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Living in
Destin.
About
Life in Destin
Life in Destin is fundamentally shaped by tourism — over 80% of the Emerald Coast's 4.5 million annual visitors come here, and the city's population nearly triples to around 40,000 during peak season, which means traffic congestion, crowded beaches, and higher prices are just part of existing here. That said, the actual resident community is surprisingly stable, with a median age of 43 and about half of households being married couples, suggesting it's not just transient vacation-home owners but genuine families putting down roots. Housing is expensive (median home values around $490,300 and median rent near $1,936/month), though the job market is steady with low unemployment at 3.8% and plenty of service and hospitality work tied to the tourism economy — just know that seasonal fluctuations affect many local businesses.
Destin at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.4%
Foreign-Born
14.1%
Broadband Internet
95.0%
of households
Population Growth
+0.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.1% foreign-born, most often from Brazil
Who lives in Destin: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Destin, the largest foreign-born group is from Brazil (28.3%), and 7.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.3%
of residents
65 and Older
18.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.9%
of households
Married Couples
46.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.24
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 16% above FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Destin
In Destin, rent runs 16% above the FL average, and home values are 37% above the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,083
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
69.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1992
median year built
Vacant Homes
54.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $616,654 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for FL
Unemployment in Destin
Unemployment in Okaloosa County, which includes Destin, is close to the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Destin: Okaloosa County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Okaloosa County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Destin Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute26 min avg
How Destin residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Destin, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS)
Small hub1.2M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 17% below national average
Crime rates for 2020
Older dataThe latest complete year reported to the FBI is 2020. It's compared with the national rate for 2020.
Violent crime in the area policed by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, which covers Destin, runs 17% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
330.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (399 national, 2020)
Property Crime Rate
1,336.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,955 national, 2020)
Policed by Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 4 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Okaloosa County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Okaloosa County, which includes Destin, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 4 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2024 | 7 | Rip Current | None reported |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $361,000 |
| 2021 | 15 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2020 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17.3M |
| 2019 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2,000 |
| 2018 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $515,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Okaloosa County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Okaloosa County, which includes Destin, is typically good — 338 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
338
per year
Moderate Days
22
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Okaloosa County, county-wide
Climate90°F summers, 47°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Destin has hot summers (avg high 90°F) and warm winters (avg low 47°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
77°/61°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/75°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
81°/63°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
65°/47°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
55.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
50
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
6
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
110
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63°F | 45°F | 4.52" |
| Feb | 66°F | 48°F | 4.96" |
| Mar | 71°F | 54°F | 4.70" |
| Apr | 76°F | 60°F | 4.55" |
| May | 84°F | 68°F | 3.22" |
| Jun | 89°F | 74°F | 4.70" |
| Jul | 91°F | 76°F | 5.77" |
| Aug | 91°F | 76°F | 6.08" |
| Sep | 89°F | 72°F | 5.18" |
| Oct | 81°F | 63°F | 2.82" |
| Nov | 72°F | 53°F | 4.13" |
| Dec | 66°F | 48°F | 4.72" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Destin
Uninsured
20.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Destin's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
96th Medical Group (eglin Afb)
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 7 mi away · Eglin Afb
Sacred Heart Hospital On the Emerald Coast
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.7 mi away · Miramar Beach
HCA Florida Fort Walton-destin Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.6 mi away · Fort Walton Beach
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Destin
Destin's student/teacher ratio is 15.8:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 46.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
46.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Destin (within 15 miles)
Northwest Florida State College
10.1 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 3,010 students · in-state tuition $3,120 · 39% graduate · median earnings $43,741 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Gulf Islands National Seashore, 46 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Destin
Destin has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Gulf Islands National Seashore (46 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gulf Islands National Seashore
National Seashore
46 mi awayPublic Libraries in Destin
Destin Library
150 Sibert Avenue, Destin
Cities Near Destin
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Destin?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Destin FAQ
Is Destin, Florida affordable?⌄
Destin's median rent is $1,936/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $89,011/year. Median home value is $490,300.
Is Destin, Florida safe?⌄
Destin is policed by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 331 per 100,000 residents in 2020, which is below the national average of 399/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1337 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Destin, Florida?⌄
Okaloosa County, which includes Destin, has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Destin, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Destin is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,936/month and median household income is $89,011/year. The median home value is $490,300. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Destin, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Destin is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from