Living in Seaside
Robert Davis inherited 80 acres his grandfather had bought in 1946, and in 1981 he and his wife, Daryl, began building an old-fashioned beach town. Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk planned it after studying small Southern towns, and Seaside became one of the first towns built on the principles of New Urbanism. A 1984 Southern Living article helped bring it national attention, and Seaside was the setting for The Truman Show in 1998.
Central Square is within a five-minute walk of every home. Narrow streets keep traffic slow, white-sand footpaths connect homes to town, and the landscaping uses native plants only.
Homes and architecture
Seaside has about 300 homes along with its restaurants, shops, galleries and The Court, the town's hotel. Its houses and buildings were designed by architects including Léon Krier, Robert A. M. Stern, Steven Holl and Aldo Rossi, and Scott Merrill designed the Seaside Chapel.
Market snapshot
Source: Homes.com neighborhood data, as of October 18, 2026. Homes.com sets its own neighborhood boundaries. Ask Shannon for a current market report from the MLS.
Eat, shop and gather
Bud & Alley's has been on the Gulf in Seaside for more than three decades, and Great Southern Café, The Shrimp Shack, Pickle's Burger and Shakes, Taco Bar, The Daytrader Tiki Bar & Restaurant and The C-Bar are all in town. Airstream Row has The Meltdown on 30A, Wild Bill's Beach Dogs, Wild Nectar and 'drome, and Nigel's Bananas is the place for frozen bananas. Seaside hosts the Seeing Red Wine Festival in November, the Seaside School Half Marathon in February and a holiday parade down 30A to Central Square.
For every restaurant and shop from Destin to Inlet Beach, plus the area's events, see Shannon's Coastal Living guide.
Schools and health care
Seaside Neighborhood School, founded in 1996 as Florida's first charter school, is in town. Public schools serving South Walton include Dune Lakes Elementary, Van R. Butler Elementary, Emerald Coast Middle and South Walton High, and all four earned an A from the Florida Department of Education in 2026. Walton County was graded A for the ninth year in a row, tied for second among Florida's 67 school districts. Seaside School, the public charter made up of Seaside Neighborhood School and Seacoast Collegiate High School, serves grades 5 through 12 and also earned an A. School assignments depend on the address. Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast, on U.S. 98 in Miramar Beach, is the area's hospital, with a 24-hour emergency room that includes pediatric emergency care.
Questions about Seaside
When was Seaside, Florida built?
Construction began in 1981 on 80 acres Robert Davis inherited from his grandfather, who bought the land in 1946. Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk planned the town.
Was The Truman Show filmed in Seaside?
Yes. Seaside was the setting for The Truman Show, released in 1998.
How many homes are in Seaside?
About 300, along with restaurants, shops, galleries and The Court, the town's hotel.
What is the median home sale price in Seaside?
The median sale price was $2,625,000, down 10% from a year earlier, according to Homes.com on October 18, 2026. The average price per square foot was $1,945, and 9 homes were for sale.
Who can help me buy or sell a home in Seaside?
Shannon Baker, Broker Associate with The Agency | NW Florida Beaches, works with buyers and sellers in Seaside. She is licensed in Florida and Alabama and has more than $100 million in sales volume over the past five years. Call or text her at (850) 420-8678 or email shannon.baker@theagencyre.com.
