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Living in
Lehigh Acres.
Lehigh Acres is an unincorporated community in Lee County, FL. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Lehigh Acres
Living in Lehigh Acres means joining one of Lee County's fastest-growing communities—114,287 people at last count and climbing steadily, which tells you something about affordability and opportunity in the area. The job market is solid with unemployment at 4.3%, though many residents commute west about 15 miles into Fort Myers for work, which averages 37 minutes depending on traffic—a trade-off you're making for that cost-of-living advantage. The community itself skews younger and family-oriented (median age 34.8, with 42% of households raising kids), and you'll notice a mix of backgrounds here, with about 16% speaking languages other than English at home.
Lehigh Acres at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.1%
Foreign-Born
31.0%
Broadband Internet
92.9%
of households
Population Growth
+3.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics31.0% foreign-born, most often from Cuba
Who lives in Lehigh Acres: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lehigh Acres, the largest foreign-born group is from Cuba (35.5%), and 41.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.4%
of residents
65 and Older
13.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
42.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.4%
of households
Married Couples
48.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.35
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for FL
Rent, home values, and income in Lehigh Acres
In Lehigh Acres, home values are 19% below the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
34.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
102.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,890
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2003
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $278,006 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above FL average
Unemployment in Lehigh Acres
Unemployment in Lee County, which includes Lehigh Acres, is 0.4 percentage points higher than the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Lehigh Acres: Lee County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Lee County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Lehigh Acres Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute38.2 min avg
How Lehigh Acres residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lehigh Acres, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 32% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 100 mi
Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Major hub15.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 43% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Lee County Sheriff's Office, which covers Lehigh Acres, runs 43% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
188.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
745.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Lee County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lee County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lee County, which includes Lehigh Acres, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Hail | None reported |
| 2024 | 10 | Tropical Storm | $155.1M |
| 2023 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8,000 |
| 2022 | 19 | Flood | $7010.1M |
| 2021 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $775,000 |
| 2020 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100.1M |
| 2019 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $645,000 |
| 2018 | 5 | Hail | $500,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lee County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lee County, which includes Lehigh Acres, is typically good — 279 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
279
per year
Moderate Days
86
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Lee County, county-wide
Climate91°F summers, 56°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lehigh Acres has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and warm winters (avg low 56°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
84°/63°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/75°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
86°/69°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
76°/56°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
62.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
119
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
171
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75°F | 54°F | 2.36" |
| Feb | 78°F | 56°F | 1.49" |
| Mar | 80°F | 59°F | 1.92" |
| Apr | 85°F | 64°F | 1.87" |
| May | 88°F | 68°F | 3.02" |
| Jun | 90°F | 73°F | 10.33" |
| Jul | 91°F | 75°F | 8.56" |
| Aug | 91°F | 76°F | 8.75" |
| Sep | 90°F | 75°F | 8.49" |
| Oct | 86°F | 70°F | 3.11" |
| Nov | 81°F | 63°F | 1.89" |
| Dec | 77°F | 58°F | 1.60" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lehigh Acres
Lehigh Acres has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
18.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Gulf Coast Medical Center Lee Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.7 mi away · Fort Myers
Lee Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.3 mi away · Fort Myers
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education22.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lehigh Acres
Lehigh Acres's student/teacher ratio is 22.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 14.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
14.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lehigh Acres (within 15 miles)
Florida SouthWestern State College
14.6 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 11,052 students · in-state tuition $3,401 · 36% graduate · median earnings $48,404 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Big Cypress National Preserve, 56 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lehigh Acres
Lehigh Acres has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Big Cypress National Preserve (56 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Big Cypress National Preserve
National Preserve
56 mi awayDe Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
88 mi awayEverglades National Park
National Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lehigh Acres
East County Regional Library
881 Gunnery Rd N, Lehigh Acres
Cities Near Lehigh Acres
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lehigh Acres?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lehigh Acres FAQ
Is Lehigh Acres, Florida affordable?⌄
Lehigh Acres's median rent is $1,657/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $66,890/year. Median home value is $292,400.
Is Lehigh Acres, Florida safe?⌄
Lehigh Acres is policed by the Lee County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 188 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 746 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lehigh Acres, Florida?⌄
Lee County, which includes Lehigh Acres, has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lehigh Acres, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Lehigh Acres is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,657/month and median household income is $66,890/year. The median home value is $292,400. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lehigh Acres, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Lehigh Acres is 38 minutes, which is significantly longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from