A laid-back beach town that's slowly starting to commercialize
Navarre's crystal quartz beaches were once known as 'Florida's Best Kept Secret,' but Travis Mattair says, "the secret has gotten out over the last few years." Mattair, a former Major League Baseball player and current owner/broker of Innerscope Realty LLC, says the quiet coastal town "started to get commercialized in the late 2010s." New shopping centers and restaurants have been popping up along U.S. Highway 98, and a brand-new hotel opened at the oceanfront. Despite the recent influx of tourists, “Navarre still has the same vibe" according to Levi Fortner, another local Realtor who heads up the Fortner Group in Pensacola. “It’s way more laid back and less touristy than nearby beach towns," Fortner says, "and people continue to move here specifically for that."
Navarre's recent commercialization has made tourism a pillar of the local economy, but "it's still a big military community," Mattair says. "We have five major military bases right around us," including Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field. So, he adds, "We get a lot of families moving in and out of the area." Navy Federal Credit Union is another large employer offering several hybrid and remote positions.
Navarre is a hidden gem in Florida, between Pensacola and Fort Walton.
Navarre is a big military community with five major military bases right around them.
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Bayside homes and beachfront condos and townhomes
The median sale price in Navarre is $440,000, about 10% above the national median. However, prices vary based on the home's location. Most houses on the mainland reflect a similar New Traditional ranch style, though some of the newest builds feature contemporary craftsman architecture. Larger homes along the golf course are usually more expensive, mostly ranging between $600,000 and $950,000. Waterfront homes along the bay and sound side typically fall within the $750,000 to $1.25 million range. The most expensive properties are found along the oceanfront in Navarre Beach. Condos and townhomes here can cost anywhere from $475,000 to $1.5 million, while single-family homes range up to almost $4 million.
Navarre offers a great lifestyle to people who love the waterfront and beach life.
You will find condominium buildings of varying heights to give you amazing views.
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Secluded Gulf Coast beaches and fishing in the Santa Rosa Sound
Navarre's powder-like beaches stretch for 12 miles along the Gulf Coast. Santa Rosa National Seashore abuts the beach's west end, making the area feel much more secluded than its Emerald Coast neighbors. "Pensacola Beach is so developed and crowded, so a lot of times we like to go to the parks in Navarre because it's usually way less crowded," Caddell says. The main public beach access is located right off the causeway at Navarre Beach Marine Park. The park extends across 150 acres, linking the oceanfront to the calmer Santa Rosa Sound. The Navarre Beach Fishing Pier measures over 1,500 feet, the longest in Florida. On the mainland, Navarre Park has a smaller pier for sound-side fishing. It also features a waterfront playground, a splash pad and a large picnic pavilion. Anyone can pay to play on the golf course at The Club at Hidden Creek. The community baseball leagues practice at the Navarre Sports Complex, while soccer players head about 2 miles east to the Navarre United Futbol Club.
Navarre has the perfect bay view for its visitors.
Lake Lorraine Estates makes it easy for residents to go fishing in the Choctawhatchee Bay.
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Annual events occur at Navarre Beach Marine Park
Navarre Beach Marine Park isn't just for recreation. It also hosts some of the city's most popular annual events, including the Fourth of July fireworks show and the Navarre Beach Mardi Gras Parade. Community volunteers at the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center organize beach clean-up days throughout the year.
Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center is home to rescued green sea turtle Sweet Pea.
Volunteers care for their pristine beaches in Navarre, Florida.
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Big box stores, waterfront restaurants and micro breweries
Big box stores, fast food chains and a couple of small shopping centers border both sides of Navarre Parkway. Some locally owned businesses are scattered in between. There's fresh Gulf shrimp at the Navarre Seafood Market and handspun milkshakes next door at Tops Burgers. TC's Front Porch serves breakfast, lunch and dinner right across from Navarre Park. Just off the highway, some waterfront restaurants with outdoor patios overlook the Santa Rosa Sound. One of the city's newest businesses, St. Michael's Brewing Company, opened along Florida State Road 87 in 2020. Though most shopping and dining options are on the mainland, Navarre Beach has a couple of popular restaurants and bars right on the beach.
Publix is always a favorite for grocery shopping, even in Navarre.
Dollar General in Navarre.
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Students can attend Santa Rosa County Schools
Navarre is part of the Santa Rosa County School District, which earns an A-minus on Niche. The district includes 41 schools, serving a combined 30,000 students. There are two elementary and intermediate schools, one middle school and one high school in Navarre. Navarre High is the largest high school in the district, with about 2,400 students in 2024. According to Niche, it also ranks as the second-best high school in Santa Rosa County.
Holley Navarre primary School provides a safe learning environment to Navarre.
Navarre High school has an excellent curriculum for its students in Navarre.
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Recent commercialization has increased traffic on Highway 98
Florida State Road 87 and U.S. Highway 98 are the two main routes in Navarre. U.S. 98, or Navarre Parkway, is a two-lane road with designated bike lanes. As the city's population grows, traffic continues to increase along this road, so "you're starting to see a lot more people bike in the summertime," says Caddell. To access the Gulf Coast, folks follow the Navarre Beach Causeway across the Santa Rosa Sound. "A lot of people commute to work because we have such a huge concentration of military bases around here," Caddell says. Hurlburt Field is about 10 miles east of Navarre, and Eglin Air Force Base is just another 13 miles down the road. Emerald Coast vacationers fly into the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, which offers direct flights to 29 major U.S. cities.
Environment and Crime
Navarre gets approximately 230 days of sunshine each year. Still, its position along Florida's Panhandle puts it at high risk during hurricane season. "Our local officials are really good about staying ahead of storms," Caddell says. "They set up sandbag filling stations at parks and major traffic areas if we look like we'll be impacted by the storm." The city's sandbag filling station is located right off U.S. Highway 98 at Navarre Park.
Crime statistics specific to Navarre are not currently available, but FBI data shows that Santa Rosa County has seen a steady decline in violent and property crimes since 2021. Both rates fall far below the national and state averages.
Written By
Ryan Horton
Photography Contributed By
Gabrielle Mazur
Video By
Kyle Keyes
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Better Homes And Gardens Real Estate Main Street Properties
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