What it's like to live in Fort Myers
Fort Myers is a smaller city in Florida with a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Fort Myers deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
How Fort Myers compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Fort Myers
Based on Fort Myers's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,160
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $63,200 a year
- 59% of Fort Myers renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$76,900
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $38,450
- Homes cost 6.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 12% above US
$1,580/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,580 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $384,500. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $384,500 · 59% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.4% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.4%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 35% above US
444 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1067/100k · Fort Myers Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
25 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 25.2 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 56°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 11% below US
32% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 32% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
30 public schools inside the boundary
There are 30 public schools inside the boundary and 8 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Big Cypress National Preserve (64 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Fort Myers's strongest point is a population that has grown fast since 2020; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,580/mo) equals 30% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Fort Myers
All Florida guides →Moving to North Fort Myers →
5 mi away · pop. 44,993
Rent $1,255/mo · Income $56,261
Compare with Fort Myers →Moving to Cypress Lake →
7 mi away · pop. 13,032
Rent $1,756/mo · Income $62,590
Compare with Fort Myers →Moving to San Carlos Park →
10 mi away · pop. 19,159
Rent $1,715/mo · Income $85,952
Compare with Fort Myers →Not sure Fort Myers is the one?
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