Military and veterans on the Emerald Coast
Moving to Eglin, Hurlburt Field, Tyndall, NAS Whiting Field or NAS Pensacola? Compare Emerald Coast towns from Pensacola Beach to Panama City by distance to base, housing costs and VA care, and find free help with benefits.
The Emerald Coast has 6 military installations: Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field, Tyndall AFB, NAS Whiting Field, NAS Pensacola and NSA Panama City. About 82,600 veterans live in Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Bay counties (16.1% of adults), and about 20,900 residents serve in the armed forces. Closest towns to Eglin AFB: Valparaiso (under 1 mi) and Niceville (4.3 mi). Closest towns to Hurlburt Field: Mary Esther (2.1 mi) and Fort Walton Beach (4.0 mi). VA care nearby: Eglin VA Clinic, Panama City VA Clinic and Panama City Beach VA location. Florida: no state income tax on military retired pay.
Veterans Crisis LineDial 988 and press 1 · text 838255 · chat online. Free, confidential, 24/7.
Emerald Coast Military Guide is presented by: this guide has one sponsor spot, and it is open.
Military bases on the Emerald Coast
Eglin Air Force Base
Air Force test and training base whose ranges cover much of Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties, including Duke Field near Crestview.
Where to live near Eglin AFB ›Hurlburt Field
Home of Air Force Special Operations Command, between Fort Walton Beach and Mary Esther.
Where to live near Hurlburt Field ›Tyndall Air Force Base
Air Force base east of Panama City, rebuilt after Hurricane Michael in 2018.
Where to live near Tyndall AFB ›Naval Air Station Whiting Field
Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard primary flight training, north of Milton.
Where to live near NAS Whiting Field ›Naval Air Station Pensacola
The "Cradle of Naval Aviation" and home of the Blue Angels, in Escambia County across the bay from Gulf Breeze.
Where to live near NAS Pensacola ›Naval Support Activity Panama City
Navy research, diving and salvage training on St. Andrew Bay, next to Panama City Beach.
Where to live near NSA Panama City ›Compare towns by distance to base
Tap a column to sort. Veterans are the share of adults 18 and older; armed forces is the share of residents 16 and older on active duty. Town names open each town's full guide.
| Town | Population | Veterans | Armed forces | Median home value | Median rent | Nearest VA | Eglin AFB | Hurlburt Field | Tyndall AFB | NAS Whiting Field | NAS Pensacola | NSA Panama City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navarre | 39,838 | 25.7% | 7.3% | $375,700 | $1,966 | 23.1 mi | 22.1 mi | 11.9 mi | 82.0 mi | 22.7 mi | 26.0 mi | 69.9 mi |
| Panama City | 34,979 | 10.2% | 1.1% | $268,900 | $1,327 | 7.8 mi | 55.5 mi | 63.4 mi | 8.8 mi | 89.3 mi | 99.2 mi | 4.8 mi |
| Crestview | 28,773 | 22.1% | 8% | $277,900 | $1,366 | 19.4 mi | 18.6 mi | 23.1 mi | 76.0 mi | 26.3 mi | 51.8 mi | 63.2 mi |
| Pace | 26,282 | 15.6% | 2.2% | $293,800 | $1,282 | 16.9 mi | 39.1 mi | 31.2 mi | 102.0 mi | 11.3 mi | 20.4 mi | 89.6 mi |
