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Living in
Niceville.
About
Life in Niceville
This small city near Eglin Air Force Base has grown steadily over the past decade—the population jumped from about 12,700 in 2010 to over 16,000 today—but it hasn't lost that community feel that keeps people rooted here. The military presence shapes the economy and brings a stable workforce, but Niceville itself is genuinely livable rather than base-dependent; you've got solid employment opportunities, a median household income around $102,409, and a low unemployment rate of 3.8% that reflects a healthier job market than most Florida towns. What makes you actually stay here, though, is the balance: you're in a place where about 55% of households are married couples raising families, the median age is 40, and neighbors tend to stick around long-term.
Niceville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.3%
Foreign-Born
8.1%
Broadband Internet
93.3%
of households
Population Growth
+13.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.1% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Niceville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Niceville, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (16.5%), and 4.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.8%
of residents
65 and Older
18.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
19.0%
of households
Married Couples
64.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.68
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 about average for FL
Rent, home values, and income in Niceville
In Niceville, home values are 18% above the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,047
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
73.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $435,260 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for FL
Unemployment in Niceville
Unemployment in Okaloosa County, which includes Niceville, is close to the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Niceville: Okaloosa County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Okaloosa County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Niceville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25 min avg
How Niceville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Niceville, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 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 90% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Niceville runs 90% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
32.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
173.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Niceville Police Department
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 Niceville, 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 Niceville, 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
Climate89°F summers, 40°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Niceville has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and mild winters (avg low 40°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
77°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/56°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
63°/40°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
73.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
52
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
36
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61°F | 38°F | 5.86" |
| Feb | 65°F | 41°F | 5.25" |
| Mar | 70°F | 46°F | 5.35" |
| Apr | 76°F | 53°F | 5.99" |
| May | 84°F | 61°F | 3.78" |
| Jun | 88°F | 69°F | 6.79" |
| Jul | 90°F | 72°F | 8.91" |
| Aug | 90°F | 72°F | 9.21" |
| Sep | 87°F | 68°F | 6.97" |
| Oct | 80°F | 57°F | 4.60" |
| Nov | 71°F | 45°F | 4.97" |
| Dec | 64°F | 41°F | 5.68" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Niceville
Niceville has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
96th Medical Group (eglin Afb)
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 6.6 mi away · Eglin Afb
HCA Florida Fort Walton-destin Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.8 mi away · Fort Walton Beach
Sacred Heart Hospital On the Emerald Coast
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.6 mi away · Miramar 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.
Education21.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Niceville
Niceville's student/teacher ratio is 21.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 38.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
21.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Niceville
Northwest Florida State College
Public · 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, 47 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Niceville
Niceville has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Gulf Islands National Seashore (47 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gulf Islands National Seashore
National Seashore
47 mi awayPublic Libraries in Niceville
Niceville Public Library
206 N. Partin Drive, Niceville
Cities Near Niceville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Niceville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Niceville FAQ
Is Niceville, Florida affordable?⌄
Niceville's median rent is $1,749/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $102,409/year. Median home value is $423,500.
Is Niceville, Florida safe?⌄
Niceville's violent crime rate was 33 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 173 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Niceville, Florida?⌄
Okaloosa County, which includes Niceville, has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Niceville, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Niceville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,749/month and median household income is $102,409/year. The median home value is $423,500. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Niceville, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Niceville is 25 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