1st Advantage MortgageAbout 81% of Santa Rosa County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $91,922. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Santa Rosa County
- The Santa Rosa County job picture
- Paychecks and income spread in Santa Rosa County
- What it costs to live in Santa Rosa County
- The counties around Santa Rosa County
- Santa Rosa County towns compared
- Santa Rosa County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Santa Rosa County borrowers
- Room for a loan payment in Santa Rosa County
- Lender oversight for Santa Rosa County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Santa Rosa County
With an estimated 198,472 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Santa Rosa County ranks 29th of 67 in Florida for population. It covers 1,012 square miles of land, or about 196 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL metropolitan area. Navarre is the biggest of its 35 Census places, at roughly 39,838 people (20% of the county total).
The Santa Rosa County job picture
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Santa Rosa County residents work in education and health care and 12% in professional and administrative services. Public administration stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Santa Rosa County averages 4.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). 23% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home. 3.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Santa Rosa County workers | vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.2% | +0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.4% | -1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.4% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +0.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.3% | +0.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Santa Rosa County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Paychecks and income spread in Santa Rosa County
At $91,922, the typical Santa Rosa County household income is 40% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 2nd among Florida's 67 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Santa Rosa County | +/- vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.2% | -7.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.6% | -1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.3% | +7.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.9% | +0.9 pts |
About 15% of households earn under $35,000, while 45% clear $100,000. Census counts 8.8% of Santa Rosa County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Florida. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Santa Rosa County median.
What it costs to live in Santa Rosa County
A typical Santa Rosa County rental runs $1,544 a month including utilities, which is 7% below Florida. By the Census definition, 40% of Santa Rosa County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $329,800, a typical Santa Rosa County house costs 3.6 times what the median household earns in a year. 81% of Santa Rosa County households own their home and 19% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1998.
| Measure | Santa Rosa County | Florida | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,544/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $329,800 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.4% | 8.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 15% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Santa Rosa County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The counties around Santa Rosa County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Santa Rosa County's, from 21 to 52 miles away. Okaloosa County leads the group on income ($81,998), Escambia County trails ($48,225), and Santa Rosa County out-earns 6 of the six. The list crosses into Alabama, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa County | - | $91,922 | $1,544/mo | 81% |
| Escambia County, FL | 21 mi | $67,500 | $1,321/mo | 65% |
| Okaloosa County, FL | 26 mi | $81,998 | $1,612/mo | 68% |
| Escambia County, AL | 32 mi | $48,225 | $766/mo | 71% |
| Baldwin County, AL | 43 mi | $78,775 | $1,277/mo | 78% |
| Walton County, FL | 51 mi | $81,986 | $1,741/mo | 79% |
| Covington County, AL | 52 mi | $52,456 | $746/mo | 76% |
Santa Rosa County towns compared
The table lists the 14 largest of 35 Census places in Santa Rosa County, by population. Together all 35 hold about 156,972 people, so roughly 21% of residents live outside any named place. Navarre Beach has the highest median household income on the list ($130,307) and Jay the lowest ($48,359), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $747 in Chumuckla to $3,098 in Allentown. This guide covers each of the 35 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navarre | CDP | 39,838 | $105,265 | $1,966 | 20 mi |
| Pace | CDP | 26,282 | $80,701 | $1,282 | 10 mi |
| Midway | CDP | 21,317 | $96,041 | $1,645 | 19 mi |
| East Milton | CDP | 14,783 | $64,904 | $1,157 | 5 mi |
| Milton | city | 10,733 | $76,301 | $1,455 | 4 mi |
| Gulf Breeze | city | 6,660 | $104,050 | $1,536 | 23 mi |
| Bagdad | CDP | 4,466 | $82,034 | $945 | 6 mi |
| Wallace | CDP | 4,202 | $116,496 | $1,411 | 11 mi |
| Point Baker | CDP | 3,976 | $64,769 | $1,145 | 2 mi |
| Tiger Point | CDP | 3,628 | $118,967 | $2,165 | 20 mi |
| Pea Ridge | CDP | 3,560 | $59,628 | $1,252 | 7 mi |
| Woodlawn Beach | CDP | 3,414 | $123,355 | $2,342 | 20 mi |
| Holley | CDP | 2,487 | $104,565 | $1,677 | 17 mi |
| Oriole Beach | CDP | 2,005 | $88,154 | $2,023 | 21 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Santa Rosa County residents: age, schooling, coverage
32% of Santa Rosa County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 10.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Santa Rosa County | Florida | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.0% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.9% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.2% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.4% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.7% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 17.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.5% |
| 60+ min | 9.5% |
What the numbers mean for Santa Rosa County borrowers
Based on the Santa Rosa County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Santa Rosa County. For the 10% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Long drives. With 23% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Santa Rosa County budgets.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 45% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
Room for a loan payment in Santa Rosa County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Santa Rosa County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $7,660 a month: gross income for a household at the Santa Rosa County median
- 20% goes to median rent ($1,544)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,214 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,750 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Santa Rosa County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Lender oversight for Santa Rosa County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Santa Rosa County resident can confirm its license with 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.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Santa Rosa County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Santa Rosa County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Florida guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Santa Rosa County earn?
The median is $91,922; 45% earn $100,000 or more and 15% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Santa Rosa County rent compare with Florida?
$1,544 locally versus $1,669 for the state, 7% below.
Which towns does the Santa Rosa County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 35 Census places: Navarre, Pace, Midway, East Milton, Milton.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Santa Rosa County or elsewhere in Florida, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Santa Rosa County?
Start with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.