Best fit: Space per dollar, new construction, Santa Rosa schools.
Two towns, one school district
Pace is the newer, denser residential community along US-90 with master-planned subdivisions such as Stonebrook and Woodbine. Milton, eight to ten minutes east, is the Santa Rosa County seat with a historic downtown on the Blackwater River and a more rural feel. Both share the Santa Rosa County School District.
Homes and prices
Entry-level Pace homes trade in roughly the $250,000 to $290,000 range, with Stonebrook and Woodbine at $310,000 to $360,000 and larger new builds above that. Milton's ZIP 32570 carried a Zillow Research typical home value of $279,289 as of August 1, 2026, and its historic core mixes 1900s cottages with new subdivisions on the edges.
Getting around
Pace is about 15 minutes from NAS Whiting Field and Milton 10 to 15 minutes via SR-87. Milton to NAS Pensacola runs 30 to 40 minutes depending on route and traffic, and both towns reach I-10 quickly for trips east or into Pensacola.
New construction notes
Builder contracts, incentive-tied lenders and post-close warranty claims are where new-construction buyers need representation most. We read the builder contract before you sign, order an independent inspection at pre-drywall and final, and negotiate the closing-cost incentives against the real rate rather than the advertised one.
Schools
Pace High and Thomas L. Sims Middle hold Florida A grades for 2026 and S.S. Dixon Intermediate a B; Milton High holds a B. Santa Rosa County is one of the strongest districts on the Gulf Coast, and zoning depends on the specific address.
- Pace High School 2026 grade: A
- Thomas L. Sims Middle School 2026 grade: A
- S. S. Dixon Intermediate School 2026 grade: B
- Milton High School 2026 grade: B
- Hobbs Middle School 2026 grade: B
School letter grades are the official 2026 Florida Department of Education grades. Zoning is set by the district and can change; confirm the assigned schools for any specific address with the county school district before you buy. See all Escambia and Santa Rosa school reports.
Flood and insurance
Most subdivisions sit on Zone X high ground; parcels along the Blackwater and Escambia rivers and their creeks can be Zone AE. Pull the determination on any lot near water.
Florida homeowners insurance is priced on roof age, wind mitigation and the flood zone, so we pull both quotes during the inspection period, never after closing. Read our Florida home insurance guide for the details.
Moving here on military orders?
Pace & Milton has a second guide written for PCS families, with BAH price bands by pay grade, commute times to each gate and the VA loan specifics: Pace & Milton for military families on PensacolaMilitaryHousing.com, the military division of the same team.
Start your search
Tell us what you are looking for in Pace & Milton and your timeline, and you will have a plain-language plan within one business day: current inventory, the streets that fit, what to inspect, and the insurance picture before you write an offer.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pace or Milton closer to Pensacola?
Pace, by about eight to ten minutes. Milton to NAS Pensacola is 30 to 40 minutes; Pace sits closer to the Escambia County line and to I-10.
What do homes cost in Pace?
Entry-level homes trade around $250,000 to $290,000; Stonebrook and Woodbine run $310,000 to $360,000, with larger new builds above that.
Are Pace schools A-rated?
Pace High and Thomas L. Sims Middle earned Florida A grades on the 2026 FLDOE report; S.S. Dixon Intermediate earned a B. Confirm zoning for a specific address with Santa Rosa County Schools.
What is different about buying new construction?
The builder writes the contract and often ties incentives to its lender. We review the contract, schedule independent inspections at pre-drywall and final, and price the incentives against the real interest rate.
Back to the Pensacola neighborhoods guide.