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Navarre, Florida
On the Western Florida Panhandle, Navarre Has a Leisurely Pace, a Long Pier, a Marine Sanctuary and Soft White Beaches Touched by Emerald Waters
Navarre (population 42,000) sits between Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola along the Florida Panhandle's Santa Rosa Sound. It started out as a bedroom community for these two cities and is close to several military bases, including Eglin Air Force Base and Naval Air Base Pensacola.
Thirty-eight percent of locals are age 45 or better, and most residents hold conservative views. Thirty-one percent hold at least a four year college degree. The city has some racial diversity, and the crime rate meets the national average. The cost of living is 5% below the national average. Navarre has grown 15% during the last decade.
The median home price is $425,000, reflecting a 3% increase from last year. Housing stock includes concrete block ranch ramblers, single story Mediterraneans, waterfront condos and more.
Navarre is comprised of Navarre proper, which is along the Sound, and Navarre Beach, a suburb that sits across the Sound on Santa Rosa Island, the Panhandle's longest barrier island. Reachable via a causeway from the mainland, Navarre Beach features miles of exceptionally soft, white sand kissed by the Gulf's warm emerald waters and is part of the beautiful Gulf Islands National Seashore. There are some tall condominiums and a hotel, but tourists do not come in large numbers. Seashells and unobstructed sea views are in abundance.
The Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary is a reef project that draws SCUBA divers. Navarre Pier is the longest fishing pier in Florida and is a popular spot for watching the sun set. Canoeing on the Blackwater River that meanders through the thick foliage of nearby Blackwater River State Forest is also a popular pastime. The public Club at Hidden Creek offers 18 holes of golf. Navarre also has a small beach along the Sound.
Weekly summer concerts in the park, the Ye Olde Brothers Brewery Craft Beerfest and the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Earth Day Celebration are a few of the fun local events.
The Senior Center is across the street from the Navarre Public Library and offers a variety of programs and activities. The library is a member of the Santa Rosa County Library System and has guest lecturers, classes, pancake breakfasts, book sales and public computers with internet access. Getting to the center and the library must be accomplished via automobile, though, since Navarre does not have a public transportation system and the county system is limited.
Navarre also does not have a hospital of its own, but it has two health clinics, and seven hospitals are within 20 miles. HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital (15 miles) is a primary stroke center. Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola (18 miles) is a Level II Adult Trauma Center and has won a raft of awards. Both are accredited by the Joint Commission and both accept Medicare patients.
Winters are short and mild with temperatures in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Summers are hot and humid with temperatures are in the 80s and 90s. On average, the area receives 65 inches of rain per year.
Navarre is built on low-lying sandy soil and is occasionally threatened by hurricanes and storm surges. In 2004, Hurricane Ivan caused significant damage, as did Hurricane Dennis in 2005. Irma in 2017 and Michael in 2018 brought less damage, while Sally in 2020 eroded much of Navarre Beach's sand. In 2021, Ida brought large waves. Helene in 2024 caused no damage. Navarre homeowners' insurance is expensive, particularly in the southern sections of the city (northern sections are built on slightly higher ground).
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes | Is Florida Tax-Friendly at Retirement? Yes
Although the hurricane threat is real, Navarre has a lot going for it, including world class beaches, a relaxed way of life and somewhat reasonable prices for a beach town. It is a place to consider for retirement.
Florida:
Named Pascua Florida by Juan Ponce De Leon, the Sunshine State did not enter the Union until March 3, 1845. Balmy mild winters began attracting snowbirds to the state in the late 19th century. Retirees continue to flock to the state. It's not hard to see why tourism has become the leading industry.
International trade and citrus are also major contributors to the state's economy. Eighty percent of the nation's oranges and grapefruits are grown here, and 40 percent of all U.S. exports to Latin America flow through Florida.
Florida's landscape includes uplands and coastal plains. It contains more than 11,000 miles of waterways and about 4,500 islands spread across 10 acres.
The state has 1,250 golf courses, more than any other state in the Union. The 47 mile Pinellas Trail is the longest urban trail on the east coast. Orlando theme parks attract more visitors than any other theme parks in the U.S. The only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles co-exist is in National Everglades Park.
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