Fort Walton Beach has a population of 21,368, and has been rated #5 in best places to live in Florida and #8 for best place in Okaloosa County. The median age in Fort Walton Beach is 40.9 and many families, young professionals and military personnel live here. In 2017, veterans who served the Gulf war (2001-) made up 503 of Fort Walton’s population, 1.22 times greater than any other conflict.
This area is famous for its beautiful white, powdery sandy beaches, year-round fishing and Billy Bowlegs celebration. The celebration occurs the first weekend in June and continues the entire weekend. Celebrations include live music, parades, pub crawls and fireworks.
The median household income is $52,107 and the mean commute to work is 19 minutes, with 36% of residents both work and reside in Fort Walton Beach.
Fort Walton Beach has a suburban feel to it and the residents tend to lean conservative. The median property value is $195,052 and most families own their home with a homeownership rate of 54.9% with 10,383 total housing units.
To become a homeowner, or search for your next home in Fort Walton Beach, begin your search here:
The following topics will be covered on this page:
FORT WALTON BEACH HOUSING DATA
FORT WALTON BEACH DEMOGRAPHICS
FORT WALTON BEACH ECONOMY
FORT WALTON BEACH CHILD CARE SERVICES
FORT WALTON BEACH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
FORT WALTON BEACH MEDICAL FACILITIES
FORT WALTON BEACH RECREATION/ACTIVITIES
FORT WALTON BEACH HOUSING DATA The housing data comes mostly from the 2018 American Community Survey from the Census Bureau, covering housing supply, occupancy, owner vs. renter costs and financing data and basic home characteristics. NEXT >>>
|
| 
|
The total number of housing units in Fort Walton Beach is 10,383, 65% of them are single detached homes. 89% of these units are occupied and of those 55% are owner occupied housing.
|
Monthly Costs & Financing
|
| 
|
The median rental rate is $1204, and 91% of renters pay for their utilities separate from their rent. Median monthly owner costs are $963.00, which includes costs associated with mortgage, utilities, homeowner’s insurance, etc. The median housing costs for owners without mortgages is $460. There are 59% homeowner’s with mortgages and 41% do not have an mortgage. The average real estate taxes are $1,375.
|
House Values & Characteristics
|
| 
|
| 
|
The household size for families in Fort Walton Beach is 3.1. The median number of rooms in a typical home is 5.4 The median year that a house was built is 1970. 67% of homes are being heated with electricity and 31% by Natural gas.
|
FORT WALTON BEACH DEMOGRAPHICS The demographics data comes from the most recent data available from the Census Bureau released in December 2018. <<< PREVIOUS NEXT >>>
|
| 
|
| 
|
The total population of Fort Walton Beach is 21,368 and the median age is 40.9. The average size of a typical family is 3.1. The education levels of adult residents of Fort Walton Beach is a above average, with more than half either with a bachelor’s degree or some college. The majority of the residents are married, at 46%. The overall crime rate in Fort Walton Beach is 12% higher than the national average. For every 100,000 people, there are 8.43 daily crimes that occur, and any person has a 1 in 33 chance of becoming a victim of any crime. Not included in this crime rate reporting is child sex offender, to check the child sex offenders, search this registry.
|
FORT WALTON BEACH ECONOMY The local economy and labor force data comes from the most recent economic data from the 2018 Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
<<<PREVIOUS NEXT>>>
|
| 
|
|
The median household income is %52,107 with the median earnings per worker is $30,989. 5% of workers in the labor force are self-employed. The percentage of house holds that had retirement income is 19% The monthly unemployment rate for the area is 5% The monthly labor force participation which are people actively looking for work is 67% The average commute time to work is 19 minutes and the percentage of people who work and live in Fort Walton Beach is 36%.
FORT WALTON BEACH CHILD CARE SERVICES If you are new to the area, or in need of child care for the first time, the following child care services are available here. (Please note, this is for information purposes only, it is not an endorcement of any child care facility).
