RANK #539 / 1001 NAT · #11 / 41 FL · POP 198,472
1YR FORECAST: -1.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +28%
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.
Santa Rosa County is one of 43 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +0.1% matches the profile's typical -0.0%.
See all 43 Sun Belt Exurban Boom counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 27.6x — 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
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 1001 counties.
Santa Rosa County scores 46/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#539). Median household income is $91,922 and job growth is running at +2.2%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Santa Rosa County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $329,800 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.28, with rents averaging $1,544/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Santa Rosa County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +2.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.2% clip. Home values shifted +0.1% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.92% 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.