Fort Walton Beach, FL vs Hilton Head Island, SC
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Fort Walton Beach
72.1
#925 nationally
Hilton Head Island
65.7
#1612 nationally
Fort Walton Beach leads in walk score (38 vs 13). Hilton Head Island leads in median household income ($93,694 vs $61,820). Fort Walton Beach leads in cost of living index (106 vs 139).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Fort Walton Beach, FL | Hilton Head Island, SC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#925) | 65.7 (#1612) |
| Population | 20,925 | 38,097 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $325,397 | $786,417 |
| Median Household Income | $61,820 | $93,694 |
| Average Commute | 21.3 min | 18.8 min |
| Walk Score | 38 | 13 |
| Crime Level | 6.4 | 5.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 106 | 139 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+42.5 | R+14.5 |
C-
72.1 Score
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Small Florida city with local appeal
Median Home
$325,397
Population
20,925
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
38
Southeast
View Fort Walton Beach, FL →
D
65.7 Score
Hilton Head Island, SC
Small South Carolina city with local appeal
Median Home
$786,417
Population
38,097
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
13
Southeast
View Hilton Head Island, SC →
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