About
Beyond the forests and training areas of Eglin AFB lies the suburban community of Crestview. This city boasts a small town feel with all the basics (shopping, dining, errands) of day-to-day life. Affordable homes away from the tourist congestion of the beaches and the opportunity to stretch out on a piece of land are reasons to live in Crestview. The area is more forested than you would expect to find just 20 miles from the water. Families love the area for the desirable schools, abundant parks and playgrounds, and large houses. The quaint downtown is home to locally-owned shops and restaurants, and staples like Walmart and Publix (grocery store) are conveniently located in town.
Crestview lies just across Interstate 10 from Duke Field, making it a popular choice for those assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group. When 7th SFG relocated from North Carolina to Eglin’s Duke Field in 2011, Crestview was heavily marketed as the community of choice for the newcomers.
Neighbors
Crestview has a great mix of locals and military residents, with families and retirees being the norm. It’s a family-friendly town, with plenty of outdoor recreation activities for its active residents. You’ll find it has a “blue-collar” vibe, and a more local feel since it’s so far removed from the tourism centers.
Neighborhood Feel
Crestview has an “out in the country” feel to it, and the “Lower Alabama” moniker attributed to Northwest Florida applies in force here. There are an abundance of new developments that sprang up quickly after the announcement of 7th SFG’s move to the area. Many of the older homes are situated on a decent-sized piece of land. Homes here tend to be more affordable and easier to come by than in more competitive markets to the south. There are also plenty of choices for apartment-dwellers.
