A Hidden Beach Town Gem Along the Emerald Coast Is Seeing a Surge in Visitors—Here’s Why

A Gulf Coast beach town is seeing an increase in visitors after more airlines decided to offer nonstop service.

For decades, Destin, FL, has drawn spring break travelers, especially from the Midwest, but its neighbor, Fort Walton Beach, is getting attention as visitors along the Northeast are discovering the hidden gem along the Emerald Coast.

Susan Sharpe, broker for EXIT Realty Anchor South in Fort Walton Beach, tells Realtor.com® that Destin has more of a vacation-town vibe and a population largely centered around tourism, while Fort Walton Beach has a strong military presence and a distinct laid-back “hometown” feel.

"In other words, Destin feels like a vacation and Fort Walton Beach feels like a place to live," she says.

The increase in popularity comes as the Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport is seeing a surge in nonstop air service.

JetBlue will begin new nonstop flights from Boston and New York City on March 5, while Southwest will offer seasonal nonstop service from Pittsburgh starting June 6.

Allegiant is launching nonstop routes from Columbia, MO, and Denver in spring and summer 2026.

American Airlines further expanded access last year by adding daily nonstop flights from Miami.

As nonstop flights connect the area to more cities, interest in the region continues to grow, and Fort Walton Beach is emerging as a standout choice for travelers.

Differences between Fort Walton Beach and Destin

Sharpe says both Fort Walton Beach and Destin are known for their sugar-white sand and emerald-green waters, a combination that inspired the nickname “Emerald Coast.”

This distinction between the two cities is reflected in Destin’s rapid growth.

"Over the last 30 years, Destin has seen far more commercial development, with high-rise luxury hotels, upscale vacation rentals, golf courses, retail, and high-end dining options," says Cord Thomas, the president of SkyRun Vacation Rentals. "As a result, Destin is now considered the 'upscale cousin' to Fort Walton Beach."

Living in Fort Walton Beach

Fort Walton Beach is a midsized town of approximately 20,000 people.

Sharpe says, "There are plenty of options for things to do in Fort Walton Beach such as the Indian Temple Mound, the Air Force Armament Museum, and the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park."

Sharpe says many people enjoy fishing off of the 1,262-foot Island Pier, which has a tackle shop and food and extends into the Gulf of Mexico.

The city is family friendly with a great school system, and plenty of parks and museums.

"Beaches are close and usually not overpopulated," says Sharpe. "The boardwalk on Okaloosa Island provides dining and shopping options, as well as live entertainment."

Demand for homes in Fort Walton Beach, as measured by Realtor.com listing page views per property, picked up 7.1% year over year in December.

The market is fairly affordable with a median overall price of $401,250.

The median condo price was $411,000 in December, and single-family homes had a typical listing price of $398,500.

That's much lower than the median listing price in Destin, which was $637,000 in December overall. The median single-family home price there was $1.25 million, while the median condo price was $498,000.

Sharpe says Fort Walton Beach's single-family home market is much more active than Destin's due to the military population and supporting industries. "I would say Fort Walton Beach is more competitive than Destin due to the predominance of more affordable properties there."

Fort Walton Beach's median listing price is also much lower than other popular beach destinations in Florida, like Key West-Key Largo, where the median listing price was $1,307,500, or Naples, which had a median listing price of $729,725.

However, Fort Walton Beach saw rising buyer interest and tightening supply in December, according to Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com.

"Overall inventory levels in Fort Walton Beach are down 5.6% year over year, reflecting increased demand," says Jones. "This demand seems more pronounced for single-family homes, which have seen inventory levels fall 24.2% year over year, while condo inventory is up 9.3% year over year."

Check out some properties currently for sale in Fort Walton Beach below.

Depending on what you're looking for and your budget, there's a variety of options. This three-bedroom, two-bath home is listed for $334,900.

But for $594,500, you can find this four-bedroom, 2.5 bath home that was built in 1970.

This three-bedroom waterfront home is listed for $1,450,000 and offers 85 feet of frontage—perfect to dock a boat.