Is Fort Myers a good place to live?
If you fancy a city in Florida with affordable housing, stunning beach access, vibrant culture, and an excellent dining scene… the list is endless. Then, this part of the Sunshine State is the perfect place for you.
Being the gateway city to southwest Florida and home to 95,949 residents, there’s a lot to enjoy about living here. And the best part? No matter your age group, the city has something special for you.
Are you thinking of moving here? Considering it a bad or good decision? Honestly, it’s an excellent decision, so let’s help you get a clue of what happens in the City of Palms.
1. Above Average Cost of Living
While the cost of living is 9% above the national average, living in Fort Myers is considerably less expensive than its neighboring Miami-Dade County. Housing, utilities, and groceries might seem between 3 – 18% more expensive here, but it’s worth every penny.
Considering similar city sizes like Naples and Sarasota, Fort Myers offers a better price tag for home purchases and rents across most of its neighborhoods.
- Average House Rent: $1,927
- Median Home Value: $400,000
- Average Utility Bill (monthly): $378.42
Young professionals, families, senior citizens, and retirees love it here. The moving companies in Fort Myers would say you get the best parts of Miami but pay less for it, even though the average American might think of it as costly.
| Categories | National Average |
| Housing | 18% higher |
| Utilities | 3% higher |
| Healthcare | 4% higher |
| Groceries | 8% higher |
| Transportation | 8% higher |
2. Plenty of Employment Opportunities
If your career interests lie in the education, tourism, retail, or healthcare sectors, there are many job opportunities in Fort Myers. Of course, while these major employment industries offer openings for residents, the competition in the city remains high.
As a growing city, other sectors like manufacturing, construction, information technology, and finance-related services have begun offering prospective career paths for the locals. The City of Palms has a booming economy, and its job market reflects this development.
Lee Health, Publix, Lee County School District, Alico, and Florida Gulf Coast University are the biggest employers in the area.
- Median Household Income: $57,403
- Unemployment Rate: 3.6%
- Poverty Rate: 15.8%
3. Top Quality Educational Sector
Education is a big deal in the city, which makes living in Fort Myers with kids a favorite for families. Not only are there various schools across the neighborhoods to choose from, but they are mostly all Grade B+ rated in terms of academic excellence.
Whether you prefer public or private schooling for your school-aged kids, you can pick from the 90+ educational facilities in the district. Even those seeking higher institutions of learning have access to one of the best institutions in the state—Florida Gulf Coast University—on its shores.
A list of the highly rated schools to consider as first choices in Fort Myers include:
- Fort Myers High School
- Cypress Lake High School
- Gulf Middle School
- Florida SouthWestern State College
- Hodges University
4. Access to Great Healthcare
Is Fort Myers a good place to live if you have specific medical conditions? Yes, that is your answer!
The city has some of the best medical facilities and heads in the state. For instance, Lee Health is the largest healthcare provider in the city, and it offers a variety of medical specialties like cardiology, neurology, oncology, rehabilitation, diagnostic imaging, and intensive care.
Other major health providers in the area with excellent services in vast specialties are:
- Gulf Coast Medical Center
- Cape Coral Hospital
- HealthPark Medical Center
- Lee Health Complex Center
- Page Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
5. A Retiree’s Haven
Once you reach retirement age and Florida calls your name, you might want to turn your focus toward Fort Myers.
Aside from continuously being ranked as one of the places to retire in Florida—which is a plus—the city also has a large demographic of 65-84-year-old residents.
Moreover, moving to Fort Myers as a retiree offers many benefits: amazing warm weather, one of the best healthcare facilities, and no state income tax!
That’s right, being a retiree here means you can enjoy all your pensions, incomes, and social security benefits without taxes.
6. Expect Subtropical Climates
What is Fort Myers known for?
Depending on how you like your weather, you might just love it here. It’s the Sunshine State for a reason, so expect a lot of sun!
While in Fort Myers, expect to witness 271 sunny days all year long, with temperatures swinging between 54° and 92°. Although it’s mostly warm in the city, precipitation is still very much a thing—you can expect about 54 inches of rain annually.
Heavy snowfall is not a common occurrence in the winter months, from December to February, but you can witness mild cold/freezing temperatures ranging from mid 60° to low 70°.
7. Traffic Tends To Be Common
There are certain pros and cons of living in Fort Myers.
Traffic is usually a bonus attribute following most developing or heavily populated cities. Here in the City of Palms, it’s no different either, especially during the peak tourist seasons from January to April.
I-75, US-41, State Road 82, the Sanibel Causeway, and Matlacha Bridge, which connect nearby islands, are primarily congested highways in the city. If you are coming to Fort Myers with your car, you might want to be wary of these areas.
However, public transportation, like the LeeTran, makes it much easier to get around the city. It connects the city with Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Lehigh Acres, North Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, and Estero.
8. It’s A Golfer’s Paradise
If golfing is your thing or you want to learn, Fort Myers is the place to enjoy the best of the sport while in southwestern Florida. The city is home to about 50 golf courses; you don’t have to be an expert to try out any of them.
Golfers looking for a pristine experience with the sport can head over to Gulf Harbour Yacht and Country Club or the Eagle Ridge Golf Club for an amazing time.
The golf courses and clubs are excellent places to relax, pass the time, and meet the good residents in Fort Myers.
9. Outdoor Adventures is in Excess
There’s something unique about Fort Myers’s outdoor scene! It combines historic museums with community-shared festivals and plenty of attractive sites that draw thousands of tourists annually.
For instance, in spring, the Southwest Florida and Lee County Fair takes center stage of anticipated events, where locals get to enjoy loads of entertainment. Meanwhile, art lovers embrace the River District Art Walk and ArtFest, which showcase 200+ exhibits.
In case that’s not enough for you, there are plenty of exciting locations you should make quick stops while living here:
- Visit the Edison and Ford Winter Estates
- Explore the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
- Head over to Sanibel Island & Captiva Island
- Hike the Black Island trail with your family
- Check out the River District
10. The Best Neighborhoods to Live In
When looking for the best neighborhoods in Fort Myers, you need to consider a lot of factors. For instance, safety, easy access to basic amenities, and walkability are excellent markers for making a pick.
In terms of safety, Fort Myers has a relatively low crime rate. The chances of you falling victim to violent or property crimes are 1 in 52, making it safer than the average U.S. city.
Here’s a list of the best neighborhoods you can choose to live in while coming over to Fort Myers:
- Paseo — perfect for resort lovers
- Cypress Lake — best for golfers
- Buckingham — great for families
- Sanibel and Captiva Island — perfect for luxury lovers
- Pelican Preserve — ideal for retirees and the elderly
Summary
Is Fort Myers a good place to live? Should you bother coming here with your family?
The simple answer is yes! The city doesn’t discriminate, and everyone is welcome to enjoy all it offers. However, before you come, do your research, especially on its real estate market.
An extra thing to note: just like the state, Fort Myers is susceptible to hurricanes during the seasons from June to November, so you might want to have that in mind when making a final decision.
Good luck!
