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Overall cost of living is 0.9% higher than the national average and 2.1% lower than the Florida state average.
Household Income - Okaloosa County
Median household income is $82,291 with a poverty rate of 11.5% per the Census Bureau.
Housing
Median gross rent in Okaloosa County is $1,757 compared to $1,812 for the state of Florida.
A typical home costs $356,683, which is 4% less expensive than the national average of $371,774.
Employment Data
The unemployment rate in Okaloosa County was 4.5% in July 2026, per FloridaJobs.
Workers in the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area had an average (mean) hourly wage of $30.33 in May 2025, compared to the nationwide average of $33.54, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Higher-paying major occupational groups include management ($58.44), legal ($53.56), computer and mathematical ($52.74), and architecture and engineering ($51.78). Lower-paying occupational groups included personal care and service ($18.09), food preparation and serving related ($18.65), and building and grounds cleaning and maintenance ($18.80).
Weather
A major concern in NW Florida is hurricane season, from June to November. Call ahead if you are arriving and a hurricane is predicted to hit this area. Watch your favorite trusted weather source and contact your sponsor as Hurlburt Field may be evacuated and the surrounding roads will be congested with people leaving the area.
Riptides
Water sports and other water related activities are very popular in this area. Ensure that everyone in your party has had a safety briefing before taking part. Parents must brief all kids on the dangers of riptides and rip currents before entering the waters surrounding the Emerald Coast. Riptides and strong undertow will challenge a strong and masterful swimmer. Signs at the swimming areas may not be posted and it is dangerous to swim or play in water where there is no lifeguard.
Wildlife
Most of the venomous snakes found in North America can be found in North West Florida. Be alert for snakes and alligators when you walk in wooded or marshy areas. Black Bears are common in the area. To coexist with bears, you can secure your garbage, remove food sources that attract bears, and feed pets indoors. Northwest Florida has a wide variety of marine life. A purple flag at a beach in Northwest Florida indicates the presence of dangerous marine life, such as jellyfish, stingrays, or Portuguese man o' war. The flag is not intended to indicate the presence of sharks, but some destinations may use purple to indicate that sharks are present.
Lightning
Lightning occurs with every thunderstorm and, on average, Florida sees nearly 100 days a year with at least one thunderstorm in the state. The western half of the state, in particular, experiences some of the most frequent thunderstorm activity in the country, with areas inland from Naples and Fort Myers averaging 88 days of storms a year.
Passports and Visas
Ensure member and/or dependents have the required passports and/or visa prior to final out-processing. Member and/or dependents are not allowed to final out-process without the required passports/visas in hand for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents. Members electing the accompanied tour will not be permitted to out-process without having the required passports/visas in hand for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents.
These actions are necessary to prevent unforeseen hardships to the military members and their families. Therefore, as a last reiteration, it is essential members do not out-process without having the appropriate passports/visas for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents.
NW Florida can have a very active HURRICANE SEASON, from June to November. Watch your favorite trusted weather source, https://floridadisaster.org and follow the Hurlburt Field and 1 SOW CC Facebook page for up-to-date information regarding the base.
Make it a practice to use sunscreen (especially children) on the white sand beaches. The color of the sand intensifies and reflects the heat rays. Use gradual exposure so that your body will become accustomed to sunbathing.
Most of the venomous snakes found in North America can be found in NW Florida. Be alert for snakes and alligators when you walk in wooded or marshy areas.
Defense Service Network (DSN) Dialing Instructions
The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense (DoD). Every installation has a special DSN number and the numbers vary by world-wide location. In order to place a call using DSN, the caller must be using a military phone on an installation. Cell phones cannot dial DSN numbers. When dialing a DSN number from a United States installation to another United States installation, you must dial 94 and then the DSN number. When dialing a DSN number to/from overseas locations, the DSN area code must be included (312/314).
Please view more online in-depth information about Hurlburt Field on MilitaryINSTALLATIONS.
Hurlburt Field is home of the 1st Special Operations Wing (1st SOW) and is one of six Air Force active duty special operations wings and falls under the Air Force Special Operations Command.
Mission
The 1st SOW is a pivotal component of AFSOC's ability to provide airpower to conduct special operations missions worldwide. The primary mission of the 1st SOW is to rapidly plan and execute specialized and contingency operations in support of national priorities. The wing's core missions include close air support, precision aerospace firepower, specialized aerospace mobility, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, and agile combat support.
