Fort Myers

Downtown Fort Myers comes alive in the nighttime, painted with vintage neon signs.
East Fort Myers enjoys the liveliness of neighboring Downtown Fort Myers.
The iconic mural wall in East Fort Myers displays bits of Fort Myers history in a colorful way.
Boaters can enjoy access to both Downtown Ft Myers and the Gulf via the Caloosahatchee River.

Fort Myers, FL Area Guide

Avg Rent

$1,528

Population

104,192

Renter Mix

49% Rent

Uncover historical gems in this tropical oasis

Riverside Tropical Peaceful Convenient Historic Artistic

Welcome to Fort Myers, where palm-lined streets and sunshine create an inviting atmosphere in Southwest Florida. This historic "City of Palms" offers varied housing options, from downtown apartments averaging $1,608 for one-bedroom units to suburban communities with two-bedroom homes around $1,880 monthly. The rental market has seen rates decline by about 2.9% over the past year. The Dean Park Historic District preserves beautiful vintage homes, while the Edison Park area sits near the Edison and Ford Winter Estates.

Downtown Fort Myers centers on the River District, where preserved architecture houses local shops and dining spots. The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium offers 105 acres of natural Florida landscape to explore, while the Edison and Ford Winter Estates provides glimpses into the area's fascinating past. The Florida Repertory Theatre, located in the historic Arcade Theater, continues the cultural legacy of downtown. Florida SouthWestern State College adds to the community's educational resources. With over 86,000 residents, Fort Myers combines historic charm with easy access to Southwest Florida's beaches, parks, and waterways.

Explore the City

Boaters can enjoy access to both Downtown Ft Myers and the Gulf via the Caloosahatchee River.

The iconic mural wall in East Fort Myers displays bits of Fort Myers history in a colorful way.

East Fort Myers enjoys the liveliness of neighboring Downtown Fort Myers.

Water activities such as paddle boarding and boating are popular along the Caloosahatchee River.

Demographics

Median Household Income

$56,426

Average: $81,828

Education

28,800

Residents Have a Degree

Job Market

44,392

Workers Employed

Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.

Median Age

42 Years

Largest Age Group

30-39 Years

Approximately 14% of Residents

Under 20

21%

Over 65

24%

Housing Distribution

In Fort Myers, there are roughly the same number of renters and homeowners.

Renters
49%
Non-Renters
51%

Education Distribution

Review this city's overall education levels.

Bachelor's or Higher
24%
Other Education
76%

Rent Trends

As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Fort Myers, FL is $1,430 for a studio, $1,529 for one bedroom, $1,779 for two bedrooms, and $2,216 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Fort Myers has decreased by -4.5% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,529/month
761 Sq Ft
House
$3,209/month
1,672 Sq Ft
Condo
$2,569/month
1,176 Sq Ft
Townhome
$2,117/month
1,227 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Fort Myers, FL

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Fort Myers, FL is 1.2% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Fort Myers is 11.9% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,442 - $2,213. You can expect to pay 4.2% more for groceries, 1.3% more for utilities, and 3.1% more for transportation.

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Getting Around

Fairly Walkable

Walkability

40 / 100

Limited Public Transit

Transit

30 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Moderately Bikeable

Bikeability

70 / 100

Schools

Three Oaks Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

910 Students

Tanglewood Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

617 Students

Rayma C. Page Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

643 Students

Heights Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

988 Students

Gateway Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

829 Students

Three Oaks Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

1,084 Students

Cypress Lake Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

790 Students

Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

1,055 Students

Lee County Virtual Franchise

Public

Grades PK-12

761 Students

Oak Hammock Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

1,176 Students

Florida SouthWestern Collegiate HS-Lee

Public

Grades 9-12

413 Students

Fort Myers High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,760 Students

Cypress Lake High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,328 Students

Gateway High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,145 Students

Riverdale High School

Public

Grades 9-12

2,051 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium
  • Imaginarium Hands-On Museum & Aquarium
  • Edison and Ford Winter Estates
  • Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve
  • Jaycee Park

Airports

  • Southwest Florida International
  • Punta Gorda

Top Apartments in Fort Myers

Houses for Rent in Fort Myers

Property Management Companies in Fort Myers, FL

Living in Fort Myers

Restaurants

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You would expect seafood to be a prominent item on many restaurant menus. In fact, tasty seafood items are a specialty of a number of well-known Fort Myers eateries, including University Grill, Prawnbrokers and Pincher’s Crab Shack. The Stonewood Grill and Tavern is a popular spot for both seafood and steaks. A number of ethnic and specialty eateries are also available.

Transportation

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Fort Myers has its own public transportation bus lines that travel to many of the most popular malls and areas of the city. A number of taxi companies also provide transportation throughout the area. Car rental agencies are located at the Southwest Florida International Airport, as well as other locations around the city. The airport houses terminals from American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines JetBlue, AirTran, U.S. Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Westjet. Small commuter flights generally use Page Field, located within the city limits.

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.