Dade City, FL vs Fort Walton Beach, FL

Dade City is moderately more affordable than Fort Walton Beach, with a 13.9% lower cost of living index. Dade City scores 84 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 Dade City is $1,002/month compared to $1,268/month in Fort Walton Beach — a 21% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Dade City is more affordable at $211,900 median vs $296,000.

Median household income in Dade City is $63,041 compared to $66,556 in Fort Walton Beach (-5.3%). Fort Walton Beach does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Dade City spend roughly 19.1% of their income on rent, less than the 22.9% in Fort Walton Beach.