Holley-Navarre
RANK #630 / 996 NAT · #5 / 41 FL · POP 188,994
1YR FORECAST: +0.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +20%
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.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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.
At 36/100, Santa Rosa County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 996 counties we track. Median income of $84,715 combined with job growth of +0.6% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Santa Rosa County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $272,500 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.31, with rents averaging $1,386/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Santa Rosa County's population is growing — up +2.5% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.6%). Home values shifted -0.8% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.37% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Santa Rosa County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.