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City · 14,077 residents · Okaloosa County, Florida

Destin , Florida

In Destin, a typical home is worth $490,300 and typical rent is $1,936 a month. Compared with all of Okaloosa County, the typical home value is 40% higher and typical rent is 20% higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $490,300

    40% above the county

    37% above Florida

    • Destin
    • Okaloosa
    • Florida

  • Typical rent

    $1,936a month

    20% above the county

    16% above Florida

    • Destin
    • Okaloosa
    • Florida

  • Typical household income

    $89,011a year

    9% above the county

    19% above Florida

    • Destin
    • Okaloosa
    • Florida

  • Households that own their home

    70%

    1 points above the county

    2 points above Florida

    • Destin
    • Okaloosa
    • Florida

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$616,654
2% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,087 a month
3.9% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Destin is in Okaloosa County. The FHA loan limit ($603,750 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Okaloosa County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Destin apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Ocean City, the typical home value is $303,900: 38% less than in Destin ($490,300).

  2. The typical home in Destin is worth $490,300, 40% more than in Okaloosa County as a whole ($351,200).

  3. Nearby, in Fort Walton Beach, the typical rent is $1,307: 32% less than in Destin ($1,936).

  4. The typical rent in Destin is $1,936 a month, 20% more than in Okaloosa County as a whole ($1,612).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Destin

What homes there are in Destin, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Destin, the apartment is the most common kind of home: 52%, against 20% in Okaloosa County.

Year built

By age, homes in Destin look like those in Okaloosa County: the typical year built is 1992.

In Destin, 14% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 52% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 70% in Okaloosa County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,364 a month

Okaloosa County: $1,937 a month

Without a mortgage

$870 a month

Okaloosa County: $608 a month

Owners with a mortgage

56%

Okaloosa County: 61%

Owning costs more in Destin: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $2,364 a month; in Okaloosa County, $1,937. Without one, $870.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Destin rose 48%; in Okaloosa County, it rose 60%.

The typical rent in Destin rose 34% over the same time; in Okaloosa County, it rose 43%.

The typical household income in Destin rose 13%: less than home values (+48%) and rent (+34%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureDestinOkaloosa CountyFloridaUnited States
Rental vacancy 49.1%14.3%7.6%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.4%1.4%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.3%3.3%3.4%
People per household 2.242.482.512.53
Drive alone 70%77%70%69%
Carpool 9%10%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 3%2%2%3%
Work from home 16%10%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

The rental vacancy rate in Destin is 49.1%, higher than in Okaloosa County (14.3%).

Households in Destin are smaller: 2.24 people on average; in Okaloosa County, 2.48.

In Destin, 16% of workers work from home, more than in Okaloosa County (10%).

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Destin?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Destin, worth $490,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 53% of the typical household income in Destin, which is $89,011 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $168,851 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Okaloosa County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Destin. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $17,161 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,940

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$481,419
Total interest
$692,649
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $8,280 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,077 a month

  • Tight

    $2,077 to $2,670 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,670 a month

    Your payment · 53%

Compared with the typical household income in Destin ($89,011 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,940
Principal & interest$3,261
Property tax$257
Home insurance$204
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$217

You need at least $17,161 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Destin and Okaloosa County

Destin is in Okaloosa County, Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Destin's own numbers

Typical home value
$490,300
Typical monthly rent
$1,936
Typical yearly household income
$89,011
Households that own their home
70%
Effective property tax rate
0.63%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Okaloosa County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$603,750
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,908
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+47%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
6.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Okaloosa County.

Everything about Okaloosa County

Buying

Buying a home in Destin

A typical home in Destin is worth $490,300: 40% above the county and 37% above Florida. With the typical household income in Destin ($89,011 a year), a typical home costs 5.5 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Destin 5.5 years
  • Okaloosa 4.3 years
  • Florida 4.8 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Okaloosa County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Okaloosa County rose 104% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Okaloosa County.

Period County Florida U.S.
Last year (2025) +0.3% −0.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +47% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +104% +127% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Destin next to Okaloosa County, Florida and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Destin $490,300
  • Okaloosa $351,200
  • Florida $359,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Destin $1,936
  • Okaloosa $1,612
  • Florida $1,669
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Destin $89,011
  • Okaloosa $81,998
  • Florida $74,568
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Destin next to Okaloosa County and Florida
Measure Destin Okaloosa County Florida U.S.
Typical home value $490,300 $351,200 $359,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,936 $1,612 $1,669 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $89,011 $81,998 $74,568 $80,734
Households that own their home 70% 68% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,083 $2,011 $2,730 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.63% 0.57% 0.76% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 49% 55% 60% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Okaloosa County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Destin

For a typical $490,300 home in Destin, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Destin's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,940a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $17,161
    Cash to close
    $31,870
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $217

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,850a month

    Down payment
    $24,515
    Cash to close
    $39,224
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $233

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,119a month

    Down payment
    $98,060
    Cash to close
    $112,769
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,572a month

    Down payment
    $73,545
    Cash to close
    $88,254
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Destin and for Okaloosa County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Destin

0.63%of the home’s value each year

$3,083 a year for the typical owner in Destin.

  • Destin 0.63%
  • Okaloosa 0.57%
  • Florida 0.76%

What Florida publishes Homestead exemption (Florida Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Florida

Flood risk in Okaloosa County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Okaloosa County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
6.4%
5,078
Of those, with NFIP insurance
74%
County Florida U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 6.4% 13% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 74% 67% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Destin

Typical rent in Destin is $1,936 a month: 20% above the county. In Destin, 49% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Okaloosa County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,908 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $36.69 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Okaloosa County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,421 $27.33 $56,840
1 bedroom $1,706 $32.81 $68,240
2 bedrooms $1,908 $36.69 $76,320
3 bedrooms $2,616 $50.31 $104,640
4 bedrooms $3,189 $61.33 $127,560

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Destin

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Destin is in ZIP code 32541.

For 2 bedrooms it is $2,470: $562 more than the fair market rent for Okaloosa County ($1,908).

  • 32541 $2,470$3,390

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Destin when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Destin

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Okaloosa County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A grandmother smiles, seated at home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Destin

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Destin or Okaloosa County. The ones below are statewide in Florida: they work in Destin the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Florida

Housing counselors near Destin

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Destin, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Community Enterprise Investments, Incorporated

    302 North Barcelona St, Pensacola · 45 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 10 more
    850-595-6234-206

  • Pensacola Habitat for Humanity

    300 W Leonard St, Pensacola · 45 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (850) 434-5456

  • City of Panama City Community Development Corporation

    501 Harrison Ave, Panama City · 51 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (850) 872-7231

All counseling agencies in Florida

Help in Spanish near Destin

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Destin

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Okaloosa County is named for Destin or Okaloosa County.

3 other authorities have an office in Okaloosa County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Okaloosa County

These cities are also in Okaloosa County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Okaloosa County Housing in Florida

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Destin, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Okaloosa County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Destin.

All guides
A mother holds her laughing daughter on a grey sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Destin

Short answers with the numbers for Destin and all of Okaloosa County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Destin?

The typical home value in Destin is $490,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Okaloosa County it is $351,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Destin?

Typical rent in Destin is $1,936 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Okaloosa County is $1,908.

What is the FHA loan limit in Destin?

Destin uses the FHA limit for all of Okaloosa County (2026): $603,750 for a one-unit home and $1,161,050 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Destin?

The typical homeowner in Destin pays $3,083 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.63% of the home’s value; in Okaloosa County, the rate is 0.57%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Destin?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Okaloosa County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).