Okaloosa County, Florida
Okaloosa County
Okaloosa County is part of the Northwest Florida region, along with Bay, Santa Rosa, Escambia, Walton, Holmes, Jackson, Washington, Calhoun, Liberty, Gulf, Franklin, Gadsden, Leon, Jefferson, and Wakulla counties. Okaloosa has a population over 180,000. The county is part of one of the fastest growing regions in the nation. The county is located in the panhandle, with the southern portion bordering the Gulf of Mexico and the northern portion on the Georgia border.
Top industries in Okaloosa County are government, professional & business services, trade & transportation, leisure and hospitality, and education & health services. Several air force and army facilities are located in Okaloosa County, including Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field, and Duke Field. By size, Eglin is the largest Air Force base in the country and is responsible for the development, acquisition, testing, and deployment of all air-delivered weapons. Okaloosa county's white sand beaches also attract many tourists to the area. Top private sector employers are Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, L-3 Communications/Crestview Aerospace, DRS Training & Control Systems, InDyne Inc, and ResortQuest. Major public sector employers are US Department of Defense-Eglin AFB, Okaloosa School District, and County of Okaloosa-Sheriff's Department.
Defense is major business in Okaloosa. Of the ten largest defense contractors in the state, six have a presence in Okaloosa. 350 such companies provide 21,000 jobs and contribute over $6.5 billion to the economy.
Okaloosa is a major transportation hub. Indeed, its county seat, Crestview, is nicknamed the "Hub City". With two rivers, a CSX railroad line, and access to multiple highways including Interstate-10, the city is at the center of the region.
Northwest Florida State College has five campuses throughout the county, with its main campus in Niceville. Troy University also has campuses in the county, including one on Eglin AFB.
Okaloosa County Florida Cities
There are 13 cities in Okaloosa County Florida. These are listed below. Click on a link for details.
Baker, Crestview, Destin, Eglin Afb, Fort Walton Beach, Holt, Hurlburt Field, Laurel Hill, Mary Esther, Milligan, Niceville, Shalimar, Valparaiso,
Okaloosa County has a population of approximately 190,083 people. The population increased 5.1% from 2010 to 2012. This compared to a 2.7% increase for the State of Florida and a 1.7% increase for the country as a whole. Okaloosa County is 930.25 square miles and had a population density of 194.4 Persons per square mile in 2010. This compared to 350.6 for Florida and 87.4 for the country.
There are 92,394 housing units in Okaloosa County (a housing unit is defined by the US Census Bureau as a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room that is occupied as separate living quarters.) Okaloosa County has a 66.9% homeownership rate compared to Florida's rate of 69.0%. Okaloosa County's medium household income in 2011 was $54,140, which is higher than the medium income for Florida as a whole: $47,827.
| Region | Population 2012 | Economic Activity 2007 (Millions) | Population Growth 2010 to 2012 | Median Household Income 2011 | Housing Units | Median Price 2007 to 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 313,914,040 | $14,025,202 | 1.7% | $52,762 | 132,312,404 | $186,200 |
| Florida | 19,317,568 | $630,738 | 2.7% | $47,827 | 9,026,965 | $188,600 |
| Okaloosa County | 190,083 | $4,417 | 5.1% | $54,140 | 92,394 | $196,800 |
11.7% of the population in Okaloosa County lives below the poverty line, compared to 14.7% in Florida and 14.3% nationwide. Additional Information:
- Okaloosa County Census Data
- University of Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research - Okaloosa County
Okaloosa County Economic Activity
The U.S. Bureau of the Census, Economic , 2007 calculated the total value manufacturing, merchant wholesaler, retail sales and food service sales in Okaloosa County. The Census measured activity of large and medium-sized firms during calendar year 2007. It does not include every aspect of the economy but can be used as a measure of economic activity.
At $4,417 million, Okaloosa County's economic activity represents 0.70% of the Florida economy.
| Activity | Value (Millions) | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturers shipments | $657 | 14.9% |
| Merchant wholesaler sales | $237 | 5.4% |
| Retail sales | $3,031 | 68.6% |
| Accommodation and food services sales | $492 | 11.1% |
| Total | $4,417 | 100% |
Okaloosa County Regional Comparisons
Okaloosa County is located in Northwest Florida. This region is responsible for 4.6% of Florida's economic activity. Okaloosa County represents 15.3% of the region's economy.