<<<PREVIOUS NEXT>>> | Childcare Network #41 800 Falcon Place Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.862.0512 (call or text)
For ages 6 weeks to 12 years Hours: M-F 6:15am-6pm Child Care Facility Capacity: 100 children
| Childcare Network #142 108 Jet Drive NW Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.244.0777
Ages 6 weeks to 12 years Hours: 6am-6pm Child Care Facility Capacity: 254 children | Childcare Network #40 644 A Anchors St. Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.244.3668
Ages 6 weeks-12 years Hours: 6:15am-6:00pm Child Care Facility Capacity: 150 children | Kid’s Discovery 1 240 Green Acres Rd. Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.301.9409 Fax: 850.862.2138
Tuition prices can be found here. Visit the website for more information.
Hours: call for information Child Care Facility Capacity: 327 children
| Grow with Us Learning Academy 314 Carmel Drive Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.586.7897
Hours: M-F 6am-6pm Child Care Facility Capacity: 104 children | Weitzel Family Daycare 850.244.9421
Hours: M-Sat 6am-5:30pm
| Our Little School House 505 Hollywood Blvd. E Mary Esther 32569 850.664.6141
Hours: M-F 6:30am-5:30pm Closed Sat & Sun
| The Children’s Center 343 Holmes Blvd. Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.244.9187 Fax: 850.243.3405
Hours: 6:30am-5:30pm Child Care Facility Capacity: 188 children
| Wanda Dorn Williams Childcare 2 Jonquil Ave., NW Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.243.4349
Hours: M-F 630am-5pm Home Child Care Capacity: 10 children
| McGriff’s Family Child Care 57 Hemlock Dr., NW Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.243.0298
| Terris Child Care Services 317 Oakland Circle, NW Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.863.1026
| The wRight Day Care 136 Patrick Drive Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.864.5123
Hours: M-F 6am-6pm Child Care Facility Capacity: 75 children | Happy Days Daycare, LLC 8 Walter Martin Rd., NE Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.301.0370
Hours: 6:30am-6pm Child Care Facility Capacity: 45 children | Creative Play School 11 Vine Ave. NE Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.243.0008
Hours: 7:30am-4:30pm | Stokes Family Day Care 1325 Blueberry Ln. Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.862.7934
Hours: M-F 8am-5pm Home Day Care Capacity: 10 children | Adams Family Day Care 1853 Laurel Oaks Ct. Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.496.5223
Hours: M-F 7:30am-5:30pm Home Day Care Capacity: 10 children
| Byrd Family Day Care 950 Southern Oaks Ct. Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.218.9676
Hours: call for more info Home Day Care Capacity: 10 children
| Allaire Family Day Care 714 Overbrook Dr. Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.862.2465
Hours: call for information Home Day Care Capacity: 10 children | Blue Family Day Care 242 Carmel Dr. Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.864.3726
Hours: call for information Home Day Care Capacity: 10 children | Hamma and Bampa’s TLC Recreation Center 502 Schneider Dr. Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.362.6993
Hours: visit their site for more information Child Care Facility Capacity: 139 children
| Foreman Family Day Care 102 King St. NW Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.499.8573
Hours: call for more information Home Day Care Capacity: 10 children | Goodman Family Day Care 406 Elaine Ave. NW Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.218.2353
Hours: call for more information Home Day Care Capacity: 10 children
| Bowen Family Day Care 440 Kanuha Dr. Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.226.3356
Hours: call for more information Home Day Care Capacity: 10 children | Jackson Family Day Care 219 Burnette Ave. NW Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.243.3501
Hours: call for information Home Day Care Capacity: 10 children | All Stars Preschool and Child Care 101 Scranton St. Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.863.5900
Hours: Child Care Facility Capacity: 99 children
| Kid’s Place 321 Racetrack Rd NE Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.864.5014
Hours: M-F 9am-3pm Child Care Facility Capacity: 31 | Grow with Us Learning Academy 102 Tooke St. Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.213.1311
Hours: M-F 6am-6pm Child Care Facility Capacity: 93 children | Godfrey Family Day Care 616 Camborne Ave NE Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.797.7109
Hours: Home Day Care Capacity: 10 children | Mcnabb Family Day Care 509 Manchester Rd. Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.664.5446
