$592,036Average Value$248Average Price per Sq Ft63Homes For Sale
Florida's friendly waterfront city
Niceville is perched between the Boggy and Rocky bayous, hugging the shores of Choctawhatchee Bay. It’s near Florida’s Emerald Coast beaches, about 15 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Named by the postmaster’s daughter in 1910, Niceville lives up to its name by having frequent charity events and fundraisers. “It’s not only about the beach and the water,” says Debbie Lewis, a Realtor with ERA American Real Estate who’s lived and sold homes here for 30 years. “It’s phenomenal how our community supports its residents.” John Sims Parkway bisects Niceville’s suburban neighborhoods; the north side has the city’s schools, retail shopping and government offices, and the south is predominantly residential. “We’re a huge military area,” Lewis says. Eglin Air Force Base is 8 miles away, and Niceville’s population of 16,600 grows by one percent each year as many military families stay here after retirement. “For a lot of people, once they get to Niceville, that’s it,” Lewis says. “They’re here to stay.” The city and county’s workforce is mostly Military, but additional employers in Okaloosa County include the Okaloosa County School District and the HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital.
Rocky Bayou Estates is a cozy neighborhood in the town of Niceville.
Eglin AFB is located minutes from Rocky Bayou Estates.
Rocky Bayou Estates lays just along the Choctawhatchee Bay great for boaters.
Okaloosa County Schools provide learning opportunities for students throughout Niceville.
HCA Twin Cities Hospital is the healthcare and emergency care provider for Niceville.
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Weekends at Crab Island
With the bayous, Bay and Gulf so close, it's no surprise that Niceville's residents love being on the water. The 20-acre Turkey Creek Nature Trail Park is popular for swimming, kayaking, and tubing; it also features a 1-mile raised boardwalk that winds through a floodplain forest. The city plans to build an aquatics center for competitive swimmers, and Destin and Okaloosa Island beaches are popular day trips.
Crab Island, a sandbar located in the harbor near Destin, is a local favorite. "You boat in and park in this gorgeous teal water that's only waist-deep," Lewis says. "There's a floating stage with live music and a restaurant where you can get a burger. It can be hard to navigate through the water because the boats are so thick." Everyone goes to Crab Island at the end of the week. "Everyone goes on a Saturday or Sunday to meet up with their friends or neighbors," says local Pat Williams, Realtor with ERA American Real Estate, who has sold homes across the region for 40 years. "It's the party place during the summer. Back in the day, you couldn't even get a boat in there if you wanted to."
Though operated by the base, Eglin Golf Course is open to the public. This Audubon Society golf course ranks as one of the military's best. The Rocky Bayou Country Club offers 18 holes on 115 acres, plus a restaurant for lunch.
Residents of Rocky Bayou Estates love a good game of golf.
Rocky Bayou Estates residents can visit Turkey Creek and trails for scenic adventures.
Rocky Bayou Estates residents can also bathe in the fresh waters of Turkey Creek.
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Boggy Bayou Fireworks Show and a developing downtown area
Niceville’s waterfront restaurants offer coastal favorites like fresh mahi and Gulf shrimp, plus staples like cheeseburgers and chicken wings. These restaurants are especially popular during the Boggy Bayou Fireworks Show, an annual Fourth of July celebration where the city launches fireworks from boats in the center of the bayou. Live performances are popular at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center, home to the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. While Niceville doesn’t have a central downtown, an area between John Sims Parkway and Bayshore Avenue is in its early stages of development and offers a walkable stretch of restaurants, shops and event space with water views. Big-box retailers like Walmart and Publix sit along John Sims Parkway.
The Mattie Kelly performing Arts Theater is a local favorite performance venue in Niceville.
The Mattie Kelly Arts Amphitheater hosts live performances in Niceville.
Publix is a local favorite for fresh produce and a large meat selection in Niceville.
Walmart is one of the many favorite shopping options in Niceville.
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Waterfront homes and 1980s bungalows
Most homes in Niceville are bungalows and ranch-style homes built after 1980. The median home price is $484,000, just above the national median. “We are pricey,” Lewis says. “It’s rare to find anything under $300,000.” Most of the city’s usable land is built up, so older homes are being demolished for new builds. Prices for a New Traditional home built in 2023 range from $383,000 for a three-bedroom to $1.4 million for a four-bedroom with private water access. Homes along the water are custom and sit on spacious lots full of towering pines and royal palms. Some midcentury homes are available just west of Cedar Avenue, and these range in price from $190,000 for a two-bedroom bungalow to $685,000 for a four-bedroom waterfront ranch-style home. Some condos are also available.
Custom homes on the water will sell quickly in Niceville.
Niceville has a variety of ranch style homes that are affordable and spacious.
Townhomes are plentiful and an affordable housing option in Niceville.
Many variations of Ranch style homes are found in Rocky Bayou Estates.
This Neoclassical style home sits on a spacious lot in Rocky Bayou Estates.
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Niceville High’s has robust music programs
The Okaloosa County School District scores an overall A-minus on Niche, which ranks it seventh best in Florida. Niceville High has a popular music program; the Eagle Pride Marching Band performed in the 2024 Tournament of Roses Parade at the Rose Bowl, and the concert and jazz bands consistently receive superior ratings at state-level performance assessments. Tenth through twelfth-grade students can attend the Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College. In this public charter school, students can earn an associate degree in arts or sciences with their high school diploma. Northwest Florida State College enrolls over 8,000 students and offers degrees in fields like nursing and project management.
Northwest Florida State College provide excellent education and employment opportunities.
Collegiate High School is located on the campus of Northwest Florida State College.
Niceville High School has an A grade on Niche and supports grades 9-12.
