Destin, FL


14 Reviews



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Destin, FL

About Destin, FL

Destin, FL is an incorporated city located in Okaloosa County south-west from Cinco Bayou inhabited by close to twelve thousand persons. Destin gives its citizens plenty of venues like the Big Kahuna's Water & Adventure Park granting people with the perfect opportunity to experience nature through different activities on a stop here! Moreover there are numerous restaurants and stores available making it with something special anytime they visit. Beach city/Military town - Florida Panhandle, on the Gulf Coast, 40 miles east of Pensacola.

Zip Codes: 32541
Cost of Living:
Time zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Elevation: 112 ft above sea level

Fort Walton Beach is located at the head of the Choctawhatchee Bay. The city itself is primarily a tourist destination popular especially with residents of other parts of the South, with a long, built-up strip of beachside high-rise hotels. The beaches and ocean waters are particularly attractive and good places for fishing and other water activities, but the physical infrastructure and land assets aren’t the best in the state. The resort community of Destin, on the barrier island sheltering the bay, has become the more up-and-coming tourist magnet.

Nearby Eglin Air Force Base rounds out the economic picture, and Crestview, 15 miles inland, supports this installation and is located along I-10, the major east-west transportation corridor. Fort Walton Beach is one of the strongest Florida areas in job growth terms. The area took a fairly hard hit from Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and though most modern buildings survived intact, it did some damage to residential areas and tourist attractions. Downsides include the lack of cultural amenities, air service and the steady flow of tourists and some ugly infrastructure set up to cater to their needs.

Sandy coastal areas rise slightly inland, where forests of pine and live oak begin, but the area is mostly open and level. The Gulf of Mexico moderates winter cold and creates cool, refreshing daytime breezes in summer. Summer temperatures are in the 80’s and 90’s; temperatures may rise if sea breezes diminish. Winter highs are usually in the 50’s. There may be freezing temperatures, but extended cold waves are infrequent. Although distributed year-round, most rainfall occurs in July and August. Gulf hurricanes are a risk from early July to mid-October.

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Destin Cost of Living

Beaches, strong economy, and cost of living make Destin a great place to live.

$605,200
+44.1% higher than avg
$81,827
+15.7% higher than avg
3.9 / 7.8
Comfort Index
summer/winter
Destin Crime
50.3 / 100
Crime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low) to 100 (high). US average: 35.4
Minimum annual income
To live comfortably in Destin, Florida
$115,920
for a family
$59,600
for a single person
Pros & Cons of Destin
   Beaches
Arts and culture
   Strong economy
Tourist sprawl
   Cost of living
Air service
Reviews for Destin
    See all (14)

I find it amazing the place is rated one star - Yes the cost of housing is high especially as covid pushed more people to Florida. But living here is easy - three  More
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This tiny town is SO expensive. Unless you want a roach and mold infested place you will have to pay around $1800 or more and the “nice” places have reviews that scare  More
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I moved to Destin in 1987 when there was no development in the eastern part of town, only trees, beaches and a two lane road. I worked as a Sheriff's Deputy for over 30  More
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