| Fort Walton Beach | 21,025 | 16.9% | 4.8% | $321,800 | $1,307 | 7.6 mi | 7.0 mi | 4.0 mi | 67.1 mi | 31.5 mi | 41.8 mi | 54.8 mi |
| Lynn Haven | 20,081 | 16.7% | 2.3% | $320,000 | $1,563 | 10.4 mi | 55.7 mi | 64.2 mi | 11.9 mi | 89.2 mi | 100.7 mi | 7.9 mi |
| Panama City Beach | 18,971 | 11.5% | 1.4% | $441,300 | $1,791 | 4.1 mi | 42.3 mi | 50.3 mi | 21.3 mi | 76.2 mi | 86.4 mi | 8.5 mi |
| Niceville | 16,544 | 22.6% | 7.3% | $423,500 | $1,749 | 4.2 mi | 4.3 mi | 14.5 mi | 62.4 mi | 35.2 mi | 51.6 mi | 49.7 mi |
| Destin | 14,077 | 14% | 4% | $490,300 | $1,936 | 5.3 mi | 6.3 mi | 13.1 mi | 58.3 mi | 39.5 mi | 50.6 mi | 45.8 mi |
| Callaway | 13,496 | 17.1% | 3.7% | $250,300 | $1,322 | 15.4 mi | 63.2 mi | 71.1 mi | 4.5 mi | 96.9 mi | 106.8 mi | 12.5 mi |
| Milton | 10,733 | 16% | 5.9% | $233,100 | $1,455 | 21.4 mi | 33.0 mi | 25.7 mi | 96.2 mi | 6.8 mi | 24.8 mi | 83.7 mi |
| Miramar Beach | 8,902 | 6.4% | 0% | $733,000 | $2,250 | 11.5 mi | 12.8 mi | 20.8 mi | 50.8 mi | 46.7 mi | 58.2 mi | 38.2 mi |
| Springfield | 8,230 | 13% | 1.5% | $188,600 | $1,307 | 11.2 mi | 58.6 mi | 66.7 mi | 7.4 mi | 92.3 mi | 102.6 mi | 8.3 mi |
| Freeport | 6,689 | 11.9% | 1.5% | $407,800 | $1,859 | 22.3 mi | 23.3 mi | 33.4 mi | 44.7 mi | 55.0 mi | 71.3 mi | 32.1 mi |
| Gulf Breeze | 6,660 | 18.1% | 0.5% | $505,600 | $1,536 | 7.4 mi | 39.4 mi | 29.1 mi | 97.6 mi | 26.2 mi | 8.7 mi | 85.9 mi |
| DeFuniak Springs | 6,532 | 9.4% | 0% | $201,400 | $1,024 | 28.3 mi | 28.9 mi | 39.2 mi | 55.0 mi | 53.6 mi | 75.6 mi | 43.1 mi |
| Valparaiso | 4,885 | 24.7% | 22.7% | $394,700 | $1,366 | 1.2 mi | under 1 mi | 11.3 mi | 63.1 mi | 34.2 mi | 48.8 mi | 50.5 mi |
| Parker | 4,509 | 16.8% | 1.1% | $224,200 | $1,338 | 12.5 mi | 60.4 mi | 68.2 mi | 4.3 mi | 94.2 mi | 103.7 mi | 9.6 mi |
| Mary Esther | 4,061 | 16.8% | 4.6% | $298,900 | $1,699 | 10.0 mi | 9.4 mi | 2.1 mi | 68.9 mi | 30.5 mi | 39.5 mi | 56.6 mi |
| Mexico Beach | 1,099 | 16.8% | 0% | $466,300 | $1,951 | 28.0 mi | 75.9 mi | 83.0 mi | 12.7 mi | 109.8 mi | 117.1 mi | 25.5 mi |
| Shalimar | 885 | 20.5% | 4.7% | $476,500 | $2,551 | 5.0 mi | 4.4 mi | 6.4 mi | 65.4 mi | 32.5 mi | 44.3 mi | 53.0 mi |
| Jay | 796 | 6.6% | 0% | $150,800 | $1,117 | 39.0 mi | 49.3 mi | 45.4 mi | 111.9 mi | 17.4 mi | 42.5 mi | 99.1 mi |
| Paxton | 686 | 11.3% | 0% | $171,200 | $860 | 36.3 mi | 36.1 mi | 43.8 mi | 76.2 mi | 45.5 mi | 73.6 mi | 64.4 mi |
| Cinco Bayou | 609 | 18.9% | 6% | $348,800 | $1,643 | 7.1 mi | 6.5 mi | 4.8 mi | 66.4 mi | 32.2 mi | 42.5 mi | 54.0 mi |
| Laurel Hill | 355 | 13.5% | 2.7% | $117,900 | $742 | 33.8 mi | 33.2 mi | 39.3 mi | 80.9 mi | 37.2 mi | 66.2 mi | 68.6 mi |
VA health care on the Emerald Coast
Free help with VA claims
County and state veteran service officers are trained and accredited to help you file disability, pension and survivor claims, appeal a decision and enroll in VA health care. The help is free: you never have to pay anyone to file a VA claim.
Also open in Crestview (302 N. Wilson St.) on Tuesdays; call for an appointment.
