The Town FilesDeFuniak Springs, Florida
City in Walton County · population 5,919 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,400
- Household income
- $54,512
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 31.6
DeFuniak Springs is a city of 5,919 people in Walton County, Florida. The median home is worth $201,400, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 87% of Florida towns, better for first-time buyers than 79% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 72% of Florida towns.
How DeFuniak Springs ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in DeFuniak Springs is worth $201,400, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $54,512, which is more affordable than 77% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,024 a month. 62.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | DeFuniak Springs | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,400 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,024 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $54,512 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 62.5% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in DeFuniak Springs
| People | DeFuniak Springs | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.6 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.2% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 92.4% |
Weather in DeFuniak Springs
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 39.5°F. About 64.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 85 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 26 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of DeFuniak Springs since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 10, 1967 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 25, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 25, 2014.
Severe weather in Walton County since 1996
Walton County has been included in 44 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 27, 2026 | Hurricane | DR-4955: Hurricane Isaias |
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3655: Hurricane Isaias |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Walton County
Walton County had 34,785 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,144 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in DeFuniak Springs itself the ACS puts it at 15.3%.
Public schools in DeFuniak Springs
10 public schools with 3,888 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WALTON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 898 | 18.7 |
| WALTON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 775 | 14.6 |
| WEST DEFUNIAK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 699 | 14.9 |
| MAUDE SAUNDERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 561 | 14.4 |
| MOSSY HEAD SCHOOL | PK-5 | 504 | 16.8 |
| WALTON INITIATIVE FOR SUCCESS IN EDUCATION (WISE) | PK-12 | 247 | 9.5 |
| WALTON ACADEMY INC. (charter) | 5-12 | 170 | 56.7 |
| WALTON LEARNING CENTER | 6-12 | 34 | 11.3 |
| EMERALD COAST TECHNICAL COLLEGE | 9-12 | — | — |
| WALTON COUNTY JAIL PROGRAM | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near DeFuniak Springs
- Freeport, FL14.3 mi · 5,861 people · home $407,800
- Niceville, FL24.5 mi · 15,772 people · home $423,500
- Miramar Beach, FL25.9 mi · 8,002 people · home $733,000
- Bonifay, FL26.0 mi · 2,759 people · home $142,100
- Geneva, AL27.4 mi · 4,245 people · home $100,600
- Crestview, FL27.5 mi · 27,134 people · home $277,900
- Valparaiso, FL27.9 mi · 4,752 people · home $394,700
- Destin, FL29.6 mi · 13,931 people · home $490,300
DeFuniak Springs questions
Is DeFuniak Springs, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, DeFuniak Springs scores better for retirees than 42% of Florida towns and quieter than 68%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.6).
How much does a house cost in DeFuniak Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in DeFuniak Springs is valued at $201,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,512, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,024 a month.
What is the weather like in DeFuniak Springs?
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 39.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 64.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does DeFuniak Springs get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of DeFuniak Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 10, 1967. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)