Quality of Life | Okaloosa EDC

Top 30 Best Performing Large Cities in America    Milken Institute, 2021
The Littlest Giants - Small and medium-sized locations in the South with the best rated K-12 educational systems Southern Business & Development, 2019
Best Places in Northwest Florida for Aerospace Companies  Southern Business & Development, 2018
Most Paycheck Friendly Places in Florida - Okaloosa #3   Smart Asset, 2017
Ten Best Cities for Young Entrepreneurs - Fort Walton Beach #5   MoneyRates.com, 2016
Top 10 Metros for Aerospace Manufacturing - Okaloosa #4    Garner Economics, 2015
Best Places for Veteran Entrepreneurs - Fort Walton Beach #10    USAA & Hiring our Heroes, 2015
  Ten Smoking-Hot Small Market Economies in the South - Okaloosa #5    Southern Business & Development, 2015

Okaloosa School District

The Okaloosa County School District is widely regarded as one of the finest in the state. Why? Because we remain firmly committed to offering meangingful and innovative educational experiences that allow individuals at all levels of ability to excel.

Learn about the Okaloosa County School District

Private/Parochial Schools

Okaloosa County families seeking a private / parochial school pathway for their students will find a number of exceptional options available to them. Church-affiliated schools offer K-3, K-8 and K-12 programs, with a wide range of college preparatory and extracurricular activities.

Learn about Private and Parochial School Pathways

Colleges and Universities

Higher education is a time to challenge and an opportunity to create, innovate and explore. Okaloosa County’s higher educational partners all subscribe to these tenets while proudly offering programs closely aligned with the high demand professions of tomorrow.

Learn about Post Secondary Opportunities

Preferred Service Providers

Relocation often results in the opportunity to identify new, qualified local service providers who can support your family’s needs as you get established in your new community. Of course, selecting the right professional service provider can also be a bit overwhelming. That’s why we’ve taken the guesswork out of it by compiling this searchable directory of One Okaloosa EDC’s Preferred Service Providers.

Search Prefered Provider Directory

Arts & Culture

Performing arts, cultural and arts festivals, high energy concerts, serene galleries and museums – they can all be found in Okaloosa County! Mattie Kelly Arts Center (MKAC) at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville features two fine art galleries, a theater-in-the-round, a 3,500 capacity amphitheater, a music wing and a 1,650 seat mainstage theater that is home to the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. MKAC is also the site for regular performances by renowned Broadway productions and legendary entertainers. The Northwest Florida Ballet in Fort Walton Beach has been a cultural mainstay for more than 50 years, providing artistic interpretations of beloved pieces such as The Nutcracker. Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) operates the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village, providing a central location to celebrate cultural arts in Destin. MKAF’s Concerts in the Village, cited as of the Top 10 Things to do in Northwest Florida by the Florida Travel Guide, consistently draws regional and national acts for a Thursday evening outdoor concert series held every Spring. MKAF also hosts the annual Festival of the Arts every Fall. For those who prefer the festival scene, Fort Walton Beach’s Billy Bowlegs Festival, held annually since 1953, is truly Okaloosa’s time to cut loose. Other noteworthy festivals include the Destin Charity Wine Auction in April, Smoke on the Coast (barbecue festival) in July and the Destin Seafood Festival in October. Hungry anyone?

Healthcare

Excellent Healthcare choices with Quality Physicians, Private Practices, Medical Centers and Hospitals. Okaloosa offers complete care in all branches of medical services from family medical, chiropractic, optical and dental services to specialty physicians and surgeons.

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Real Estate

Okaloosa County provides vast opportunities in commercial and residential real estate. Its diversified characteristics meet the various needs of our growing community. Whether you are building, renovating, leasing, selling, or buying....Okaloosa can do it all!

The Emerald Coast Association of Realtors® (ECAR) serves as the county's primary source for real estate statistics generated from properties in the MLS system by ECAR MLS participants and subscribers. To view statistics for other years, please visit their portal.

Yearly Market Details (Single Family Homes - Okaloosa)

Summary Statistics	YTD (Jan-March 2021)	2020 Annual
Closed Sales	1,201	4,986
Median Sales Price	$285,000	$265,000
Average Sale Price	$409,192	$345,303
Median Time to Sale	56	60
Months Supply of Inventory (Monthly Avg)	1	2

Source: Emerald Coast Association of Realtors Market Statistics, info available as of May 26, 2021

Commercial Properties
If you are looking for commercial properties for sale or for lease, please visit www.okaloosasites.com. for real-time availability and extensive datasets.