Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Fort Walton Beach, FL Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

21,025

Median Agei

39.1

Race & Ethnicityi

White

64%13,458

Hispanic/Latino

13%2,743

Black

11.6%2,431

Two or More

5.9%1,242

Asian

4%832

Other

0.7%153

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.7%137

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%29

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.4%652

High School Diploma

23.4%3,470

Some College (<1 yr)

8.9%1,314

Some College (1+ yr)

15.6%2,308

Associate's Degree

9.9%1,467

Bachelor's Degree

20.5%3,037

Master's Degree

6.9%1,025

Professional Degree

1.4%201

Doctorate

0.9%126

HS or Higher

91.9%

BA or Higher

29.7%

Graduate+

9.1%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$321,800

Median Renti

$1,307

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

61.8%5,451

Renter-Occupied

38.2%3,366

Total Units

9,901

Homeownership

61.8%

Vacancy Rate

10.9%

Home Values

Under $50K

2.7%149

$50K–$100K

1.6%88

$100K–$150K

2.1%117

$150K–$200K

6%328

$200K–$300K

31.9%1,739

$300K–$500K

41.4%2,254

$500K–$1M

11.6%632

$1M+

2.6%144

Rent Distribution

Under $500

241

$500–$750

104

$750–$1,000

463

$1,000–$1,250

670

$1,250–$1,500

782

$1,500–$2,000

657

$2,000+

394

Year Built

2020 or later

0.3%27

2010–2019

7.2%713

2000–2009

7.5%742

1990–1999

5.1%508

1980–1989

15.1%1,497

1970–1979

18.8%1,857

1960–1969

25.9%2,568

1950–1959

16.9%1,673

1940–1949

2.6%255

1939 or earlier

0.6%61

Heating Fuel

Electricity

64.4%5,677

Utility Gas

32.6%2,878

Bottled/LP Gas

1.6%145

No Fuel

0.9%83

Wood

0.3%23

Solar

0.1%11

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$68,538

Mean Household Incomei

$89,319

Per Capita Incomei

$37,937

Poverty Ratei

13%

Unemploymenti

3.2%

Labor Forcei

11,111

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

4.4%389

$10K–$15K

3.4%296

$15K–$20K

3.3%289

$20K–$25K

2.2%195

$25K–$30K

2.1%181

$30K–$35K

7.3%643

$35K–$40K

4.5%397

$40K–$45K

4.3%380

$45K–$50K

3.1%271

$50K–$60K

9%795

$60K–$75K

12.2%1,073

$75K–$100K

14.4%1,271

$100K–$125K

8.5%747

$125K–$150K

5.6%497

$150K–$200K

8.4%739

$200K+

7.4%654

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

454

Residentsi

605

Avg. Tenant Renti

$535/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

7 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing99 homes99% occupied$670/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers207 homes74% occupied$566/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8148 homes98% occupied$401/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $68,538/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $21K/yr

65.3%

Very low income$21K–$34K/yr

27.7%

Low income$34K–$55K/yr

6.8%

Moderate / aboveOver $55K/yr

0.2%

Who Receives This Housing

68.5% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

37.7% of subsidized households are minority

26.2% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

62.8% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

1,9799.4%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

152

India

147

Guatemala

Poland

Germany

Philippines

Korea

United Kingdom

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

10,596

Avg. Commutei

22.7 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

9,936

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

2,636(16.9% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

85.1%Insured

14.9%Uninsured