Fort Walton Beach, FL

Census Place

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2024 Population
21,025
US Senator
Rick Scott
Republican Party
US Senator
Ashley Moody
Republican Party
2024 Median Age
39.1
0.255% 1-year decrease
2024 Poverty Rate
13.3%
4.09% 1-year decrease
2024 Median Household Income
$68,538
2.98% 1-year growth
2024 Median Property Value
$321,800
8.72% 1-year growth
2024 Employed Population
9,936
2.16% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Fort Walton Beach, FL reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

94.7% of the residents in Fort Walton Beach, FL are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Fort Walton Beach, FL are Okaloosa Technical College (198 degrees awarded in 2023).

In 2024, the median property value in Fort Walton Beach, FL was $321,800, and the homeownership rate was 61.8%.

Most people in Fort Walton Beach, FL drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 22.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Fort Walton Beach, FL was 2 cars per household.

United StatesFloridaOkaloosa County, FLCrestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FLOkaloosa County (North) PUMA, FLOkaloosa County (South) PUMA, FL

Population & Diversity

Fort Walton Beach, FL is home to a population of 21k people, from which 94.7% are citizens. As of 2024, 9.36% of Fort Walton Beach, FL residents were born outside of the country (1.97k people).

In 2024, there were 5.54 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (13.5k people) in Fort Walton Beach, FL than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.43k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 1.25k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

94.7%
2024 Citizenship
94.7%
2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 94.7% of Fort Walton Beach, FL residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Fort Walton Beach, FL was 94.7%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Fort Walton Beach, FL compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Fort Walton Beach, FL
  1. White (Non-Hispanic)
    13.5k ± 802
  2. Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
    2.43k ± 605
  3. Other (Hispanic)
    1.25k ± 384
13%
Hispanic Population
2.74k people

In 2024, there were 5.54 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (13.5k people) in Fort Walton Beach, FL than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.43k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 1.25k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

13% of the people in Fort Walton Beach, FL are hispanic (2.74k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Fort Walton Beach, FL as a share of the total population.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Florida.
Most Common Origin
  1. Cuba
    1,008,771 ± 24,085 people
  2. Haiti
    353,350 ± 14,476 people
  3. Colombia
    307,955 ± 13,528 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Florida was Cuba, the natal country of 1,008,771 Florida residents, followed by Haiti with 353,350 and Colombia with 307,955.

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Foreign-Born Population

9.36%
2024 Foreign-Born Population
1.97k people
9.41%
2023 Foreign-Born Population
1.97k people

As of 2024, 9.36% of Fort Walton Beach, FL residents (1.97k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Fort Walton Beach, FL was 9.41%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Fort Walton Beach, FL compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period
  1. Gulf War (2001-)
    955 ± 231
  2. Gulf War (1990s)
    599 ± 133
  3. Vietnam
    536 ± 138

Fort Walton Beach, FL has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 1.59 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Fort Walton Beach, FL.

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Economy

The economy of Fort Walton Beach, FL employs 9.94k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Fort Walton Beach, FL were Accommodation & Food Services (1,644 people), Retail Trade (1,242 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (1,237 people), and the highest paying industries were Information ($92,609), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($80,852), and Utilities ($72,991).

Employment

Occupations

9.94k
2024 Value
± 764
−2.16%
1 Year decline
± 11%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Fort Walton Beach, FL declined at a rate of −2.16%, from 10.2k employees to 9.94k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Fort Walton Beach, FL, are Sales & Related Occupations (1,296 people), Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (1,097 people), and Management Occupations (961 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Fort Walton Beach, FL.

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Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Florida.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Florida (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

9.94k
2024 Value
± 764
−2.16%
1 Year decline
± 11%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Fort Walton Beach, FL declined at a rate of −2.16%, from 10.2k employees to 9.94k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Fort Walton Beach, FL, are Accommodation & Food Services (1,644 people), Retail Trade (1,242 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (1,237 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Fort Walton Beach, FL, though some of these residents may live in Fort Walton Beach, FL and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Median Earnings by Industry

$41,824
Median earning men ± $4,982
$33,313
Median earning women ± $2,266

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Information ($92,609), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($81,591), and Manufacturing ($70,884).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($55,662), Wholesale Trade ($49,773), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($43,578).

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Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Florida.
Y-Axis
4.23%
Year-over-year growth
Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 9.69M people employed in Florida. This represents a 4.23% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 12.6%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Florida.

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Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Florida went to Donald J. Trump with 56.1% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (43%), followed by Jill Stein (0.396%).