Hours: Home Day Care Capacity: 10 children
| Little People’s Place of Ft. Walton Beach 110 Truxton Ave Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.301.3589
Hours: Sat & Sun 11am-5pm Child Care Facility Capacity: 30 children | Cinco Baptist School 26 Yacht Club Dr. NE Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.243.7515
Hours: call for information Religious Exempt Facility Capacity: N/A | The Creative Play School 11 Vine Ave NE Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.243.0008
Hours: Child Care Facility Capacity: 99 children | Learning Adventures 310 Woodrow St. NE Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.864.3007
Hours: call for information Child Care Facility Capacity: 94 children | Montessori Learning Center 28 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW, Suite 2 Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.244.1775
Hours: call for information Child Care Facility Capacity: 39 children
| City of FWB Recreation Center 132 Jet Dr. NW Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.833.9580
Hours: visit website or call for information Child Care Facility Capacity: 45 children
| Chester Pruitt Head Start Center 15 Carson Dr. SE Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.244.4959
Hours: call for information Child Care Facility Capacity: 34 children | Fort Walton Head Start Center 22 Mcgriff St NE Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.244.2606
Hours: call for information Child Care Facility Capacity: 140 children | Simmons Family Day Care 100 Methodist Ave SE Fort Walton Beach 32548 850.243.2372
Hours: call for more information Home Day Care Capacity: 10 children |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FORT WALTON BEACH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Compare all schools here <<<PREVIOUS NEXT>>>
|
Wright Elementary 305 Lang Road Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.833.3580 Fax: 850.833.3584
Wright Elementary is rated #15 for best public elementary school in Okaloosa County and #615 in Florida. There are 662 students grades PK, K-5 with a student teacher ratio of 14 to 1.
Math Proficiency: 63% Reading Proficiency: 58%
| Elliot Point Elementary 301 Hughes Street FWB 32548 850.833.3355 850.833.3473
Elliott Point is rated #918 in best public elementary school in Florida. It has 612 students in grades PK, K-5 with a student teacher ratio of 14 to 1.
Math Proficiency: 59% Reading Proficiency: 52%
| Kenwood Elementary 15 Eagle Street NE, Fort Walton Beach 32547 850.833.3570 Fax: 850.833.3597
Kenwood Elementary rates #12 in best public elementary school in Okaloosa County and #458 in Florida. It has 645 students in grades PK, K-5 with a student teacher ratio of 15 to 1.
Math Proficiency: 71% Reading Proficiency: 63%
| Liza Jackson Preparatory School 546 Mary Esther Cut Off, Suite 1 Fort Walton Beach, 32548 850.833.3321 Fax: 850.833.3292
Liza Jackson is a highly rated public charter school, rated #1 in best public elementary schools in Okaloosa County. There are 848 students in grades K-8, with a student teacher ratio of 15 to 1. The average proficiency test scores in math and languages are 63% higher than Florida’s average.
Math Proficiency: 86% Reading Proficiency: 79%
|
Annette P. Edwins Elementary School 7 Wright Pkwy. SW Fort Walton Beach 850.833.3333
Edwins Elementary is ranked #867 in best public elementary schools in Florida, #19 in Okaloosa County and #6 in Fort Walton Beach. They are an above average school with 466 students in grades PK-5 and a student teacher ratio of 14 to 1.
Math Proficiency: 62% Reading Proficiency: 52%
| Max Bruner Junior Middle School 322 Holmes Blvd. NW FWB 32548 Main Office: (850) 833-3266
Fax: (850) 833-3434
Attendance: x1411
Clinic: x1426
Discipline: x1404
Guidance: x1415 or 1401
Office Hours: 7:00-3:00
Bruner Middle school is ranked#10 in best public middle schools in Okaloosa county, #337 in Florida and #7561 in America. They are an above average middle school serving 740 students in grades 6-8 with a student teacher ratio of 18 to 1.
Math Proficiency: 55% Reading Proficiency: 61 %
| W.C. Pryor Middle School 201 Racetrack Rd., NW FWB 32547 850.833.3613 Fax: 850.833.4276
This school has 607 students in grades 6-8, with a student teacher ratio of 18 to 1.
Math Proficiency: 44% Reading Proficiency: 60%
| Choctawhatchee Senior High School 110 Racetrack Rd., NW FWB 32547 850.833.3614 Fax: 850.833.3410
This high school is rated #4 in best public high school in Okaloosa County. There are 1,615 students in grades 9-12, with a student teacher ratio of 19 to 1.
