Population 43,998 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Estero
Household size in Estero
| Period | Estero | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.30 | 2.58 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.32 | 2.72 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.33 | 2.76 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.35 | 2.59 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | +0.00 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Estero is a place of small households, averaging 2.35 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.30, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the south.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Estero
| Period | Estero | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.7 | 44.0 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 51.5 | 46.2 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 56.4 | 48.3 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 54.2 | 48.5 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.5 | +4.5 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
Estero skews older: half of its residents are older than 54.2, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has crept up from 53.7 in 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Estero
| Period | Estero | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 11.1% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.5% | 12.0% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 10.2% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 9.5% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 4.9% of households in Estero, well below the national share of 11.6%. Of the 512 Florida cities with 5,000+ people, only 49 have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Estero
Renters in Estero
| Period | Estero | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 25.2% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.3% | 30.7% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.9% | 27.7% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 13.5% | 25.7% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +0.5 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Estero is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 13.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About half of owners (49.1%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 1.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Estero
| Period | Estero | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.9% | 29.1% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 43.5% | 29.5% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 37.4% | 24.8% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.3% | 19.9% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −13.6 pts | −9.2 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 27.3% of the housing in Estero, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 13.6 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Estero
| Period | Estero | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1998 | 1991 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 2000 | 1992 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 2002 | 1993 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2008 | 1997 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Estero is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2008, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1998 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the northwest has the oldest housing. Only 18 of the 512 Florida cities with 5,000+ people have newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Estero
| Period | Estero | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,244 | $1,077 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,278 | $1,041 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,569 | $1,298 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,260 | $1,840 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,016 | +$763 | +$724 | +$606 |
The median renter in Estero pays $2,260 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,016 a month from 2006–10, an 82% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 33.1% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Estero
Bachelor's degrees in Estero
| Period | Estero | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.0% | 24.2% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 42.5% | 25.3% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.8% | 28.0% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 50.3% | 31.3% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.3 pts | +7.0 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Estero is highly educated: about half of adults 25 and older (50.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 10.3 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the northwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Estero
| Period | Estero | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.5% | 86.4% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.4% | 86.8% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.9% | 88.3% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.0% | 90.2% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +3.7 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Estero: 98.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 5.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only 12 of the 512 Florida cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Estero
| Period | Estero | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 9.9% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 11.8% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.7 pts | −5.9 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Estero than nationally: unemployment was 3.4%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 5.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Estero compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estero | 2.35 | 54.2 | 4.9% | 13.5% | 27.3% | 2008 | $2,260 | 50.3% | 98.0% | 3.4% |
| San Carlos Park | 2.86 | 37.6 | 10.4% | 26.4% | 11.9% | 1988 | $1,796 | 27.2% | 90.2% | 2.9% |
| Coconut | 2.35 | 58.3 | 7.2% | 20.3% | 31.3% | 2002 | $2,834 | 49.4% | 93.5% | 1.2% |
| Bonita Springs | 2.21 | 60.9 | 4.1% | 17.8% | 32.1% | 2001 | $1,942 | 45.8% | 92.8% | 2.8% |
| Fort Myers Beach | 1.90 | 67.8 | 1.0% | 10.3% | 61.5% | 1985 | $1,732 | 39.5% | 97.2% | 2.8% |
| Villas | 2.06 | 53.1 | 12.2% | 36.2% | 19.9% | 1986 | $1,677 | 34.3% | 94.3% | 2.7% |
| Cypress Lake | 1.85 | 56.8 | 3.6% | 24.7% | 25.3% | 1988 | $1,752 | 34.5% | 93.2% | 4.1% |
| Gateway | 2.58 | 48.3 | 6.9% | 11.4% | 17.2% | 2008 | $1,999 | 48.2% | 96.3% | 4.5% |
| Fort Myers area | 2.59 | 48.5 | 9.5% | 25.7% | 19.9% | 1997 | $1,840 | 31.3% | 90.2% | 4.1% |
| McGregor | 2.31 | 55.5 | 5.5% | 20.5% | 22.6% | 1981 | $1,743 | 52.8% | 97.1% | 4.2% |
| Whiskey Creek | 2.36 | 55.4 | 1.2% | 9.6% | 18.0% | 1980 | $2,226 | 41.5% | 97.2% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Milledgeville, GA · Ringgold, GA · Portage, IN · Oswego, IL · Orangeburg, SC · Old Bridge, NJ · Ocean Springs, MS · New Smyrna Beach, FL · Mount Pleasant, MI · Rome, NY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Estero. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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