Beacon Square, FL vs Fort Walton Beach, FL

Beacon Square is moderately more affordable than Fort Walton Beach, with a 9.5% lower cost of living index. Beacon Square scores 88 compared to 97 for Fort Walton Beach, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fort Walton Beach can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Beacon Square is $1,318/month compared to $1,268/month in Fort Walton Beach — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fort Walton Beach has cheaper rent, Beacon Square actually has lower median home values ($147,100 vs $296,000).

Median household income in Beacon Square is $52,598 compared to $66,556 in Fort Walton Beach (-21%). While Fort Walton Beach is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Beacon Square spend roughly 30.1% of their income on rent, more than the 22.9% in Fort Walton Beach. The Fort Walton Beach ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.