The Fort Myers metro area: Lee County · Population 817,666 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Fort Myers area
Household size in the Fort Myers area
| Period | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.58 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.72 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.76 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.59 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.00 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
At 2.59 people per household, the Fort Myers area sits close to the national average of 2.65. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the southwest.
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 the Fort Myers area
| Period | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.0 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.2 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.3 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.5 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.5 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
The Fort Myers area skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 44.0, mirroring the country. Only one other large metro area is older.
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 the Fort Myers area
| Period | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.5% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in the Fort Myers area than nationally: 9.5%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 1.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. The Fort Myers area has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five large metro areas.
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 the Fort Myers area
Renters in the Fort Myers area
| Period | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.2% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.7% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.7% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.7% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in the Fort Myers area own their homes; 25.7% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. More than four in ten owners (44.4%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged up 0.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Few large metro areas have a lower share of renters: only five of 100.
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 the Fort Myers area
| Period | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.1% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.5% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 24.8% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.9% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −9.2 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in the Fort Myers area: 19.9% of homes are empty, 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. No other large metro area has a higher vacancy rate.
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 the Fort Myers area
| Period | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1991 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1992 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1993 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1997 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in the Fort Myers area is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1997, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1991 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the north. Only four of the 100 large U.S. metro areas 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 the Fort Myers area
| Period | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,077 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,041 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,298 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,840 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$763 | +$724 | +$606 |
A typical rental in the Fort Myers area costs $1,840 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $763 a month since 2006–10, up 71%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 35.7% of household income on rent, 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 north; the highest are in the southeast.
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 the Fort Myers area
Bachelor's degrees in the Fort Myers area
| Period | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.2% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.3% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.0% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.3% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in the Fort Myers area than nationally: 31.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.0 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the east.
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 the Fort Myers area
| Period | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.4% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.8% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.3% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.2% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in the Fort Myers area have finished high school as nationally: 90.2%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 the Fort Myers area
| Period | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.9 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in the Fort Myers area runs below the national rate: 4.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 5.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Largest cities in the Fort Myers area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Myers area (all) | 2.59 | 48.5 | 9.5% | 25.7% | 19.9% | 1997 | $1,840 | 31.3% | 90.2% | 4.1% |
| Cape Coral | 2.66 | 48.1 | 9.2% | 22.6% | 16.2% | 1998 | $1,955 | 26.6% | 93.0% | 4.1% |
| Lehigh Acres | 3.44 | 35.5 | 16.8% | 29.8% | 7.8% | 2000 | $1,705 | 14.8% | 81.6% | 4.3% |
| Bonita Springs | 2.21 | 60.9 | 4.1% | 17.8% | 32.1% | 2001 | $1,942 | 45.8% | 92.8% | 2.8% |
| North Fort Myers | 2.26 | 55.4 | 10.4% | 16.5% | 21.0% | 1986 | $1,496 | 23.0% | 87.6% | 5.0% |
| 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% |
| Iona | 1.78 | 67.1 | 2.4% | 26.2% | 42.6% | 1995 | $2,095 | 40.8% | 94.1% | 3.9% |
| Cypress Lake | 1.85 | 56.8 | 3.6% | 24.7% | 25.3% | 1988 | $1,752 | 34.5% | 93.2% | 4.1% |
| Villas | 2.06 | 53.1 | 12.2% | 36.2% | 19.9% | 1986 | $1,677 | 34.3% | 94.3% | 2.7% |
| Gateway | 2.58 | 48.3 | 6.9% | 11.4% | 17.2% | 2008 | $1,999 | 48.2% | 96.3% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Akron area · Des Moines area · Lakeland area · Little Rock area · Colorado Springs area · Boise area · Greensboro area · Stockton area · Charleston area · Dayton area
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 the Fort Myers area. 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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