Graduation Rate: 89% Math Proficiency: 49% Reading Proficiency: 57% Average SAT (out of 1600): 1160 Average ACT (out of 36): 26 AP Enrollment: 45%
|
Fort Walton Beach High School 400 Hollywood Blvd., SW FWB 32548 850.833.3300 Fax: 850.833.3332
This high school is rated #3 in best public high schools in Okaloosa County and #86 in Florida. It has 1,638 students in grades 9-12 with a student teacher ratio of 20 to 1.
Graduation Rate: 88% Math Proficiency: 71% Reading Proficiency: 59% Average SAT (out of 1600): 1170 Average ACT (out of 36): 26 AP Enrollment: 35%
|
|
|
|
FORT WALTON BEACH RECREATION/ACTIVITIES
<<<PREVIOUS NEXT>>> |
| Airforce Armament Museum 100 Museum Dr. Eglin AFB 32542 850.882.4062 Museum Foundation: 850.651.1808 Open M-F 9:30am-4:30pm, Closed on Federal Holidays Admission is Free
The Air Force Armament Museum receives about 80,000 visitors per year. It is the only museum in the world dedicated to the collection, preservation and exhibition of artifacts and memorabilia associated with Air Force Armament and its platforms of delivery. There is a 32-minute film on the history of Eglin Air Force Base that is shown throughout the day. There is so much to see and tour in this museum that it may take more than one day to see everything. Please visit their site for more information.
|
| Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier 850.244.1023
Fax 850. 244.7105
1030 Miracle Strip Pkwy. E.
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548 Open 24/7. Winter (mid Oct.-mid March) 5am-9pm.
Admission: Adults $8.00 Seniors 65+ $7.00 Children 6-12 yrs. $5.00 Children 5 and below Free Visitors, that are not fishing: $2.00 age 6 and up. Visit their website for more information.
|
| Goofy Golf 401 Egin Parkway, NE Fort Walton Beach 32547
Hours & Admission: Open M-F 3:00pm-8:30pm Sat and Sun 10am-8:30pm
Visit their site for more information.
|
| Gulfarium 1010 Miracle Strip Pkwy. SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Phone(s): (850) 243-9046 & (850) 8575 Open daily from 9am-4:30pm/ Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day Admission:
General Admission is $23.95/ Children (3-12 yrs) is $15.95/ Seniors (ages over 61) $22.95/ Infants (Age 2 and younger) Free
Discounts:
Florida Residents (13-61) $19.16/ Florida Seniors (62 and up) $18.36/ Florida Children (3-12 yrs) $12.76
Military Adult (13-61) $21.56/ Military Senior (62 and up) $20.66/ Military Child (3-12 yrs) $14.36
The Gulfarium is an interactive aquarium for sea life native to the Gulf of Mexico. There are displays and exhibits as well as live shows and a chance to be up close and feed or touch some of the sea life.
There is a gift shop and a refreshment and snack shop as well. Visit their website for more information.
|
| Liza Jackson Park 132 Jet Drive Fort Walton Beach 850.833.9576
Open: daily 6am-11pm
|
| Emerald Coast Science Center 31 SW Memorial Pkwy., FWB 32548 850.664.1261 Hours: Wed-Sat: 10am-4pm, Closed Sun-Tue
Admission: General Admission $8.00 for children and Seniors, $10 for Adults Discounts: Locals Discount $1.00 discount, Military Discount, with ID, get 10% discount on everything. Free Days: Mother’s Day for mom, father’s day for dad, Armed forces weekend for all active duty families. Grandparent’s weekend for grandparents.
|
| The Indian Temple Mound Museum 139 Miracle Strip Pkwy, SE, FWB 32548
The Historic Buildings (Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum, Garnier Post Office Museum, and Civil War Exhibits) are located at 127 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach. They are physically located on the same property as the Indian Temple Mound Museum.
Admission:
Adults (18+) $5.30/ Seniors (55+) $4.77 & Military (with ID) $4.77/ Children (4-17 yrs) $3.18/ Children (3 and under) Free
The Indian Temple Mound was erected approximately 1400 AD, by Florida native tribesmen from the local to northern portions of Florida, focused on the native people of Fort Walton Beach. This was a political and cultural center for the people of the beach and north-western Florida.
The museum covers all aspects of their culture, heritage and lives from 12000 BC to the 1950s, with a collection of stone tools to bone artifacts and native pottery. The museum, through interactive exhibits, explores the impact to the native people by European colonization. |
|
|