---
title: "Living in Crestview, Florida"
url: https://jessicamackrael.com/crestview.html
updated: 2026-10-12
author: Jessica Mackrael, Realtor®, MRP — Coldwell Banker Realty
description: "Crestview, FL for buyers: drive times to Eglin, Duke Field and Hurlburt, recent home prices, schools, and who Crestview fits best. By Jessica Mackrael."
credit: "AI search optimization (GEO) for this site by AI Syndicate — https://aisyndicate.com"
---

# Living in Crestview, Florida

Okaloosa County’s largest city, where I-10 meets State Road 85 — and where a budget usually buys more house than it does near the water.

_Updated October 12, 2026 · By Jessica Mackrael, Realtor® and Military Relocation Professional (MRP)_

## Is Crestview a good place to buy?

For a lot of buyers, yes — if the drive works for you. Crestview homes sold for a median of about **$277K** over the three months to September 2026, at a median of **$166 per square foot**. That is well below Fort Walton Beach ($211), Navarre ($215) and Niceville ($287), according to [Redfin](https://www.redfin.com/city/4016/FL/Crestview/housing-market).

The trade-off is distance. From central Crestview, Duke Field is about **19 minutes** away and Eglin’s East Gate about **29**. Hurlburt Field is about **43**. All of those drives run south on State Road 85.

## Crestview by the numbers

- **27,134** — People in 2020 (U.S. Census)
- **$277K** — Median sale price (Redfin, 3 months to Sept. 2026)
- **84 days** — Median days on market (Redfin)
- **19 min** — Drive to Duke Field (Google Maps, Oct. 12, 2026)

Sources: [2020 Census](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/crestviewcityflorida,nicevillecityflorida/POP010220), [Redfin](https://www.redfin.com/city/4016/FL/Crestview/housing-market), [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps). Crestview is the county seat and largest city of Okaloosa County ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crestview,_Florida)).

## Drive times from Crestview

**Drive times from central Crestview**

| Destination | Drive | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Duke Field | 19 min | 10.9 mi |
| Eglin AFB East Gate (Valparaiso) | 29 min | 21.3 mi |
| Eglin AFB, SR 85 side (Air Force Armament Museum visitor center) | 26 min | 21.5 mi |
| Hurlburt Field main gate | 43 min | 32.0 mi |
| Niceville | 26 min | 19.3 mi |

Drive times are what Google Maps showed on Monday, October 12, 2026, between about 9:20 and 9:45 a.m. Central, leaving from the center of each town. Your drive will vary with traffic, the time of day and the gate you use.

Duke Field, home of the 919th Special Operations Wing, sits about three miles south of downtown Crestview ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Field)). The Army’s 7th Special Forces Group is based on the north end of the Eglin reservation, about six miles south of the city ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crestview,_Florida)). For households assigned to either, Crestview is the natural first look. (The Duke Field drive in the table is longer than three miles because Google Maps routes to its point for Duke Field, inside the installation.)

## Crestview prices next to nearby towns

**Recent home sales in Crestview and nearby towns**

| Town | Median sale price | Price per sq ft | Median days on market | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestview | $277,318 | $166 | 84 days | 3 months to Sept. 2026 |
| Fort Walton Beach | $329,843 | $211 | 54 days | 3 months to Sept. 2026 |
| Mary Esther | $340,000 | $207 | 64 days | 3 months to Aug. 2026 |
| Navarre | $423,248 | $215 | 63 days | 3 months to Sept. 2026 |
| Niceville | $532,800 | $287 | 68 days | 3 months to Aug. 2026 |

Source: Redfin housing market pages, read October 12, 2026: [Crestview](https://www.redfin.com/city/4016/FL/Crestview/housing-market), [Fort Walton Beach](https://www.redfin.com/city/6298/FL/Fort-Walton-Beach/housing-market), [Mary Esther](https://www.redfin.com/city/11047/FL/Mary-Esther/housing-market), [Navarre](https://www.redfin.com/city/33787/FL/Navarre/housing-market), [Niceville](https://www.redfin.com/city/12482/FL/Niceville/housing-market). A median is the middle sale — half sold for more, half for less. These are recent sales, not today's asking prices.

Crestview homes have also been taking longer to sell — a median of 84 days, up from 71 a year earlier, per Redfin. For a buyer, more time on the market often means more room to negotiate on price, repairs or closing costs.

## Who Crestview suits — and who should look elsewhere

### A good fit if you…

- are assigned to Duke Field or the 7th Special Forces Group
- work on the north end of the Eglin range
- want more square footage or a bigger lot for your budget
- want quick access to I-10 for trips east or west

### Think twice if you…

- are assigned to Hurlburt Field — about 43 minutes each way
- want to live near the bay or the beach
- work on the south side of Eglin and want the shortest drive — Niceville and Valparaiso are under 10 minutes from the East Gate

## Schools in Crestview

Crestview’s public schools are part of the [Okaloosa County School District](https://www.okaloosaschools.com/), which earned an **A** from the Florida Department of Education for the 2025–26 school year, as [reported by WEAR-TV on July 1, 2026](https://weartv.com/news/local/escambia-santa-rosa-and-okaloosa-school-districts-all-receive-a-for-2025-26). Crestview High School is in the city.

