Population 12,290 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Mary Esther
Household size in Mary Esther
| Period | Mary Esther | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.27 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.36 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.57 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.11 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Mary Esther is a place of small households, averaging 2.38 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has climbed from 2.27 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the southeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Mary Esther
| Period | Mary Esther | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.1 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.0 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.1 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.3 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.8 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Mary Esther is 37.3 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The median age has dropped from 39.1 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the southeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Mary Esther
| Period | Mary Esther | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.3% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Mary Esther than nationally: 8.7%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 3.6 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Mary Esther
Renters in Mary Esther
| Period | Mary Esther | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.2% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.3% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.0% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.6% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Mary Esther own their homes; 31.6% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. That is in line with the rest of Florida. Nearly four in ten owners (38.3%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Mary Esther
| Period | Mary Esther | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.0% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.3% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.3% of the housing in Mary Esther, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Mary Esther
| Period | Mary Esther | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Mary Esther are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. Even so, homes here are older than in Florida overall, where the median home dates to 1989. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the northeast.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Mary Esther
| Period | Mary Esther | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,012 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $918 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,139 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,614 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$602 | +$724 | +$606 |
The median renter in Mary Esther pays $1,614 a month for rent and utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in Florida overall ($1,816). Rents are up $602 a month from 2006–10, a 59% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 33.1% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Mary Esther
Bachelor's degrees in Mary Esther
| Period | Mary Esther | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.8% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.3% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.1% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.1% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.3 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in Mary Esther (39.1%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 12.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Mary Esther
| Period | Mary Esther | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.1% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.6% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.9% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.9% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Mary Esther: 94.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.8 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Mary Esther
| Period | Mary Esther | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Mary Esther is close to the national rate: 4.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Mary Esther compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Esther | 2.38 | 37.3 | 8.7% | 31.6% | 14.3% | 1985 | $1,614 | 39.1% | 94.9% | 4.9% |
| Hurlburt Field | 3.39 | 23.9 | 4.1% | 97.7% | 8.9% | 2015 | $2,074 | 44.9% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Wright | 2.55 | 36.2 | 16.1% | 46.3% | 7.7% | 1989 | $1,699 | 27.2% | 86.5% | 3.7% |
| Fort Walton Beach | 2.33 | 41.3 | 10.3% | 38.7% | 15.9% | 1976 | $1,554 | 33.0% | 90.1% | 3.5% |
| Cinco Bayou | 2.26 | 50.2 | 12.2% | 18.6% | 12.4% | 1981 | $1,668 | 48.4% | 95.1% | 3.3% |
| Ocean City | 2.21 | 39.1 | 11.5% | 40.2% | 15.3% | 1976 | $1,538 | 28.0% | 89.5% | 4.1% |
| Shalimar | 2.35 | 55.3 | 10.5% | 33.5% | 8.4% | 1984 | $1,914 | 46.2% | 97.1% | 1.1% |
| Lake Lorraine | 2.34 | 42.9 | 6.3% | 27.6% | 13.7% | 1982 | $1,691 | 47.9% | 94.4% | 2.4% |
| Navarre | 2.72 | 39.7 | 7.7% | 18.0% | 7.4% | 2002 | $1,936 | 35.8% | 95.3% | 3.5% |
| Eglin Afb | 3.02 | 27.1 | 11.7% | 92.8% | 5.9% | 2009 | $2,142 | 45.1% | 94.5% | 2.3% |
| Valparaiso | 2.27 | 39.2 | 7.7% | 33.5% | 9.2% | 1976 | $1,350 | 41.0% | 98.7% | 4.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Blanchard, OK · Wickliffe, OH · Whiting, IN · Bridgewater, NJ · Borger, TX · Bonifay, FL · Bluffton, IN · Bluff City, TN · Blue Ash, OH · Williamston, NC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Mary Esther. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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