County · Florida
Walton County, Florida
Walton County, Florida. Walton County had 93,288 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 23.9% since 2020, faster than Florida (+8.9%). It holds 4 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs and 1 census-designated) and 21 census tracts. GEOID 12131.
Walton County is one of the 2 counties of the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
93,288
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 75,305 · ACS 2020-2024: 82,948
Median household income
$81,986
±$3,439 (90% margin)
Florida: $74,568
Median home value
$425,100
±$23,282 (90% margin)
Florida: $359,000
Median gross rent
$1,741
±$115 (90% margin)
Florida: $1,669
How many people live in Walton County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 75,305 residents in Walton County. The Census Bureau estimates 93,288 for July 1, 2025, up 23.9% since 2020, faster than Florida (+8.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 82,948 over 1,038 square miles of land.
| Measure | Walton County | Florida | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 82,948 | 22,416,077 | +14,686 |
| Households | 34,362±1,055 | 8,752,810 | +6,942 |
| Average household size | 2.37±0.07 | 2.51 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 61,272±45 | 10,256,470 | +9,276 |
Walton County's population since 2000
From 40,601 in 2000 to 93,288 in 2025: up 129.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Walton County?
Walton County holds 4 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Miramar Beach with 8,902 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Miramar Beach | 8,002 | $103,250 |
|---|---|---|
| DeFuniak Springs | 5,919 | $54,512 |
| Freeport | 5,861 | $91,985 |
| Paxton | 556 | $61,136 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Walton County?
The median resident of Walton County is 43.9 years old; 20.9% are under 18 and 20.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 8.6%. 7.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Walton County | Florida | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9±0.4 | 42.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.9% | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.1%±0.2 pts | 21.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.6% | 27.4% | +2.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 81.2%±0.4 pts | 50.4% | −3.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.1%±0.5 pts | 14.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±0.2 pts | 2.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.2%±0.6 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.4%±1.0 pts | 21.9% | +1.4 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.5%±1.0 pts | 30.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.3%±1.0 pts | 7.4% | – |
| With a disability | 13.6%±1.3 pts | 13.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 14.7%±1.7 pts | 11.5% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.1%±1.3 pts | 89.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.0%±2.1 pts | 34.1% | +6.5 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.7%±1.2 pts | 12.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.7%±1.0 pts | 2.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Walton County earn?
Half of Walton County's 34,362 households earn less than $81,986 a year (±$3,439), against $74,568 in Florida. In 2015-2019 the median was $71,495 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $10,491 after inflation. 12.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Walton County | Florida | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $81,986±$3,439 | $74,568 | +$10,491 |
| Mean household income | $130,042±$8,598 | $105,967 | – |
| Per capita income | $53,406±$3,393 | $42,609 | +$10,978 |
| People below the poverty line | 12.5%±1.8 pts | 12.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 21.1%±5.0 pts | 16.5% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.4%±1.6 pts | 12.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.5%±1.6 pts | 91.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Walton County?
Owners occupy 78.6% of Walton County's occupied homes and renters 21.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $425,100 by its owner (±$23,282). The median renter pays $1,741 a month including utilities, and 43.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Walton County | Florida | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $425,100±$23,282 | $359,000 | +$142,656 |
| Median gross rent | $1,741±$115 | $1,669 | +$536 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 43.9%±6.8 pts | 50.2% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,100±$113 | $1,959 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 78.6%±1.9 pts | 67.6% | +4.0 pts |
| Housing units | 61,272±45 | 10,256,470 | +9,276 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.4%±1.1 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 37.9%±4.7 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 56.9%±1.9 pts | 54.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 12.3%±1.4 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 5.1%±0.9 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.1%±0.4 pts | 1.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Walton County building?
Builders took permits for 2,399 new housing units across Walton County in 2025 (1,427 single-family), 25.7 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Walton County get to work?
68.9% of Walton County's workers drive alone and 16.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 29.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.9%.
| Measure | Walton County | Florida | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 59.1%±1.5 pts | 59.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9%±1.3 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 68.9%±1.9 pts | 70.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.6%±1.8 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Walked | 1.0%±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 16.3%±1.8 pts | 15.7% | +7.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 29.4 min±1.3 | 28.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Walton County's census tracts?
Walton County is divided into 21 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $43,665 (Tract 9503.04) to $151,979 (Tract 9506.06).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Walton County compare with Florida's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 38th of 67 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 3rd of 67 |
| Residents per square mile | 43rd of 67 |
| Median household income | 12th of 67 |
| Median home value | 7th of 67 |
| Median gross rent | 11th of 67 |
| Poverty rate | 37th of 67 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17th of 67 |
| Median age | 31st of 67 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Walton County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.