Also at the South Service Center, 5841 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze (850-981-7110).
State benefits for service members and veterans
Florida
No state income tax on military retired pay
- Florida has no personal income tax, so military retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are not taxed by the state.
- Homestead: veterans with a 10% or higher combat-related VA disability get up to $5,000 off assessed value, and a service-connected total and permanent disability brings a full homestead exemption. Veterans 65 or older with a permanent combat-related rating get a discount equal to their disability percentage.
- The "Veteran" designation on a Florida driver license or ID is free for honorably discharged veterans, and 100% disabled veterans pay no license fee.
- Hunting and fishing: a free five-year license for resident veterans rated 50% or more disabled, and the $20 Military Gold Sportsman's License for active duty stationed in Florida, Florida resident service members and military retirees.
- The Congressman C.W. Bill Young Tuition Waiver removes out-of-state fees for honorably discharged veterans at Florida public colleges and universities.
- Military spouses can often convert a license from another state to a Florida license, with fee waivers and faster processing depending on the agency.
Retiring from the service? Compare towns on the Emerald Coast on taxes, health care and housing ›
Your first 30 days after a PCS move
- Check your housing allowance for your new duty station at the official BAH rate lookup before you sign a lease.
- Read your installation's Military OneSource page for the housing office, schools, child care and relocation help.
- Schools: the Military Interstate Children's Compact covers records, enrollment, sports eligibility and graduation rules when children change schools.
- Spouse jobs: under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, a professional license in good standing can carry over when you move on military orders. Justice Department guide.
- Driver's license, car registration and the free veteran designation with Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; register to vote at Register to vote in Florida
Local property managers for military families on the Emerald Coast
Veteran-owned business?
Honoring service
Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. Find ceremonies and parades in our events calendar.
120 beds, including a 60-bed dementia and Alzheimer's unit, for Florida residents with an honorable discharge.
Stationed here, or served here?
We publish short answers from readers after an editor reviews them, never with your address, unit or rank unless you ask.
- Tips for the next family on orders: neighborhoods, schools, commutes, what you wish you knew.
- Ask a local: send a question and we will answer it on this page or in a story.
- Add a ceremony, reunion or post meeting: free listing in our events calendar.
Military news and guides
- Free help filing a VA claim in Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Bay: offices and hours
- Military spouse jobs on the Emerald Coast: moving a professional license to Florida
- PCS to Eglin or Hurlburt: what Florida asks for a new driver license, tags and voter card
- VA care on the Emerald Coast: what the Eglin and Panama City clinics offer
- Florida homestead exemptions for disabled veterans: amounts and how to apply by county
- Military golf at Hurlburt Field and Eglin AFB: who can play and how to book
Questions military families and veterans ask on the Emerald Coast
What military bases are on the Emerald Coast?
Eglin Air Force Base (Air Force); Hurlburt Field (Air Force); Tyndall Air Force Base (Air Force); Naval Air Station Whiting Field (Navy); Naval Air Station Pensacola (Navy); Naval Support Activity Panama City (Navy).
Does Florida tax military retired pay?
No state income tax on military retired pay. Florida has no personal income tax, so military retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are not taxed by the state.
Where can veterans get free help filing a VA claim on the Emerald Coast?
Okaloosa County Veterans Services, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Suite 302, Shalimar, FL 32579, 850-651-7258; Walton County Veterans Services, 76 North 6th Street, Suite B, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433, 850-892-8140; Santa Rosa County Veterans Services, 6051 Old Bagdad Highway, Suite 204, Milton, FL 32583, 850-981-7155; Bay County Veterans Services, 840 W. 11th Street, Panama City, FL 32401, 850-248-8280. Accredited service officers help at no cost.
Where are the VA clinics near the Emerald Coast?
Eglin VA Clinic, 100 Veterans Way, Eglin AFB, FL 32542; Panama City VA Clinic, 2600 Veterans Way, Panama City Beach, FL 32408; Panama City Beach VA location, 140 Richard Jackson Boulevard, Suite 100, Panama City Beach, FL 32407; Pensacola VA Clinic, 790 Veterans Way, Pensacola, FL 32507; Naval Hospital Pensacola VA location, 6000 West Highway 98, Pensacola, FL 32512.
How do I reach the Veterans Crisis Line?
Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net. It is free, confidential and open 24/7, for veterans, service members and their families.