stop
Workers Taking Public Transit
1.1% F
See more Fort Walton Beach commute data

cost of living A+

The cost of living in Fort Walton Beach is 100/100 - which is 3% higher than Florida.
Cost of Living
Goods & Services, Housing, etc. C+
Tax Rates
Income & Sales Tax A+
See more Fort Walton Beach cost of living data

crime B-

Fort Walton Beach crime rates are 1,916 per 100k, which is 5% higher than Florida
Property Crime
1,644 crimes per 100k C+
Violent Crime
272 crimes per 100k B-
See more Fort Walton Beach crime data

employment C

The median income in Fort Walton Beach is $54,311 - which is 11% higher than Florida.
Med. Household Income
$54,311 D-
Unemployment Rate
2.9% B+
See more Fort Walton Beach employment data

health A+

There are not many hospitals, police and fire stations,
Health & Safety (4)
Dentist, Doctor, Hospital, etc. D-
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Ocean City-Wright Fire
Fire Station
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Okalossa Island Fire Department
Fire Station
Fort Walton Beach Medical Center
Hospital
Gulf Coast Treatment Center
Hospital
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
Police
Okaloosa County Sheriff
Police
Mary Esther FD
Fire Station
Fire Station No. 7
Fire Station
Hurlburt Field Medical Center
Clinic
Air Quality
Median Air Quality A+
See more Fort Walton Beach health & safety data

housing A+

Fort Walton Beach home prices are $202,100 - which is 21% higher than Florida
Home Price
$202,100 B+
Home Appreciation Rate
19% A+
Home Affordability
3.7x (home price to income ratio) C
See more Fort Walton Beach housing data

schools C-

The Fort Walton Beach graduation rate is 84% - which is 1% higher than Florida
School Test Scores
55% D
High School Grad. Rates
84% C-
Elementary Schools (18) F
Max Bruner Junior Middle School
St Mary Catholic School
Wright Elementary School
Silver Sands-Excep. Children
Montessori Learning Center
Elliott Point Elementary School
Annette P. Edwins Elementary School
Calvary Christian Academy & Preschool
Okaloosa Virtual Instruction Program
Ami Kids Emerald Coast
W. C. Pryor Middle School
Okaloosa Virtual Franchise
Northwest Florida Ballet Academie
Liza Jackson Preparatory School
Contracted Residential Services
Mary Esther Elementary School
Kenwood Elementary School
Clifford Meigs Middle School
Okaloosa Academy
Okaloosa Technical College And Choice High School
Shalimar Elementary School
Longwood Elementary School
High Schools (10) F
Silver Sands-Excep. Children
Calvary Christian Academy & Preschool
Okaloosa Virtual Instruction Program
Ami Kids Emerald Coast
Fort Walton Beach High School
Okaloosa Virtual Franchise
Choctawhatchee Senior High School
Contracted Residential Services
Okaloosa Academy
Okaloosa Technical College And Choice High School
See more Fort Walton Beach education data

ratings B+

Fort Walton Beach has an overall rating of 76% from 10 reviews.
User Reviews (2)
From AreaVibes A
User Surveys (8)
From AreaVibes C+
See more Fort Walton Beach user rating data
Amenities Commute Cost of Living Crime Employment Health & Safety Housing Schools User Ratings

Fort Walton Beach, FL Area Guide

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Photo of Fort Walton Beach, FL
( 10 Ratings )

Living in Fort Walton Beach, FL

Ranks better than 80% of areas Follow

Fort Walton Beach Area Facts

  • Fort Walton Beach has a Livability Score of 80/100, which is considered exceptional
  • Fort Walton Beach crime rates are 5% higher than the Florida average
  • Cost of living in Fort Walton Beach is 3% higher than the Florida average

What do the locals think about Fort Walton Beach?

Based on 11 votes from AreaVibes users. Take the poll
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Fort Walton Beach Reviews

