RANK #803 / 996 · POP 188,994 · FL
PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.6%
Santa Rosa County, Florida, is often recognized for Navarre Beach, a stretch of white sand along Santa Rosa Island, offering access to the Gulf of Mexico. Located in the Florida Panhandle, the county seat, Milton, sits inland, while communities like Navarre and Gulf Breeze hug the coast. The county is part of the Pensacola metropolitan area, with commutes to Pensacola across Pensacola Bay via bridges. The community offers a relaxed pace, with extensive outdoor recreation. Blackwater River State Forest, one of Florida's largest state forests, provides opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and camping on spring-fed rivers and white sand beaches. The Naval Live Oaks Nature Preserve also offers hiking trails.
Life in Santa Rosa County appeals to families and those seeking a quieter lifestyle. The public school system consistently receives high ratings. While public transportation options are limited to paratransit and rideshare programs, park-and-ride lots support carpooling. The economy is experiencing growth, attracting new residents and businesses. Key sectors driving this growth include tourism, agriculture, and a growing industrial and logistics presence, supported by strong ties to military installations in the region.
Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 8.4x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Soundside High School
Morette Company
|
$103M | Under Construction |
|
Milton Interchange Park Logistics/Distribution Facility
Cheney Brothers
|
$75M | Under Construction |
|
Blackwater River Solar Energy Center
Florida Power & Light Co.
|
$74M | Operating |
|
Yellow River Ranch Phase II
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Santa Rosa County has a Boom Town Index score of 19/100, ranking #803 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.6% and a median household income of $84,715, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Santa Rosa County is $272,500 with median rent at $1,386/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3109, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +2.5% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.6%. Home values changed -0.8% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 4.37% of Santa Rosa County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.