Is Mary Esther, FL a Good Place to Live?
Mary Esther is a small town of 4,018 in Florida, with a median household income of $75,167 and a 6.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.
Strengths: Mary Esther stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Mary Esther is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Mary Esther city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 98.0Mary Esther's overall cost of living index is 98.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Mary Esther costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Mary Esther, FL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $236,400 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,451 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.9% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $75,167 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Crime data for Mary Esther is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.
Schools & Education
Mary Esther is served primarily by OKALOOSA. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.0:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Mary Esther, FL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | OKALOOSA | — |
| Elementary Schools | 21 | — |
| Middle Schools | 9 | — |
| High Schools | 11 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 19.0:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.7% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 95.9% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Mary Esther sees average highs of 63.1°F in January and 90.9°F in July, with 63.8 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | Mary Esther, FL |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 63.1°F |
| Average High — July | 90.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | Mary Esther, FL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,018 | — |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 24.1 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 74.0% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 5.4% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3.6% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 6.2% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 19.6% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Mary Esther
Mary Esther, FL is covered by 1 ZIP code: