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Okaloosa County, Florida Demographics 2026

Okaloosa County, Florida has a population of 216,599, the 26th most populous county in Florida. The median household income is $81,998 and the median home value is $351,200. The poverty rate is 9.3%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Okaloosa County Quick Facts

Population 216,599
Median Household Income $81,998
Median Home Value $351,200
Poverty Rate 9.3%
Unemployment Rate 3.8%
Median Age 37.4 years
Homeownership Rate 68.4%
Affordability Ratio 4.3x
Bachelor's Degree+ 34.8%
High School Graduation 93.3%
Cities/Places 14
Population 216,599 26th of 67
Median Income $81,998 10% higher than state
Poverty Rate 9.3%
Unemployment 3.8%

How Okaloosa County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population214,281216,599+1.1%
Median household income$79,097$81,998+3.7%
Median home value$324,800$351,200+8.1%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 10.0%
$25K-$50K 17.4%
$50K-$100K 31.5%
$100K+ 41.1%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.2%
$10K-$15K
2.2%
$15K-$20K
2.1%
$20K-$25K
2.4%
$25K-$30K
2.3%
$30K-$35K
3.7%
$35K-$40K
3.6%
$40K-$45K
4.1%
$45K-$50K
3.7%
$50K-$60K
7.6%
$60K-$75K
11.1%
$75K-$100K
12.9%
$100K-$125K
11.9%
$125K-$150K
7.9%
$150K-$200K
9.6%
$200K+
11.6%

Employment

3.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.8%|National: 5.2%
64.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 68.4%
Renter 31.6%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.3x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,612/mo 23.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

49out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 65 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Okaloosa County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Crestview28,773$65,48011.2%$277,900
Wright27,927$70,19516.7%$306,100
Fort Walton Beach21,025$68,53813.3%$321,800
Niceville16,544$102,40910.3%$423,500
Destin14,077$89,0117.4%$490,300
Lake Lorraine6,903$104,1056.6%$434,500
Ocean City5,941$59,0399.2%$303,900
Valparaiso4,885$90,1103.4%$394,700
Mary Esther4,061$76,8906.3%$298,900
Hurlburt Field2,951$61,7311.3%N/A
Eglin AFB2,778$84,1672.7%N/A
Shalimar885$115,4177.7%$476,500
Cinco Bayou609$84,68812.0%$348,800
Laurel Hill355$63,03613.3%$117,900

Population Overview

Okaloosa County is located in Florida with a total population of 216,599. It is the 26th most populous county out of 67 in Florida. The county encompasses 14 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Okaloosa County is 37.4 years. This is 12% lower than the state median of 42.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Okaloosa County is $81,998. This is 10% higher than the state median of $74,568. It is also 2% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.3%. This is 26% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 21% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $351,200. Housing costs are 2% lower than the state median of $359,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 68.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Okaloosa County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 69.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (11.3%) is well below the state average of 27.4%.

Education

34.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 34.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Okaloosa County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Florida and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Okaloosa County, Florida?

Okaloosa County has a population of 216,599, making it the 26th most populous county in Florida.

What is the median income in Okaloosa County?

The median household income in Okaloosa County is $81,998 with a poverty rate of 9.3%.

How many cities are in Okaloosa County, Florida?

Okaloosa County contains 14 Census-designated places.