The 1st SOW and Hurlburt Field also plays host to 46 partner units from five major commands including the 505th Command and Control Wing, 24th Special Operations Wing, and the 492d Special Operations Wing.
Home of the Air Commandos since 1961, Hurlburt Field today accommodates the 1st Special Operations Wing (1 SOW), Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, an Air Force major command, and a number of associate units. Officially designated Eglin Auxiliary Field No. 9, it served as one of the small training fields built on the sprawling Eglin Air Force Range in the 1940s. General Grandison Gardiner, Eglin commander, named it for First Lieutenant Donald Wilson Hurlburt who perished in an aircraft crash at the main base in 1943. The Eglin Military Reservation, to include the surrounding auxiliary fields, played key roles in the training of special operations rescue forces for operations such as the 1970 Son Tay Raid in Vietnam. When the Air Force redesignated the 1 SOW as the 16 SOW on October 1, 1993, it retained the heritage and honors of the 1 SOW, its predecessor designations, and the 16th Pursuit and Fighter groups. On November 16, 2006, the Air Force redesignated the 16th Special Operations Wing back to the 1st Special Operations Wing. Despite the redesignation, the 1 SOW retained all the honors garnered by the 16 SOW from October 1993 through November 2006.
After falling into disuse and disrepair following World War II, the Air Force reactivated Hurlburt Field in 1955 to receive the 17th Light Bombardment Wing which had moved from Japan. They trained at Hurlburt for three years before being succeeded by the 4751st Missile Wing of the Air Defense Command. The 4751 MW tested surfaceto-air missiles launched from Okaloosa Island between Santa Rosa Sound and the Gulf of America.
In 1979, Iranian “students” overran the American Embassy in Teheran and took Americans hostage. When all diplomatic efforts proved unsuccessful, US special operations forces attempted a daring rescue, Operation EAGLE CLAW, in April 1980 with the 1 SOW playing a key role. Before the rescue could be attempted, however, weather and mechanical problems caused the mission to abort. As the rescue forces began evacuating the area, a US Marine Corps CH-53 helicopter crashed into one of the EC-130s resulting in the death of the eight crewmembers with five assigned to the 8 SOS at Hurlburt Field. While this effort did not free any hostages, it demonstrated to the world the highest commitment to those in need and the willingness of the air commandos to risk and sacrifice their lives if necessary.
Population Type - Average Daily Population:
Base Transportation
Currently, there is no base transportation on this installation.
Hurlburt Field is located on the Gulf of America in the Florida Panhandle, 35 miles east of Pensacola (United States). This area is also known as the Emerald Coast and is a major tourist attraction for its breathtaking white beaches and the emerald green waters. The main gate entrance is on US Highway 98 (Miracle Strip Parkway). The Visitor's Center is across highway 98 on the soundside.
Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) adjoins Eglin AFB and is 14 miles northeast of Hurlburt Field. Allegiant, Delta, Southwest, American Airlines, JetBlue and Sun Country Airlines are the primary commercial air carriers operating out of this facility. Website: www.flyvps.com
Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport (PNS) is 42 miles west of Hurlburt Field. Delta, United, Southwest, and Frontier Airlines are its primary commercial carriers. Website: https://flypensacola.com/.
Hurlburt Field is on northwest Florida’s gulf coast, five miles west of Ft. Walton Beach and 40 miles east of Pensacola. The main gate entrance is on U.S. Highway 98 (Miracle Strip Parkway).
From Points North of Hurlburt Field
From Points East of Hurlburt Field (Panama City)
The Visitor's Center is across Highway 98 on the sound side. Hurlburt Field is 100% ID check for service members, retirees and dependents. Any visitors will need to request base access. To initiate a base pass request, please follow these steps:
Sponsors will need their DOW credentials and the following information for their guest(s) on the spreadsheet:
Sponsor must inform their guests to proceed to the VCC in-person during the below hours to register their Real ID or pick up their Visitor Pass.Note: Guests will be turned away if they show up earlier or later than the preapproved dates.
Approved passes can be picked up at the Visitor Control Center:
VCC Holiday Schedule:
For any questions or assistance with the submission process, please contact Pass and Registration at 850-884-2310.