CountyScore

Santa Rosa County

Florida · FL

#28 in Florida
64.1
County Score

County Report Card

About Santa Rosa County, Florida

Santa Rosa Stands Above National Standards

Santa Rosa County scores 67.9 on the composite index, well above the national median of 50.0 and ranking in the 68th percentile. This solid performance reflects above-average livability conditions.

Nearly Matches Florida's Average

At 67.9, Santa Rosa falls just 1.5 points below Florida's state average of 69.4, placing it in the upper tier of state counties. The county performs competitively against regional peers.

Highest Incomes with Lowest Taxes

Santa Rosa leads this group with an income score of 41.5 and median household earnings of $88,968, significantly above state averages. The tax score of 85.4 reflects the lowest effective tax rate at 0.599%—an exceptionally attractive combination.

Moderate Housing Costs and Data Gaps

The cost score of 61.3 reveals mid-range affordability, with median rents at $1,445 and home values averaging $302,100. Safety, health, schools, and water quality information remains unavailable, requiring additional local investigation.

Excellent for Higher-Earning Professionals

Santa Rosa is ideal for successful professionals and high-earning families seeking a strong income-to-tax ratio and reasonable housing costs. The county's combination of strong earnings potential and minimal tax burden creates exceptional financial conditions for affluent residents.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax85.4Cost61.3SafetyComing SoonHealth71.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome41.5Risk11WaterComing Soon
🏛85.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠61.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼41.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤71.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡11
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Santa Rosa County with another county →

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Deep Dives

Santa Rosa County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Santa Rosa County

via TaxByCounty

Santa Rosa has Florida's lowest tax rate

Santa Rosa County's 0.599% effective tax rate is among the lowest in the entire nation, well below the national median of 0.71%. The median property tax of $1,809 falls below the national median of $2,690, making Santa Rosa an exceptional value for homeowners.

Best tax deal in Florida by far

Santa Rosa's 0.599% effective rate is significantly below Florida's state average of 0.731%, earning it the title of most tax-friendly county in the state. The median annual tax of $1,809 is nearly 4% below the state median of $1,885.

Clear winner in Northwest Florida

Santa Rosa's 0.599% rate vastly undercuts neighboring counties and competing regions throughout the Panhandle. The county offers unmatched tax savings for homeowners seeking affordable property ownership.

Lowest taxes on median $302K home

On Santa Rosa's median home value of $302,100, homeowners pay just $1,809 per year—the lowest rate of any county examined here. With a mortgage, the figure rises to $1,980.

Even low rates benefit from review

Santa Rosa's excellent tax rate doesn't preclude assessment errors—overvaluation can happen anywhere. A quick appeal filing costs nothing and ensures your property is valued fairly.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Santa Rosa County

via CostByCounty

Santa Rosa achieves rare affordability balance

Santa Rosa County renters spend just 19.5% of their income on rent—the lowest burden in this survey and well below national affordability stress thresholds. Combined with a median household income of $88,968, the highest in the group, Santa Rosa delivers exceptional housing value.

Florida's most affordable relative to income

Santa Rosa's rent-to-income ratio of 19.5% substantially undercuts Florida's state average of 22.5%, creating a 3 percentage-point affordability advantage. Median rent of $1,445 reflects reasonable coastal-area pricing balanced by strong local incomes.

Standout value in the panhandle

Santa Rosa renters pay $1,445 monthly while enjoying the highest median household income ($88,968) in this survey, producing the nation's best affordability ratio at 19.5%. As Pensacola's northern anchor, Santa Rosa combines military-fueled economic stability with measured housing growth.

Housing takes just one-fifth of income

Renters average $1,445 monthly while homeowners pay $1,354, combining for roughly 20% of the $88,968 median household income. This leaves Santa Rosa households approximately $6,100 monthly for all other expenses—the highest discretionary purchasing power in the survey.

Best overall value in Florida housing

Relocating to Santa Rosa means allocating just 19.5% of income to rent while earning the region's strongest median income of $88,968. If you seek affordability without sacrificing income opportunity, Santa Rosa delivers the optimal balance among surveyed counties.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Santa Rosa County

via IncomeByCounty

Santa Rosa leads national income rankings

Santa Rosa County's median household income of $88,968 outpaces the national median of $74,755 by 19%, ranking it among the nation's highest-earning counties. This strong performance reflects the county's military presence, stable defense contracting jobs, and growing professional services sector.

