East Milton is a community of rural landscapes and unlined roads east of the Blackwater River. Its population of just over 14,000 is expected to increase due to the wave of new housing popping up across the community. "It was once wide-open land, but now it's growing," says real estate professional Lisa Burns of Old Republic Home Protection. She grew up in Pensacola and lived in Milton. "There's not a whole lot of shopping yet. You still have to drive to get anything other than a Piggly Wiggly." Burns emphasizes the community retains its rural feel with friendly residents through its growth. "It's just beautiful and unique," she says. "You'll see horses and trails; it's amazing."
The largest industries in East Milton are the military, healthcare and agribusiness. Whiting Field Naval Air Station, about 10 miles north, is one of Santa Rosa County's largest employers.
The community of East Milton lies along the east bank of the sand-bottom Blackwater River.
East Milton is a beautiful and unique community with horses and trails throughout.
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A wave of new construction is sweeping across East Milton
The median home price in East Milton is about $347,000, around $50,000 under the national median. The market mainly consists of single-family homes and land. Homes built before 1950 are clustered near Blackwater River and Marquis Basin, and mid-century ranch-style homes are found across the community. The housing stock boomed in the 21st century; thousands of homes started to pop up across the city in contemporary subdivisions. New construction continues to sweep East Milton, and over 1,000 homes have been built since 2020.
There are many mid-century ranch-style homes found across the community of East Milton.
New construction continues in East Milton, and over 1,000 homes have been built since 2020.
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Santa Rosa County School District earns high remarks on Niche
Santa Rosa County School District scores an overall A-minus on Niche and serves over 30,000 students. In late 2024, the district was designated a Purple Start District due to its support of military-associated families. Pensacola State College's Milton Campus is about 5 miles west, offering baccalaureate and associate in science degrees.
Milton High School offers a great curriculum to its students.
Pensacola State College in Milton offers baccalaureate and associate in science degrees.
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Tubing in the Blackwater River
Blackwater River runs along the community's western end and feeds into expansive basins. "There are a lot of launches and boat ramps to access the water," Burns says. "They're canoeing, tubing and all kinds of stuff. When I was in high school, they had a tube float." According to the Trust for Public Land, 3% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. East Milton has two parks, including the 70-plus-acre East Milton Park. Multi-use fields, batting cages, and concession stands host sporting tournaments and recreational leagues here. The park is also home to the Santa Rosa County Fair, with iconic livestock shows and the North Florida Renaissance Faire.
Marquis Basin is a 62 acre lake located in beautiful East Milton, Florida.
Every year East Milton residents love to host the North Florida Renaissance Faire.
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Shopping at Piggly Wiggly or heading into downtown Milton
East Milton's few businesses pepper Highway 90 and State Route 87; Piggly Wiggly and Dollar General are the city's only grocery stores. There are a few spots to grab dinner in East Milton, but most eateries are west of Blackwater River in downtown Milton, including sandwich shops, bakeries, bars and bistros. Chain restaurants and a few big-box grocery stores are available outside downtown Milton. Downtown Milton is also home to Bands on the Blackwater, an annual concert series popular with East Milton residents.
East Milton residents can make a quick stop into Dollar General for conveniences.
Piggly Wiggly and Dollar General are the city of East Milton's only grocery stores.
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Flooding risks in Santa Rosa County
East Milton is about 25 miles inland from the coast, but it's still at risk for flooding in a hurricane or severe weather event. The National Risk Index reports a relatively high risk of expected annual loss for Santa Rosa County. According to First Street, East Milton is at risk of hurricanes and has an extreme wind factor. Summers are hot, and winters are mild; many days experience temperatures above 100 degrees.
East Milton is about 25 miles inland from the coast, but it's still at risk for flooding.
Summers are hot, and winters are mild, making baseball at East Milton park a breeze.
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Hopping on I-10 and heading into Pensacola
Three major highways cut through East Milton: U.S. Route 90, Interstate 10 and State Route 97. I-10 runs southwest toward Pensacola, about 25 miles away. Navarre Beach, one of the closest beaches, is about 25 miles south, and Santa Rosa Medical Center is about 5 miles west. Pensacola International Airport, 19 miles away, and Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, about 45 miles away, offer domestic and international flights.
Santa Rosa County's decrease in violent crime
Crime statistics specific to East Milton are not readily available, but Santa Rosa County saw a decrease in violent crime from 2022 to 2023.
Written By
Brennen Martin
Photography Contributed By
Gabrielle Mazur
Video By
Kyle Keyes
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Leigh Anne Clark,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in East Milton, FL sell after 25 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in East Milton, FL over the last 12 months is $284,400.
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