Write a review about Fort Walton Beach Tell people what you like or don't like about Fort Walton Beach…
Best I’ve even known 4 rating By Anonymous ( Jul 04, 2019) I’ll keep this brief but living in Fort Walton Beach is simply amazing. I don’t know how Destin could possibly rank where they do because I wouldn’t live there even if the housing were free. Traffic there is ridiculous to the point of being unlivable. Fort Walton is mostly ...Read More off of highway 98 so traffic isn’t bad at all and they have everything you need to actually live such as shopping and businesses of every type needed along with easy access to the water from every direction. Restaurants are everywhere and the people are friendly. Living expense here is reasonable for Florida standards and way lower than Destin. I can afford to live anywhere and I choose here. Read Less
Life's a beach 4 rating By armywife11 ( Apr 25, 2012) We lived at Fort Walton Beach for a year and enjoyed our time there. Attraction wise you have the beach, museums near Eglin AFB, some historical sites to visit, parks, put put golf, dolphin tours, go karts, and an Aquarium just a short 5 or 10 minuet drive away to name a few. The ...Read More beach its self offers a lot to do if you want to boat, ski, fish, surf, or just lay in the sun. You also have a choice in beaches there are several bays out here which give you a more calmer water if your looking for that. They also have beaches without buildings in the background on Okaloosa Island. There are wildlife sites all over the beach too if you want to watch marine life. The community is a little different. A lot of the people here are not locals and you have a lot of tourist come the summer months but people are still friendly. There is a huge nightlife in the area. There are bars, clubs, and events that cater to crowds year round. It seems there is more of a nightlife in the summer months though. There are tons of places to eat as well. You have the typical fast food restaurants and a few sit down places. If you head over to Destin Beach (15 or 20 minuet drive) there are even more places to eat. Don't let the drive scare you it is really not that bad and its a very scenic drive across Okaloosa island. Shopping in Fort Walton depends on what your looking for. They have a few shops and places and grocery stores and a walmart. The mall and Target are technically in Mary Ester but you would not even realize it unless you looked at the address or noticed the "welcome to" sign. In Destin they have even more including high end stores. The entire time we lived in Fort Walton we only went to Destin to go to PetSmart one time. (They do have pet stores in Fort Walton though). Read Less
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Compare Fort Walton Beach, FL Livability

      vs

      F Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Fort Walton Beach? Well, there are not many amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      Winn Davis Park
      Francis Park
      Briarwood Park
      Triangle Park
      Vesta Heights Park
      Cinco Bayou Laguna Park
      Prestoon Hood Athletic Complex
      Glenwood Park and Nature Trail

      Entertainment

      Fort Walton Beach Bowl
      Vibe Nightclub & Lounge
      Regal Sun Plaza Stadium 8
      Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum
      Indian Temple Mound Museum
      Suds n Cinema
      Club 10 Gentlemen's Club
      Regal Santa Rosa 10

      Food & Drink

      Whataburger
      Jimmy John's
      McDonald's
      Whataburger
      Tropical Smoothie
      Whataburger
      Captain D's
      Whiskey Barn

      A+ Commute

      Is public transit available in Fort Walton Beach? Of all people who commute, 1.1% take public transportation in Fort Walton Beach.
      Drive to Work
      78%

      1% higher than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      1%

      4% lower than the US average

      Walk to Work
      2%

      1% lower than the US average

      A+ Cost of Living

      What is the cost of living in Fort Walton Beach? The cost of living in Fort Walton Beach is 100/100 - which is 3% higher than Florida.
      Fort Walton Beach
      100

      same as average

      Florida
      98

      2% less expensive than average

      United States
      100

      National cost of living index

      B- Crime

      What is the crime rate in Fort Walton Beach? Fort Walton Beach crime rates are 1,916, which are 5% higher than Florida
      Total Crime
      1,916 per 100k people

      18% lower than the US average

      Chance of being a victim
      1 in 53

      18% lower than the US average

      Year-over-year crime
      -18%

      Year over year crime is down

      C Employment

      What is the median income in Fort Walton Beach? The median income in Fort Walton Beach is $54,311 which is 11% higher than Florida.
      Median household income
      $54,3112% lower than the US average
      Income per capita
      $30,7323% higher than the US average
      Unemployment rate
      3%

      37% lower than the US average

      C Health & Safety

      Is Fort Walton Beach a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are some hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      Pharmacies

      Walgreens

      Doctors

      A+ Housing

      What are Fort Walton Beach home prices? Fort Walton Beach home prices are $202,100 - which is 21% higher than Florida
      Median home value
      $202,1009% higher than the US average
      Median rent price
      $9914% higher than the US average
      Home Ownership
      61%

      4% lower than the US average

      C- Schools

      Does Fort Walton Beach have good schools? The Fort Walton Beach graduation rate is 84% - which is 1% higher than Florida
      High school grad. rates
      84%

      1% higher than the US average

      School test scores
      55%

      14% higher than the US average

      Student teacher ratio
      18:1

      12% higher than the US average

      B+ User Ratings

      Is Fort Walton Beach a good place to live? Fort Walton Beach has an overall rating of 76% from 10 reviews.
      Overall user rating
      76%

      10 total ratings

      User reviews rating
      80%

      2 total reviews

      User surveys rating
      67%

      8 total surveys

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