Florida's highest-income county

At $88,968, Santa Rosa County leads all Florida counties and exceeds the state average of $65,468 by $23,500—a 36% premium. This commanding lead positions Santa Rosa as Florida's premier wealth-earning county, driven by military payroll and skilled workforce diversity.

Outearns all regional and state peers

Santa Rosa's $88,968 income substantially exceeds all surveyed counties, including affluent Palm Beach ($81,115) and Sarasota ($80,633). The county's unique military-industrial base creates income stability and high-wage opportunities unavailable in most Florida regions.

Excellent income-to-cost-of-living ratio

Santa Rosa boasts the nation's best rent-to-income ratio at 19.5%, meaning housing consumes less than one-fifth of typical earnings. With median home values of $302,100 and strong income, homeownership is readily affordable and leaves substantial discretionary income.

Aggressive wealth building opportunity

Santa Rosa County's $89,000 median income and low housing costs create ideal conditions for wealth acceleration through maximum retirement contributions and diversified investments. Households can comfortably save 20-30% of income, enabling early retirement and substantial asset accumulation.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Santa Rosa County

via HealthByCounty

Santa Rosa matches national health standards

Santa Rosa County's 76.3-year life expectancy slightly exceeds the U.S. average of 76.4 years, reflecting solid health outcomes for a northwest Florida community. With 16.0% reporting poor or fair health—below the national average of 18%—the county demonstrates effective healthcare access and preventive care engagement.

Outperforming Florida's health average

Santa Rosa's 76.3-year life expectancy edges above Florida's 75.8-year average, placing the county in the state's healthier tier. The county's 9.7% uninsured rate—Florida's lowest—reflects strong military-connected coverage (Naval Air Station Pensacola) and robust employer programs.

Regional balance of health outcomes

Santa Rosa's 76.3-year life expectancy places it in the middle of Florida's county rankings, ahead of Polk (76.1) but behind Pinellas (77.6). The county's exceptional uninsured rate (9.7%) mirrors military communities nationwide with concentrated federal healthcare benefits.

Strong insurance, moderate provider access

Santa Rosa boasts Florida's lowest uninsured rate at 9.7%, largely due to military employment and benefits, creating stable healthcare baseline. With 58 primary care and 113 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, access remains moderate—adequate for the county's health needs but room for growth remains.

Maintain your military healthcare edge

Santa Rosa's military population enjoys outstanding health coverage, but if you're uninsured, visit Healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to explore marketplace plans. Verify your TRICARE or VA benefits annual eligibility to ensure continuous coverage.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Santa Rosa County

via RiskByCounty

Santa Rosa County faces moderate risk

Santa Rosa County's composite risk score of 88.96 ranks it above the national average but notably below most Florida coastal counties, rated Relatively Moderate. Hurricane exposure at 97.25 drives much of the county's risk, while tornado and wildfire threats remain secondary concerns.

Moderate risk within Florida

At 88.96, Santa Rosa ranks in Florida's mid-risk tier, sitting 13.22 points above the state average of 75.74. The county's Gulf Coast position brings substantial hurricane exposure, though its westernmost location offers some protection compared to Atlantic-facing counties.

Lower than most coastal peers

Santa Rosa's 88.96 score trails coastal neighbors like Pinellas (98.22), Pasco (95.96), and Sarasota (98.16), but exceeds inland Putnam County (79.74). The county sits in a middle zone between Florida's safest inland communities and its most exposed coastal regions.

Hurricanes pose primary threat

Santa Rosa's hurricane risk of 97.25 is the county's dominant hazard, reflecting Gulf Coast exposure to Atlantic storm impacts. Tornado risk at 89.60 and wildfire risk at 81.33 are moderate concerns, while flood risk at 73.66 is among the county's lower threats.

Hurricane coverage is essential

Santa Rosa homeowners should prioritize wind and hail coverage in homeowners policies to address the county's significant hurricane exposure during Atlantic storm season. While flood risk is lower than in coastal counties, properties in low-lying areas should carry separate flood insurance as a precaution.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.