The Town FilesDestin, Florida
City in Okaloosa County · population 13,931 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $490,300
- Household income
- $89,011
- Jan low / Jul high
- 45° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 53
- Median age
- 41.5
Destin is a city of 13,931 people in Okaloosa County, Florida. The median home is worth $490,300, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 89% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 84% of Florida towns, hipper than 80% of Florida towns.
How Destin 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 Destin is worth $490,300, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $89,011, which is more affordable than 25% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,936 a month. 69.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Destin | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $490,300 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,936 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $89,011 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 69.7% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 36.7% | — |
Who lives in Destin
| People | Destin | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.2% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 14.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.1% | — |
| Work from home | 16.4% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 92.4% |
Weather in Destin
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 45.3°F. About 55.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 50 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 6 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
53 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Destin since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 25, 1964 about 4.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 67 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 25, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 29, 2000.
Severe weather in Okaloosa County since 1996
Okaloosa County has been included in 43 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 Okaloosa County
Okaloosa County had 89,705 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,616 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Destin itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Destin
3 public schools with 2,341 students, about 18.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DESTIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 933 | 15.8 |
| DESTIN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 851 | 20.3 |
| DESTIN HIGH SCHOOL (charter) | 9-12 | 557 | 21.4 |
Towns near Destin
- Eglin AFB, FL6.1 mi · 3,006 people · home —
- Lake Lorraine, FL6.1 mi · 7,142 people · home $434,500
- Valparaiso, FL6.4 mi · 4,752 people · home $394,700
- Miramar Beach, FL7.7 mi · 8,002 people · home $733,000
- Ocean City, FL8.5 mi · 6,314 people · home $303,900
- Niceville, FL8.6 mi · 15,772 people · home $423,500
- Fort Walton Beach, FL9.1 mi · 20,922 people · home $321,800
- Wright, FL10.5 mi · 26,277 people · home $306,100
Destin questions
Is Destin, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Destin scores better for retirees than 67% of Florida towns and quieter than 58%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in Destin?
The median owner-occupied home in Destin is valued at $490,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,011, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $1,936 a month.
What is the weather like in Destin?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 45.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Destin get tornadoes?
53 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Destin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 25, 1964. 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)