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City · 21,025 residents · Okaloosa County, Florida

Fort Walton Beach , Florida

In Fort Walton Beach, a typical home is worth $321,800 and typical rent is $1,307 a month. Compared with all of Okaloosa County, typical rent is 19% lower, typical household income is 16% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 7 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $321,800

    8% below the county

    10% below Florida

    • Fort Walton Beach
    • Okaloosa
    • Florida

  • Typical rent

    $1,307a month

    19% below the county

    22% below Florida

    • Fort Walton Beach
    • Okaloosa
    • Florida

  • Typical household income

    $68,538a year

    16% below the county

    8% below Florida

    • Fort Walton Beach
    • Okaloosa
    • Florida

  • Households that own their home

    62%

    7 points below the county

    6 points below Florida

    • Fort Walton Beach
    • Okaloosa
    • Florida

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$321,993
1.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,828 a month
6.4% more than 12 months ago

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

Fort Walton Beach 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 Fort Walton Beach apart

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

  1. The typical rent in Fort Walton Beach is $1,307 a month, 19% less than in Okaloosa County as a whole ($1,612).

  2. The typical household income in Fort Walton Beach is $68,538, 16% less than in Okaloosa County as a whole ($81,998).

  3. 62% of households in Fort Walton Beach own their home, against 68% in Okaloosa County.

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

The homes here

Housing in Fort Walton Beach

What homes there are in Fort Walton Beach, 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

The detached house is the most common home in Fort Walton Beach: 67% of homes, near the figure in Okaloosa County (64%).

Year built

In Fort Walton Beach, half of the homes were built before 1972; in Okaloosa County, before 1990.

There are fewer big homes in Fort Walton Beach than in Okaloosa County: 65% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 70%.

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

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Okaloosa County is $1,908; about 84% of rents in Fort Walton Beach are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,872 a month

Okaloosa County: $1,937 a month

Without a mortgage

$568 a month

Okaloosa County: $608 a month

Owners with a mortgage

55%

Okaloosa County: 61%

Owning costs about the same in Fort Walton Beach as in Okaloosa County: with a mortgage, $1,872 a month; without one, $568.

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

The typical home value in Fort Walton Beach rose 73% since 2015–2019, more than in Okaloosa County (60%).

Rents in Fort Walton Beach rose more slowly than in Okaloosa County: 32% since 2015–2019, against 43%.

The typical household income in Fort Walton Beach rose 26%: less than home values (+73%) and rent (+32%).

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

MeasureFort Walton BeachOkaloosa CountyFloridaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate14.3%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 2.342.482.512.53
Drive alone 81%77%70%69%
Carpool 6%10%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%2%3%
Work from home 8%10%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Fort Walton Beach are smaller: 2.34 people on average; in Okaloosa County, 2.48.

To get to work, 81% of workers in Fort Walton Beach drive alone; in Okaloosa County, 77%.

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 Fort Walton Beach?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Fort Walton Beach, worth $321,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 45% of the typical household income in Fort Walton Beach, which is $68,538 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $110,018 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 Fort Walton Beach. 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 $11,263 (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

$2,567

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$315,971
Total interest
$454,609
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,434 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,599 a month

  • Tight

    $1,599 to $2,056 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,056 a month

    Your payment · 45%

Compared with the typical household income in Fort Walton Beach ($68,538 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,567
Principal & interest$2,141
Property tax$150
Home insurance$134
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$142

You need at least $11,263 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

Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa County

Fort Walton Beach 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).

Fort Walton Beach's own numbers

Typical home value
$321,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,307
Typical yearly household income
$68,538
Households that own their home
62%
Effective property tax rate
0.56%

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 Fort Walton Beach

A typical home in Fort Walton Beach is worth $321,800: 8% below the county and 10% below Florida. With the typical household income in Fort Walton Beach ($68,538 a year), a typical home costs 4.7 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.

  • Fort Walton Beach 4.7 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

Fort Walton Beach 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
  • Fort Walton Beach $321,800
  • Okaloosa $351,200
  • Florida $359,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Fort Walton Beach $1,307
  • Okaloosa $1,612
  • Florida $1,669
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Fort Walton Beach $68,538
  • Okaloosa $81,998
  • Florida $74,568
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Fort Walton Beach next to Okaloosa County and Florida
Measure Fort Walton Beach Okaloosa County Florida U.S.
Typical home value $321,800 $351,200 $359,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,307 $1,612 $1,669 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $68,538 $81,998 $74,568 $80,734
Households that own their home 62% 68% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,806 $2,011 $2,730 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.56% 0.57% 0.76% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 54% 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 Fort Walton Beach

For a typical $321,800 home in Fort Walton Beach, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Fort Walton Beach's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,567a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $11,263
    Cash to close
    $20,917
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $142

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,508a month

    Down payment
    $16,090
    Cash to close
    $25,744
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $153

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,028a month

    Down payment
    $64,360
    Cash to close
    $74,014
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,326a month

    Down payment
    $48,270
    Cash to close
    $57,924
    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 Fort Walton Beach and for Okaloosa County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Fort Walton Beach

0.56%of the home’s value each year

$1,806 a year for the typical owner in Fort Walton Beach.

  • Fort Walton Beach 0.56%
  • 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 Fort Walton Beach

Typical rent in Fort Walton Beach is $1,307 a month: 19% below the county. In Fort Walton Beach, 54% 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 Fort Walton Beach

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Fort Walton Beach has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,850 in 32547 to $1,910 in 32548.

1 of the 2 is above the fair market rent for Okaloosa County ($1,908).

  • 32547 $1,850$2,540
  • 32548 $1,910$2,620

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Fort Walton Beach 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?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Fort Walton Beach

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Fort Walton Beach. These are the largest.

  • Westminster Manors I and II 45 Windham Ave SE, Fort Walton Beach 32548 148 low-income homes · For older adults (850) 244-7162
  • Charlie Hill Terrace 62 Ed Brown St SW, Fort Walton Beach 32548 100 homes, 99 low-income · Run by Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority · Average payment: $637 a month · Average wait: 6 months (850) 243-3224
  • Choctaw Village 859 Gibson Rd, Fort Walton Beach 32547 48 low-income homes · For families (850) 862-4200

See all 9 buildings in Okaloosa County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Fort Walton Beach

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 man leans over the armchair to help a teenage girl with her book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Fort Walton Beach

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

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Florida

Housing counselors near Fort Walton Beach

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Fort Walton Beach, 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 · 36 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 · 36 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 · 60 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 Fort Walton Beach

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 Fort Walton Beach

HUD’s record names them for Fort Walton Beach or Okaloosa County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (850) 243-3224

2 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 Fort Walton Beach, 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 Fort Walton Beach.

All guides
A father smiles as he carries his baby on his shoulders outdoors.

Questions

Housing questions about Fort Walton Beach

Short answers with the numbers for Fort Walton Beach 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 Fort Walton Beach?

The typical home value in Fort Walton Beach is $321,800, 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 Fort Walton Beach?

Typical rent in Fort Walton Beach is $1,307 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 Fort Walton Beach?

Fort Walton Beach 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 Fort Walton Beach?

The typical homeowner in Fort Walton Beach pays $1,806 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.56% of the home’s value; in Okaloosa County, the rate is 0.57%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Fort Walton Beach?

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).