Rick Scott and Ashley Moody are the senators currently representing the state of Florida. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Florida is currently represented by 26 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Voting results are not available for Fort Walton Beach, FL. Showing the available data for Florida.
2024 Election Results
  1. Donald J. Trump (56.1%)
    Republican Party
  2. Kamala Harris (43%)
    Democratic Party
  3. Jill Stein (0.396%)
    Green Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Florida went to Donald J. Trump with 56.1% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (43%), followed by Jill Stein (0.396%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Florida for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

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Senator Elections

US Senators from Florida

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Florida.
Rick Scott
Senator from Florida1
Assumed office on January 8, 2019
Inauguration delayed in order to finish his term as Governor of Florida.
Ashley Moody
Senator from Florida2
Assumed office on January 21, 2025
While elections for full class 3 terms will take place in 2028, Florida will hold a special election in 2026 to elect a senator to complete the remainder of Marco Rubio's term.

Rick Scott and Ashley Moody are the senators currently representing Florida.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Florida over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

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Education

In 2023, universities in Fort Walton Beach, FL awarded 198 degrees. The student population of Fort Walton Beach, FL in 2023 is skewed towards men, with 257 male students and 172 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Fort Walton Beach, FL are White (128 and 65.3%), Black or African American (25 and 12.8%), Hispanic or Latino (22 and 11.2%), and Two or More Races (13 and 6.63%).

The largest universities in Fort Walton Beach, FL by number of degrees awarded are Okaloosa Technical College (198 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Fort Walton Beach, FL are Automobile Mechanics Technology (31 and 15.7%), Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training (31 and 15.7%), and HVAC & Refrigeration Engineering Technology (26 and 13.1%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 429 students enrolled in Fort Walton Beach, FL, 59.9% men and 40.1% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 268 records, of which 37.7% were women and 62.3% men.

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Completions

Concentrations

Most Common
  1. Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training
    31 degrees awarded
  2. General Cosmetology
    25 degrees awarded
  3. Automobile Mechanics Technology
    17 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate recipients in Fort Walton Beach, FL was Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training with 31 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate from schools in Fort Walton Beach, FL according to their major.

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Universities

Gender
Race
Okaloosa Technical College
Largest Universities by degrees awarded
198 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Okaloosa Technical College with 198 degrees awarded.

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Student Diversity

In 2023, 127 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Fort Walton Beach, FL, which is 1.79 times more than the 71 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 128 degrees mean that there were 5.12 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 25 degrees awarded.

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Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Fort Walton Beach, FL was $321,800 in 2024, which is 0.967 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $296,000 to $321,800, a 8.72% increase. The homeownership rate in Fort Walton Beach, FL is 61.8%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Fort Walton Beach, FL have an average commute time of 22.7 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Fort Walton Beach, FL is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$321,800
Median Property Value 2024
±$16,155
$5,451
Median Property Taxes
±$507

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Fort Walton Beach, FL the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Fort Walton Beach, FL compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

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Rent vs Own

61.8%
Homeownership
2024
73.5%
Homeowners with Mortgage
2024

In 2024, 61.8% of the housing units in Fort Walton Beach, FL were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 59.7%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Fort Walton Beach, FL compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.
$68,538
Median Household Income
± $5,185
8.82k
Number of Households
± 665

In 2024, the median household income of the 8.82k households in Fort Walton Beach, FL grew to $68,538 from the previous year's value of $66,556.

The following chart displays the households in Fort Walton Beach, FL distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Fort Walton Beach, FL is from Florida.
0.473
2023 Wage GINI in Florida
0.474
2022 Wage GINI in Florida

In 2023, the income inequality in Florida was 0.473 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.136% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Florida was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Florida in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Florida across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024
  1. Drove Alone (81.2%)
  2. Worked At Home (8.36%)
  3. Carpooled (5.88%)

In 2024, 81.2% of workers in Fort Walton Beach, FL drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (8.36%) and those who carpooled to work (5.88%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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Commute Time

22.7 minutes
Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Fort Walton Beach, FL have a shorter commute time (22.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.87% of the workforce in Fort Walton Beach, FL have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Fort Walton Beach, FL compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Car Ownership

2 cars
Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Fort Walton Beach, FL distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Fort Walton Beach, FL have 2 cars.

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Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

13.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Fort Walton Beach, FL (2.74k out of 20.6k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 6 - 11 and then Males 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Fort Walton Beach, FL is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Health

85.1% of the population of Fort Walton Beach, FL has health coverage, with 29.8% on employee plans, 12.6% on Medicaid, 11.2% on Medicare, 22.7% on non-group plans, and 8.67% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Florida see 1,370 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,370 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1563 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 459 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.4% were men and 51.6% were women.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24% under 18 years, 17.4% between 18 and 34 years, 38.5% between 35 and 64 years, and 20.1% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.4% were men and 51.6% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

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Uninsured People

14.9%
Uninsured
29.8%
Employer Coverage
12.6%
Medicaid
11.2%
Medicare
22.7%
Non-Group
8.67%
Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Fort Walton Beach, FL declined by 0.279% from 15% to 14.9%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Fort Walton Beach, FL changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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