1st Advantage MortgageIn Okaloosa County, Florida, the typical household earns $81,998 a year and the typical rent is $1,612. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Florida before sharing details.
On this page
- A quick profile of Okaloosa County
- Income in Okaloosa County compared with Florida
- Renting and owning in Okaloosa County
- Work, industries and travel time in Okaloosa County
- Places inside Okaloosa County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- More Okaloosa County figures
- Before borrowing in Okaloosa County
- A Okaloosa County household budget, worked through
- Licensing and complaints for Okaloosa County
- Four steps for Okaloosa County borrowers
- More guides for Okaloosa County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Okaloosa County
Okaloosa County is home to about 216,599 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 26th most populous of 67 county-level areas in Florida. It covers 930 square miles of land, or about 233 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL metropolitan area. Crestview is the biggest of its 14 Census places, at roughly 28,773 people (13% of the county total).
Income in Okaloosa County compared with Florida
The median household income in Okaloosa County is $81,998; statewide it is $74,568, so Okaloosa County runs 10% above Florida as a whole.
| Band | Okaloosa County | Compared with Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.0% | -6.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +1.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.4% | +3.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.6% | +0.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 41% of Okaloosa County households make $100,000 or more, and 16% make less than $35,000. Census counts 9.3% of Okaloosa County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Florida. A household earning below the $81,998 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Okaloosa County
A typical Okaloosa County rental runs $1,612 a month including utilities, which is 3% below Florida. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 55% of renter households here. Home values center on $351,200, or 4.3 years of median income. 68% of Okaloosa County households own their home and 32% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1990.
| Home costs | Okaloosa County | Florida | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,612/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $351,200 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.5% | 8.0% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Work, industries and travel time in Okaloosa County
Education and health care employs 19% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 14%. Public administration stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Okaloosa County averages 3.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). Long commutes are common here: 18% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Okaloosa County | Compared with Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.6% | -2.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.9% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 13.4% | +2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | -0.4 pts |
| Public administration | 10.6% | +6.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | -0.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Okaloosa County
14 Census places fall mainly inside Okaloosa County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 137,714 residents, leaving about 36% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Shalimar has the highest median household income on the list ($115,417) and Ocean City the lowest ($59,039), counting places with at least 500 residents. None of the 14 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestview | city | 28,773 | $65,480 | $1,366 | 9 mi |
| Wright | CDP | 27,927 | $70,195 | $1,621 | 12 mi |
| Fort Walton Beach | city | 21,025 | $68,538 | $1,307 | 13 mi |
| Niceville | city | 16,544 | $102,409 | $1,749 | 9 mi |
| Destin | city | 14,077 | $89,011 | $1,936 | 16 mi |
| Lake Lorraine | CDP | 6,903 | $104,105 | $1,654 | 12 mi |
| Ocean City | CDP | 5,941 | $59,039 | $1,443 | 12 mi |
| Valparaiso | city | 4,885 | $90,110 | $1,366 | 10 mi |
| Mary Esther | city | 4,061 | $76,890 | $1,699 | 15 mi |
| Hurlburt Field | CDP | 2,951 | $61,731 | $2,151 | 15 mi |
| Eglin AFB | CDP | 2,778 | $84,167 | $2,260 | 11 mi |
| Shalimar | town | 885 | $115,417 | $2,551 | 12 mi |
| Cinco Bayou | town | 609 | $84,688 | $1,643 | 13 mi |
| Laurel Hill | city | 355 | $63,036 | $742 | 25 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Walton County at 26 miles out to Holmes County at 49. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Okaloosa County; Santa Rosa County is highest at $91,922 and Escambia County lowest at $48,225. Some neighbors are in Alabama. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Okaloosa County resident follows Florida rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okaloosa County | - | $81,998 | $1,612/mo | 68% |
| Walton County, FL | 26 mi | $81,986 | $1,741/mo | 79% |
| Santa Rosa County, FL | 26 mi | $91,922 | $1,544/mo | 81% |
| Escambia County, FL | 44 mi | $67,500 | $1,321/mo | 65% |
| Covington County, AL | 44 mi | $52,456 | $746/mo | 76% |
| Escambia County, AL | 49 mi | $48,225 | $766/mo | 71% |
| Holmes County, FL | 49 mi | $49,343 | $844/mo | 76% |
More Okaloosa County figures
College graduates make up 35% of the adult population. About 12% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Okaloosa County | Florida statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.8% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.7% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.8% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.3% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Okaloosa County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.4% |
| 60+ min | 8.8% |
Before borrowing in Okaloosa County
Based on the Okaloosa County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 12% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Long drives. With 18% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Okaloosa County budgets.
- Higher earners. 41% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Renters under pressure. When 55% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
A Okaloosa County household budget, worked through
Okaloosa County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $6,833 a month: gross income for a household at the Okaloosa County median
- Less median rent of $1,612, which is 24% of it
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,121 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Okaloosa County's.
Licensing and complaints for Okaloosa County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Okaloosa County borrowers answers to the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Florida state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Okaloosa County borrowers
Quick steps for Okaloosa County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Florida borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Okaloosa County
For statewide rules and data, see the Florida guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Okaloosa County?
$81,998 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,568 for Florida. It ranks 11th of 67 in the state.
Is Okaloosa County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,612 against $1,669 statewide, and 55% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Okaloosa County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Crestview, Wright, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Destin and 9 more.
Are Okaloosa County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Okaloosa County?
Start with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.