Part 2 Questions about Navarre & Navarre Beach- Is Navarre Family Friendly?

One of the most important questions to answer before moving to a location is if the area is going to be suitable to your lifestyle. So the question we will answer today- Is Navarre a family friendly town to live in? Let's discuss the following topics:

 

1. Work Opportunities

2. School System

3. Crime Rate

4. Traffic to/from Work

5. Recreation- sports, parks, etc

6. Tax Rate

7. Health Care

8. Affordable Housing

 

Work Opportunities- Navarre is not a huge metro area so work may involve driving over to the next city.

How long does it take to get there?

 

Pensacola/Airport =40 minutes away

Fort Walton Beach =30 minutes away

Pace/Milton= 30/40 minutes away

 

Many families in the area do have jobs with the military (several military bases nearby), school system (teachers, bus drivers, etc), healthcare (urgent care or hospitals), banks or credit unions (Navy Federal Credit Union is a major employer in Pensacola), tourism (hotels, restaurants, or own your own business), remote work, or any other llc type business such as landscaping, bookkeeping, real estate, shop owner, etc. 

 

School System- Santa Rosa County has generally received an "A" rating for the district schools. In general, the school systems around the area seem to be doing their job and do not get alot of negative conversation. Most have sports programs in the middle and high schools and there is healthy competition between them. There are several private schools as well as homeschoolers in the area with several homeschool groups one could be part of if they chose.

 

Crime Rate- Where there are people, there will be things. And the more people, the more things. But in general, Navarre is a low crime rate town. We have parks, stores, restaurants, and schools and we are not afraid to go to them. We are comfortable walking in our neighborhoods. Always be aware of your surroundings, but we certainly do not have as much crime as a large city.

 

Traffic To/From Work- Navarre has one main road heading east and west. If there is an accident during high traffic times, it can significantly slow things down.  Most days its perfectly fine and everyone gets to and from work without hiccup- only some congestion at peak times. There is talk of creating another parallel road for traffic to travel but this hasn't come to fruition yet.  As more people move to the area, the need for future traffic solutions will be important.

 

Recreation- For the kids there are school sports as well as recreational & travel basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, dance and more for all ages. The whole family can enjoy the beach & ocean (boating, jet skis, fishing, etc), local hockey and baseball sports teams, freshwater springs/rivers to kayak or tube down (within driving distance), pickleball courts, gyms, running groups, weekend markets, thrift & antique stores, and two local golf courses.

 

Tax Rate- Navarre is technically not a city. We are an unincorporated community. Due to this, we have a lower tax rate that surrounding areas. Combined with having no state taxes, this makes Navarre a great choice. There is a group that is currently lobbying for Navarre to incorporate and become a city so local monies can remain local instead of just supporting the county so that may someday be, but for now we remain unincorporated.

 

Health Care- There are plenty of available urgent care facilities and doctors offices in the area. The nearest hospital is in Gulf Breeze approximately 20 minutes away between Navarre & Pensacola.

 

Affordable Housing- Navarre has a wide range of housing options. You will not find much on the lower end of the housing spectrum though. In 2024, the median price home for Navarre was in the low $400s. If more affordable housing is wanted, looking north and a little further away from the beach will get you more square footage for your dollar. Apartment & townhome living is also an option. There are several apartment complexes in the area. If you do decide to purchase a home in Navarre and in future need to leave, there is a good rental market. A constant military flow and tourist season brings plenty of opportunity to rent our your home.

 

Overall, I would say that Navarre is definitely a family friendly place to live in. The size is a plus not being too large or too small. It's 2024 population was sitting right at 40k. It's location in the Florida panhandle makes it still within driving distance to many other states. We do get cold weather but it is confined to a few short months (usually December & January). The scenery is beautiful to look at daily and there are plenty of opportunities within driving distance to enjoy when you have the chance!

 

Looking to possibly look at some homes? Jen@floridasaltwaterhomes.com