Fort Walton Beach, FL vs Salem, MA
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
Salem
68.6
#1307 nationally
Salem leads in walk score (70 vs 38). Salem leads in crime level (4.2 vs 6.4). Fort Walton Beach leads in average commute (21.3 min vs 30.6 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Fort Walton Beach, FL | Salem, MA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#925) | 68.6 (#1307) |
| Population | 20,925 | 44,744 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $325,397 | $614,321 |
| Median Household Income | $61,820 | $79,196 |
| Average Commute | 21.3 min | 30.6 min |
| Walk Score | 38 | 70 |
| Crime Level | 6.4 | 4.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 106 | 135 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+42.5 | D+20.3 |
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+
68.6 Score
Salem, MA
Small Massachusetts city with local appeal
Median Home
$614,321
Population
44,744
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
70
Northeast
View Salem, MA →
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