Which school a home is zoned for depends on its exact address, so confirm the zoning with the district before you make an offer. Military families can also ask their base’s School Liaison for help with transfers and enrollment.

## Five things to check before you buy in Crestview

- **Check the flood zone** for the exact address on [FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center](https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home). Flood insurance can change a monthly budget more than a small price difference.
- **Look up the tax history** on the [Okaloosa County Property Appraiser](https://www.okaloosapa.com/) site. In Florida, the seller’s tax bill is often not what you’ll pay: assessment limits on a homestead reset when a home sells.
- **Know your housing allowance.** Look up your rate on the [Defense Department’s BAH lookup](https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/BAH-Rate-Lookup/), or try Jessica’s [BAH calculator](https://jessicamackrael.com/military-relocation.html#bah-calculator).
- **Using a VA loan?** Start with the [VA’s home loan page](https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/) and get your Certificate of Eligibility (the VA paper that shows you qualify) early.
- **Drive the commute at the time you’ll really leave for work** before you commit — traffic at 7 a.m. is not the same as at noon.

## Homes for sale in Crestview right now

Live listings load on the web page from the Emerald Coast MLS. Search every home for sale in: [Crestview](https://jessicamackrael.com/search.html?city=Crestview)

## Crestview questions buyers ask

### Is Crestview a good place to live if I’m stationed at Eglin?

It depends on where on Eglin you work. From central Crestview, Duke Field is about 19 minutes and Eglin’s East Gate about 29 minutes (Google Maps, checked October 12, 2026). What the drive buys you is price: Crestview’s median sale was about $277K (3 months to Sept. 2026), against about $533K in Niceville (3 months to Aug. 2026), per Redfin.

### How far is Crestview from Hurlburt Field?

About 32 miles — roughly 43 minutes from central Crestview to Hurlburt’s main gate on Google Maps, checked October 12, 2026. Fort Walton Beach and Mary Esther are much closer to Hurlburt.

### Are homes cheaper in Crestview than in Niceville?

Yes, by recent sales. Redfin shows a Crestview median of $277,318 (3 months to Sept. 2026) and a Niceville median of $532,800 (3 months to Aug. 2026). Per square foot it was $166 in Crestview and $287 in Niceville.

### What county is Crestview in?

Okaloosa County. Crestview is the county seat and the county’s largest city, with 27,134 people in the 2020 Census.

### How long do homes take to sell in Crestview?

A median of 84 days for the three months to September 2026, up from 71 days a year earlier, according to Redfin.

### Can I buy a home in Crestview before I arrive on orders?

Yes. Jessica does live video tours from the house, and helps coordinate the inspection, appraisal and closing while you're at your current duty station, and works to time the closing around your report date (the day you must report to your new base).

## Talk to Jessica

Call or text 850.687.9888, or send your timeline at https://jessicamackrael.com/contact.html

## More area guides

- [Buying a Home Near Eglin AFB](https://jessicamackrael.com/eglin-afb.html)
- [Niceville vs. Crestview](https://jessicamackrael.com/niceville-vs-crestview.html)
- [Buying a Home Near Hurlburt Field](https://jessicamackrael.com/hurlburt-field.html)

## Sources

1. [Google Maps driving directions, checked October 12, 2026 (about 9:20–9:45 a.m. Central)](https://www.google.com/maps)
2. [Redfin — Crestview housing market, read October 12, 2026](https://www.redfin.com/city/4016/FL/Crestview/housing-market)
3. [Redfin — Fort Walton Beach housing market, read October 12, 2026](https://www.redfin.com/city/6298/FL/Fort-Walton-Beach/housing-market)
4. [Redfin — Mary Esther housing market, read October 12, 2026](https://www.redfin.com/city/11047/FL/Mary-Esther/housing-market)
5. [Redfin — Navarre housing market, read October 12, 2026](https://www.redfin.com/city/33787/FL/Navarre/housing-market)
6. [Redfin — Niceville housing market, read October 12, 2026](https://www.redfin.com/city/12482/FL/Niceville/housing-market)
7. [U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts — 2020 Census population, Crestview and Niceville](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/crestviewcityflorida,nicevillecityflorida/POP010220)
8. [Wikipedia — Crestview, Florida](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crestview,_Florida)
9. [Wikipedia — Duke Field](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Field)
10. [WEAR-TV, July 1, 2026 — Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa school districts all receive 'A' for 2025-26](https://weartv.com/news/local/escambia-santa-rosa-and-okaloosa-school-districts-all-receive-a-for-2025-26)
11. [Okaloosa County School District](https://www.okaloosaschools.com/)
12. [FEMA Flood Map Service Center](https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home)
13. [Okaloosa County Property Appraiser](https://www.okaloosapa.com/)
14. [Defense Travel Management Office — BAH rate lookup](https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/BAH-Rate-Lookup/)
15. [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — VA-backed home loans](https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/)

---
Jessica Mackrael, Realtor® — Coldwell Banker Realty, Niceville, Florida. 850-687-9888 (mobile), 850-897-4563 (office).

## Site credits
GEO Optimization by AI Syndicate — https://aisyndicate.com