The Town FilesMary Esther, Florida
City in Okaloosa County · population 3,982 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $298,900
- Household income
- $76,890
- Jan low / Jul high
- 45° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 46
- Median age
- 39.8
Mary Esther is a city of 3,982 people in Okaloosa County, Florida. The median home is worth $298,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Florida towns, better for first-time buyers than 95% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 88% of Florida towns.
How Mary Esther 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 Mary Esther is worth $298,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $76,890, which is more affordable than 70% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,699 a month. 69.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mary Esther | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $298,900 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,699 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $76,890 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 69.8% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Mary Esther
| People | Mary Esther | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.5% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 16.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 92.4% |
Weather in Mary Esther
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
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mary Esther 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 4.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 68 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 29, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 12, 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 Mary Esther itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Mary Esther
2 public schools with 975 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLOROSA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 531 | 16.1 |
| MARY ESTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 444 | 15.9 |
Towns near Mary Esther
- Fort Walton Beach, FL2.4 mi · 20,922 people · home $321,800
- Wright, FL2.5 mi · 26,277 people · home $306,100
- Ocean City, FL3.6 mi · 6,314 people · home $303,900
- Lake Lorraine, FL5.9 mi · 7,142 people · home $434,500
- Eglin AFB, FL7.3 mi · 3,006 people · home —
- Valparaiso, FL10.2 mi · 4,752 people · home $394,700
- Destin, FL11.2 mi · 13,931 people · home $490,300
- Niceville, FL13.6 mi · 15,772 people · home $423,500
Mary Esther questions
Is Mary Esther, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mary Esther scores better for retirees than 48% of Florida towns and quieter than 49%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Mary Esther?
The median owner-occupied home in Mary Esther is valued at $298,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,890, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,699 a month.
What is the weather like in Mary Esther?
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 Mary Esther get tornadoes?
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mary Esther 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)