Places › Florida › Fort Myers

Living in Fort Myers, FL

Suburb in Florida

Fort Myers is a suburb in Florida, home to about 92,000 people, with 886,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

Is Fort Myers a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Easy flying: RSW is 7 mi away
  • Strong healthcare: 2 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places
  • Low taxes: no state income tax, 1.04% property tax

👎 Cons

  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Fewer graduates: 32% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Smaller job market: about 886,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Fort Myers ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
92,000
886,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
77°F / 91°F
Average daily highs
3-bedroom home
$341k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,560/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
102
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
No income tax
State income tax per resident · 1.04% property tax
Safety
1.5× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
16 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly hurricanes, flooding
Top-rated hospitals
2
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
32%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
RSW
7 mi away

Living in Fort Myers: common questions

What is the cost of living in Fort Myers?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $341k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,560 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 102, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Fort Myers?

Florida has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 1.04% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Fort Myers safe?

Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.5× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Fort Myers?

Fort Myers is warm all year: winter days average around 77°F and summer days around 91°F.

Does Fort Myers get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from hurricanes and flooding: 16 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.35 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Fort Myers?

The nearest major airport is RSW, about 7 mi away.

How Fort Myers scores

Each bar compares Fort Myers with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban & suburban mix Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Some transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Nature nearby Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Warm all year Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Average cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Anonymous AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Good
💸Low taxes Good
💼Job market Below average
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Poor
🧸Kids & family Poor
🐕Dog-friendly Average
⛰️Outdoors Average
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety Moderate crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Good
🌤️Mild summers Below average
✈️Airport Excellent

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Is Fort Myers right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.