Fort Myers, FL Local Data & Statistics

State: FL

Total population: 95,051 Household income: $63,732 Rent: $1,580

Overview

Total population

95,051

Rent

$1,580

Year built

2001

Household income

$63,732

Per capita income

$41,476

Poverty rate

16.3%

Unemployment rate

3.3%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

59%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Florida

Total population

95,051

Adults over 25

69,457

Total households

38,364

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$63,732

Per capita income

$41,476

Poverty rate

16.3%

Unemployment rate

3.3%

Rent over 30% of income

59%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,580

Year built

2001

Households that rent

50.9%

Households that own

49.1%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.6

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

49.6%

Black

22.4%

Asian

Two or more races

19.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

24.8%

Not Hispanic or Latino

75.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

86.2%

Commute time to work

25 mins

Work from home

13.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

29.5%

High school graduate or GED

27.5%

Some college or associate degree

11%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

32%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Fort Myers, FL with: Florida United States

Fort Myers, FL

Total population95,051

Rent$1,580

Year built2001

Household income$63,732

Per capita income$41,476

Poverty rate16.3%

Unemployment rate3.3%

Florida State

Total population22,416,077

Rent$1,669

Year built1988

Household income$74,568

Per capita income$42,609

Poverty rate12.6%

Unemployment rate3.4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityFort Myers, FL	StateFlorida	CountryUnited States
Total population	95,051	22,416,077	334,922,499
Rent	$1,580	$1,669	$1,413
Year built	2001	1988	1980
Household income	$63,732	$74,568	$80,734
Per capita income	$41,476	$42,609	$44,673
Poverty rate	16.3%	12.6%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.3%	3.4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Fort Myers, FL, Florida and United States →

Summary for Fort Myers, FL

Fort Myers is located in Florida.

Rent & Income

In Fort Myers, the typical monthly rent is $1,580 and the typical household income is $63,732. Rent here is lower than Florida and higher than the U.S., and household income is lower than both Florida and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 16.3%, which is higher than in both Florida and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 50.9% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 59% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 32% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.3%, which is similar to Florida and lower than the national rate.

Fort Myers, FL — Rent vs Household Income

Fort Myers, FL — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Fort Myers, FL compares in Florida (59 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,580	10 / 59	from lower rent	$1,246 – $2,851
Household income	$63,732	42 / 59	from higher income	$46,195 – $139,825
Poverty rate	16.3%	48 / 59	from lower poverty	6.1% – 30.8%
Unemployment rate	3.3%	38 / 59	from lower unemployment	2.1% – 4.5%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Florida with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Fort Myers, FL

Rent

Rent prices put Fort Myers in 10th place among 59 large communities in Florida. Across Florida, rents range from $1,246 in Winter Haven, FL up to $2,851 in Weston, FL.

Household income

Looking at household income, Fort Myers places 42nd out of 59 significant areas. Incomes across Florida range between $46,195 in Gainesville, FL and $139,825 in Weston, FL.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Fort Myers ranks 48th out of 59 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 6.1% in Weston, FL to 30.8% in Gainesville, FL.

Unemployment rate

Fort Myers places 38th among 59 large communities for unemployment. Statewide figures run from 2.1% to 4.5%.

💰 Rent in Fort Myers, FL (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,580 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Fort Myers, FL

Annual Household Income: $63,732

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Fort Myers, FL

Estimated Rate: 16.3%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Fort Myers, FL

In Fort Myers, FL, households that rent: 19,539 (50.9%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	19,539	50.9%
Owner-Occupied	18,825	49.1%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Fort Myers, FL

In Fort Myers, FL, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 11,521 (59%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	11,521	59%
Other renter households	8,018	41%
Total renter households	19,539	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Fort Myers, FL

Less than High School: 20,510 people (29.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 19,090 people (27.5%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 7,632 people (11%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 22,225 people (32%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 69,457

📊 Unemployment Rate in Fort Myers, FL

Estimated Rate: 3.3%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Reading, PA94,836 Tracy, CA95,358 Sandy, UT94,723 Lawrence, KS95,459 Edmond, OK95,618 Deltona, FL95,682 Asheville, NC94,369 Palm Coast, FL94,362 Erie, PA94,156 San Marcos, CA94,078

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.