| Region | Population 2012 | Economic Activity 2007 (Millions) | Population Growth 2010 to 2012 | Median Household Income 2011 | Housing Units | Median Price 2007 to 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escambia County | 302,715 | $8,505 | 1.7% | $43,707 | 136,551 | $145,000 |
| Santa Rosa County | 158,512 | $1,467 | 4.7% | $55,913 | 65,728 | $173,400 |
| Okaloosa County | 190,083 | $4,417 | 5.1% | $54,140 | 92,394 | $196,800 |
| Walton County | 57,582 | $1,223 | 4.6% | $46,926 | 45,682 | $174,000 |
| Holmes County | 19,804 | $81 | -0.6% | $33,510 | 8,649 | $86,800 |
| Jackson County | 48,968 | $836 | -1.6% | $39,869 | 21,011 | $97,200 |
| Washington County | 24,892 | $195 | 0.0% | $37,036 | 10,864 | $96,600 |
| Bay County | 171,903 | $4,852 | 1.8% | $48,225 | 99,828 | $168,400 |
| Calhoun County | 14,723 | $74 | 0.7% | $31,142 | 6,069 | $80,200 |
| Liberty County | 8,276 | $28 | -1.1% | $40,893 | 3,362 | $80,600 |
| Gulf County | 15,718 | $95 | -0.9% | $41,291 | 9,148 | $150,600 |
| Franklin County | 11,686 | $130 | 1.2% | $37,017 | 8,665 | $170,100 |
| Gadsden County | 46,528 | $1,106 | -2.6% | $33,453 | 19,561 | $109,000 |
| Leon County | 283,769 | $5,470 | 3.0% | $45,827 | 124,701 | $195,300 |
| Jefferson County | 14,256 | $139 | -3.4% | $42,096 | 6,727 | $125,000 |
| Wakulla County | 30,818 | $195 | 0.1% | $54,151 | 12,721 | $136,900 |
| Total | 1,400,233 | $28,814 | 0.8% | $42,825 | 671,661 | $136,619 |
Okaloosa Real Estate
There are 86,409 properties in Okaloosa County. The following table shows a summary of them based on 2013 sales data.
| Usage Type | Property Count | % | Sales Count | Median Price | Median Price/Ft | Sales From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Property | 0 | 0.00 | 120 | $331,300 | $79 | January 1st, 2013 | September 1st, 2013 |
| Government Property | 483 | 0.56 | 6 | $62,500 | $11 | February 1st, 2013 | July 1st, 2013 |
| Residential Property | 0 | 0.00 | 3,949 | $147,000 | $84 | January 1st, 2013 | October 1st, 2013 |
Commercial Real Estate in Okaloosa County, Florida
0( .00%) of the properties in Okaloosa County are classified as Commercial. 120 of them sold between January 1st, 2013 and September 1st, 2013. The total value of these sales was $193,091,035. The median sales price was $331,300. In 2013 the median sales price for A Class Commercial Property in Okaloosa County was $190 per sq ft, B Class properties sold for $79/ft and C Class $37/ft.
Government Real Estate in Okaloosa County, Florida
483( .56%) of the properties in Okaloosa County are classified as Government. 6 of them sold between February 1st, 2013 and July 1st, 2013. The total value of these sales was $1,387,084. The median sales price was $62,500. In 2013 the median sales price for Government Property in Okaloosa County was $11 per sq ft.
Residential Real Estate in Okaloosa County, Florida
0( .00%) of the properties in Okaloosa County are classified as Residential. 3,949 of them sold between January 1st, 2013 and October 1st, 2013. The total value of these sales was $847,983,658. The median sales price was $147,000. In 2013 the median sales price for A Class Residential Property in Okaloosa County was $197 per sq ft, B Class properties sold for $84/ft and C Class $36/ft.
Additional Details:
Okaloosa Market Data
| Property Usage | Property Count | Total Sq Ft |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural | 1,577 | 2,744,149 |
| Government Property | 505 | 7,875,364 |
| Health Care | 10 | 710,976 |
| Hotel & Motel | 99 | 2,775,952 |
| Industrial | 413 | 7,346,181 |
| Land | 6,493 | 590,831 |
| Miscellaneous Property | 47 | 165,544 |
| Mobile/Manufactured | 3,245 | 4,891,663 |
| Multifamily | 905 | 7,796,878 |
| Office | 1,217 | 5,919,751 |
| Residential | 77,820 | 150,386,143 |
| Retail | 1,596 | 16,348,098 |
| Senior Housing | 18 | 766,445 |
| Special Purpose | 417 | 4,668,915 |
| Sports & Entertaining | 89 | 866,500 |