The Okaloosa County School District Complex is located in Niceville.
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Crime rates are lower than national and state averages
According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent crime rates in Niceville trend significantly lower than national and state rates. In October 2023, the violent crime rate for Niceville was zero. Property crime rates also trend much lower than Florida and United States averages.
Traffic on John Sims Parkway
Niceville is largely car-dependent, and the main road through the city is East John Sims Parkway. “Traffic can be bad,” Lewis says, “especially when the schools get out.” The Emerald Coast Rider bus makes a few stops in Niceville on its way to Fort Walton Beach, 13 miles away. Interstate 10 is 17 miles north, and Destin is a 17-mile trip south. The Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport has domestic commercial flights 5 miles away.
Flooding risks along Bayshore Drive
Niceville’s location near the Gulf Coast puts it at risk for hurricanes. Niceville is protected by the Choctawhatchee Bay, which puts some distance between it and the Gulf Coast beaches that endure the worst hurricane damage. The last time a hurricane caused significant damage in Niceville was in 2020 when Hurricane Sally caused flooding and downed power lines. Homes near Bayshore Drive in the city’s south have the most flooding risk, and 27% of the homes here are in a Special Flood Hazard Area. Homeowners here must purchase flood insurance and receive special permits for new construction. Winters here are mild, and summers are hot, with temperatures typically falling between 70 and 92 degrees.
Written By
Brennen Martin
Photography Contributed By
Kevin Willis
Video By
Nathan Allen
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Paul Domenech,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Niceville, FL sell after 46 days on the market compared to the national average of 56 days. The median sale price for homes in Niceville, FL over the last 12 months is $519,400, down 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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About 20 minutes from Eglin Airforce Base, Rocky Bayou Country Club Estates is a haven for golfers, outdoor enthusiasts, and the area's many current and former military personnel. Mature oak trees preside over all-brick homes and winding roads that wend their way through the titular Rocky Bayou Country Club. “I absolutely love it here,” says Tracy Wood, vice president of the homeowners association and a Realtor with NextHome Cornerstone Realty. “I love that it’s centrally located to everything. We’re in close proximity to the beaches and Choctawhatchee Bay, and we’re surrounded by three military bases. You can get to the gulf in less than 15 minutes, and we’re 45 minutes from 30A and all the little beach towns along there.”
Rocky Bayou Country Club is the heart of the neighborhood. The 18-hole championship course unfurls across 115 acres of rolling hills, spring-fed lakes and towering trees, creating a challenging yet satisfying level of play. “My husband and I are huge golfers, so we can drive golf carts and play golf every day,” says Vicky Leos, a resident and Realtor with Keller Williams Emerald Coast. “People walk and jog there in the early morning or evening, whenever the golfers aren’t there.” Nearby Choctawhatchee Bay is abundant with fish and wildlife, and it’s hard to make a trip without spotting at least one pod of dolphins. The neighborhood is about 13 miles north of Destin and U.S. Route 98, giving residents access to the pristine beaches of the Emerald Coast and the bouquet of coastal communities along Scenic Highway 30A. “We do staycations there in April and October when the tourists are gone,” Wood says.
Spacious lots, traditional masonry and tall trees are the hallmarks of Rocky Bayou. Several smaller subdivisions located within the estates, and most homes were built in the late 1980s and ’90s. Bigger is better in Rocky Bayou: Homes here are at least 2,000 square feet, sitting on lots of at least a quarter acre. Traditional and ranch-style homes often feature red brick exteriors, two-car garages and native plants. A four-bedroom all-brick home can range from $600,000 to $800,000, while similar homes with a pool or waterfront views can range from $650,000 to about $1 million. Most homeowners choose to participate in the homeowners association, which has a $150 annual fee.
Aside from the golf course, Rocky Bayou Country Club Estates is primarily residential, so residents hop on bordering roadways like College Boulevard, Forest Road and Rocky Bayou Drive to venture out. Rocky Bayou Drive connects to Interstate 20, which is a roughly 9-mile drive to Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport. Importantly, the estates are close to several military bases, including Eglin Airforce Base. “Most people are associated one way or another to the base, whether that’s former military members, civilians who work at the bases or active-duty personnel,” Leos says. “Probably 80% of Niceville residents are connected to the base.”
Kids can attend James E. Plew Elementary School before heading to C.W. Ruckel Middle School, both graded A-minus by Niche. Teens can graduate from Niceville Senior High School, graded A by Niche. The high school has been rated an A school by the Florida Department of Education and received numerous awards and designations, including the Five Star School Award and recognition as a Blue Ribbon National School of Excellence. High schoolers can earn national industry certifications through the career and technical education curriculum. The high school offers nine career and technical education programs, including culinary arts, information technology and practical nursing.
The neighborhood’s central location places residents within a stone’s throw of shopping and dining. Groceries are available at Publix just 2 miles away, while 3rd Planet Brewing serves up craft brews less than 3 miles away. “TradeWinds Italian is unbelievable,” Wood says. “They have the best Italian food, hands down.” Waterfront dining along Choctawhatchee Bay is a favorite among residents. Boats of all sizes dock at The Wharf 850 for fresh seafood and steaks. The Locals Eatery is an aptly named restaurant overlooking Boggy Bayou known for its welcoming atmosphere and American fare, while Doc’s Oyster Bar is a beloved dive bar and restaurant serving up fresh raw oysters in a lively atmosphere.
Florida is subject to the winds and rain of hurricanes and tropical storms. However, Leos says the community often escapes the worst of it. “The last few hurricanes have hit farther west toward Pensacola. We don’t get hit hard,” she says. “We have a lot of trees nearby, and trees can act like a barrier against strong winds.”
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
