City profile · Florida · Census ACS 2023

Destin, FL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Destin - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

14,018
Residents
$89,141
Median income
$455,100
Median home
$1,785
Median rent (state)

Destin - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Destin places in the 70th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

70th
percentile, household income
82nd
percentile, home value
74th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Destin, FL

Destin is a small town in Florida, home to 14,018 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $89,141 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.6%. Home values in Destin run a median of $455,100, and the median resident age is 41.5 years. 46.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 63.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 57 residential building permits were authorized in Destin (Building Boom), up 63% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Florida carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Florida at 103.4 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Above Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,785 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Florida run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 92.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

14,018 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Florida

Median Household Income

$89,141 /yr

Poverty 5.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Florida average

How does Destin compare to other US cities?

Where Destin sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 70% higher than other cities
Home value 82% pricier than other cities
Median rent 74% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Destin against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Florida only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Florida-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Destin toward the top of Florida's cities

Among the 930 Florida cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Destin ranks #177 - the 81st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Destin only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#232 of 903
74th percentile in Florida
Median Gross Rent
#491 of 930
46th percentile in Florida
Median Home Value
#176 of 894
80th percentile in Florida
Poverty Rate
#585 of 930
36th percentile in Florida
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#177 of 930
81st percentile in Florida

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Florida only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

70thIncome percentile

70th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Destin's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$455,100 18th percentile more affordable than 18% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Destin $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Destin, FL Destin, FL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Destin, FL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Destin, FL median $89,141/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Destin, FL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Destin, FL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 46.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
14,018
Median Income
$89,141
Median Home Value
$455,100
Median Age
41.5
Poverty Rate
5.6%
Labor force participation
63.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
46.0%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
14,000 residents14,200 residents14,400 residents14,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 14,043 residents 14,046 residents ▲ +0.0%
Destin's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
57
housing units authorized
Single-Family
57
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 35
2020 105
2021 112
2022 140
2023 50
2024 57

Permit volume increased 63% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.7%
Carpool
6.7%
Public Transit
0.6%
Walk
2.2%
Work from Home
15.3%
Other
1.5%

Based on 7,626 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Florida - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$145
avg/month
Natural Gas
$25
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Florida state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Florida state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Destin sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,785/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
92.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Florida

Lakewood Park
14,077 people
Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace
13,887 people
Southchase
14,149 people
Elfers
13,877 people
Gonzalez
13,861 people
On Top of the World
13,772 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Destin's 14,018 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Anderson Creek, NC
14,021 people
Allouez, WI
14,023 people
Midlothian, IL
14,024 people
Wauconda, IL
14,010 people
Pierre, SD
14,008 people
Smithfield, UT
14,033 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Destin's $89,141 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Norwood, PA
$89,135 median income
Shorewood, WI
$89,135 median income
Salinas, CA
$89,150 median income
Schaefferstown, PA
$89,155 median income
Shaw Heights, CO
$89,125 median income
Mandeville, LA
$89,122 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Destin, FL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Destin, FL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.3% 9.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.6% White 83.3% Black or African American 3.4% Asian 0.8% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.5% Two or more races 9.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Destin compares to nearby Florida cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Destin (this city) 14,018 $89,141
Lakewood Park 14,077 $64,848
Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace 13,887 $56,887
Southchase 14,149 $85,573
Census ACS 5-year FIPS FL NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Destin, FL?

What is the population of Destin, FL? +

Destin, FL has a population of 14,018 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Destin, FL? +

Median annual household income in Destin runs $89,141, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Destin? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Destin; the closest available measure is the Florida state average, a cost of living index of 103.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Florida vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Destin, FL? +

Homes in Destin carry a median value of $455,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.