The Town FilesLaurel Hill, Florida
City in Okaloosa County · population 584 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $117,900
- Household income
- $63,036
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 43.8
Laurel Hill is a city of 584 people in Okaloosa County, Florida. The median home is worth $117,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks easier by car than 100% of Florida towns, better for families than 93% of Florida towns, better for first-time buyers than 93% of Florida towns.
How Laurel Hill ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Laurel Hill is worth $117,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $63,036, which is more affordable than 98% of Florida towns. Median rent is $742 a month. 87.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Laurel Hill | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $117,900 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $742 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $63,036 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 87.5% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.5% | — |
Who lives in Laurel Hill
| People | Laurel Hill | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.8% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.6% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.3% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 13.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 39.3 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 92.4% |
Weather in Laurel Hill
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 40.5°F. About 59.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 97 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 21 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel Hill since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 26, 1973 about 9.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 23, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 2, 2003.
Severe weather in Okaloosa County since 1996
Okaloosa County has been included in 43 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 27, 2026 | Hurricane | DR-4955: Hurricane Isaias |
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3655: Hurricane Isaias |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Okaloosa County
Okaloosa County had 89,705 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,616 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Laurel Hill itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Laurel Hill
1 public school with 463 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAUREL HILL SCHOOL | PK-12 | 463 | 14.5 |
Towns near Laurel Hill
- Paxton, FL8.7 mi · 556 people · home $171,200
- Florala, AL9.3 mi · 1,923 people · home $91,600
- Crestview, FL16.4 mi · 27,134 people · home $277,900
- Andalusia, AL24.1 mi · 8,805 people · home $153,200
- Kinston, AL24.7 mi · 580 people · home $70,500
- Babbie, AL25.0 mi · 625 people · home $181,300
- Opp, AL25.3 mi · 6,771 people · home $115,700
- Samson, AL26.5 mi · 1,874 people · home $91,100
Laurel Hill questions
Is Laurel Hill, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Laurel Hill scores better for retirees than 38% of Florida towns and quieter than 89%. 24.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.8).
How much does a house cost in Laurel Hill?
The median owner-occupied home in Laurel Hill is valued at $117,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,036, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $742 a month.
What is the weather like in Laurel Hill?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 40.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Laurel Hill get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel Hill since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 26, 1973. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)