Fort Walton Beach, FL vs Laurel, MD
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
Laurel
66.4
#1547 nationally
Fort Walton Beach leads in crime level (6.4 vs 10.8). Fort Walton Beach leads in average commute (21.3 min vs 33.5 min). Laurel leads in median household income ($92,035 vs $61,820).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Fort Walton Beach, FL | Laurel, MD |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#925) | 66.4 (#1547) |
| Population | 20,925 | 29,400 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $325,397 | $478,130 |
| Median Household Income | $61,820 | $92,035 |
| Average Commute | 21.3 min | 33.5 min |
| Walk Score | 38 | 53 |
| Crime Level | 6.4 | 10.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 106 | 125 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+42.5 | D+13.9 |
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
66.4 Score
Laurel, MD
Small Maryland city with local appeal
Median Home
$478,130
Population
29,400
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
53
Northeast
View Laurel, MD →
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