Population 6,419 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sanibel
Household size in Sanibel
| Period | Sanibel | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.88 | 2.58 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.93 | 2.72 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.99 | 2.76 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.07 | 2.59 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.18 | +0.00 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Sanibel are small: just 2.07 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has climbed from 1.88 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Of the 512 Florida cities with 5,000+ people, only 42 have smaller households.
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 Sanibel
| Period | Sanibel | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 63.6 | 44.0 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 63.6 | 46.2 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 66.6 | 48.3 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 65.0 | 48.5 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +4.5 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 65.0, Sanibel is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 63.6, in line with the national trend. Only 19 of the 512 Florida cities with 5,000+ people are 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 Sanibel
| Period | Sanibel | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.9% | 11.1% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 2.5% | 12.0% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 10.2% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 9.5% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Sanibel: 6.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 3.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Sanibel has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Florida cities.
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 Sanibel
Renters in Sanibel
| Period | Sanibel | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 25.2% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 30.7% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.5% | 27.7% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 25.7% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | +0.5 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 10.1% of households in Sanibel rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About six in ten owners (60.4%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.4 points, even as the national share rose. Of the 512 Florida cities with 5,000+ people, only 29 have a lower share of renters.
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 Sanibel
| Period | Sanibel | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.4% | 29.1% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 49.8% | 29.5% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 49.7% | 24.8% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 55.9% | 19.9% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | −9.2 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Sanibel: 55.9% 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 7.5 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 Sanibel
| Period | Sanibel | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1991 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1992 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1993 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1997 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Sanibel are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. Even so, homes here are older than in the Fort Myers area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1997. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Sanibel
| Period | Sanibel | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,169 | $1,077 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,171 | $1,041 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,015 | $1,298 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $806 | $1,840 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | −$362 | +$763 | +$724 | +$606 |
Rent in Sanibel runs $806 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has fallen $362 a month since 2006–10, down 31%, even as the national median rose. Rent takes 22.8% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Only ten of the 512 Florida cities with 5,000+ people have lower rents.
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 Sanibel
Bachelor's degrees in Sanibel
| Period | Sanibel | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 58.0% | 24.2% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 63.4% | 25.3% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 61.3% | 28.0% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 63.9% | 31.3% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +7.0 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
Sanibel is highly educated: nearly two-thirds of adults 25 and older (63.9%) 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 6.0 points, as it has nationally. Only 12 of the 512 Florida cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Sanibel
| Period | Sanibel | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.9% | 86.4% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.9% | 86.8% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.7% | 88.3% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 99.3% | 90.2% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +3.7 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Sanibel: 99.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Sanibel has the highest share of high school graduates of any Florida city with 5,000+ people.
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 Sanibel
| Period | Sanibel | Fort Myers area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.2% | 9.9% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 11.8% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.6% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −5.9 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.6%, unemployment in Sanibel is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in the Fort Myers area overall (4.1%). Unemployment is up 1.4 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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).
Sanibel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanibel | 2.07 | 65.0 | 6.6% | 10.1% | 55.9% | 1985 | $806 | 63.9% | 99.3% | 5.6% |
| St. James City | 2.07 | 64.3 | 7.6% | 9.1% | 51.6% | 1986 | $2,911 | 23.6% | 97.3% | 13.7% |
| Iona | 1.78 | 67.1 | 2.4% | 26.2% | 42.6% | 1995 | $2,095 | 40.8% | 94.1% | 3.9% |
| Captiva | 1.48 | 37.1 | 7.7% | 0.0% | 97.6% | 1987 | $1,712 | 71.8% | 72.9% | 0.0% |
| Fort Myers Beach | 1.90 | 67.8 | 1.0% | 10.3% | 61.5% | 1985 | $1,732 | 39.5% | 97.2% | 2.8% |
| Cypress Lake | 1.85 | 56.8 | 3.6% | 24.7% | 25.3% | 1988 | $1,752 | 34.5% | 93.2% | 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% |
| Coconut | 2.35 | 58.3 | 7.2% | 20.3% | 31.3% | 2002 | $2,834 | 49.4% | 93.5% | 1.2% |
| Villas | 2.06 | 53.1 | 12.2% | 36.2% | 19.9% | 1986 | $1,677 | 34.3% | 94.3% | 2.7% |
| San Carlos Park | 2.86 | 37.6 | 10.4% | 26.4% | 11.9% | 1988 | $1,796 | 27.2% | 90.2% | 2.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Kiel, WI · Kountze, TX · Kingston, GA · Kingsford, MI · Kings Point, NY · Kingfisher, OK · Kiln, MS · Killingworth, CT · Kildeer, IL · La Verkin, UT
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 Sanibel. 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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