1st Advantage MortgageCollier County households have a median income of $90,045 and median rent of $1,862 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Collier County
- Renting and owning in Collier County
- What Collier County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Collier County
- Collier County and the counties next door
- Places inside Collier County
- Room for a loan payment in Collier County
- Who lives in Collier County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Collier County
- Lender oversight for Collier County
- Steps before you apply in Collier County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Collier County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Collier County's population at 398,291; only 18 of Florida's 67 county-level areas are larger. It covers 1,997 square miles of land, or about 199 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Naples-Marco Island, FL metropolitan area. Of the 24 Census places inside Collier County, Golden Gate leads by population with about 29,234; 3 of the 24 are incorporated.
Renting and owning in Collier County
A typical Collier County rental runs $1,862 a month including utilities, which is 12% above Florida. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 63% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $540,700, about 6.0 times the median household income. 77% of Collier County households own their home and 23% rent.
| Housing | Collier County | Florida statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,862/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $540,700 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 63% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 42% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.4% | 8.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 31% | 15% | n/a |
Because most Collier County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
What Collier County households earn
Collier County households have a median income of $90,045 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 3rd of 67 in Florida.
| Household income | Collier County | vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.5% | -4.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.0% | -4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.6% | +1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 18.0% | +7.0 pts |
Some 17% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 46% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 10.7%, 2 points lower than the state's 12.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.534 here. For a borrower in Collier County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Work, industries and travel time in Collier County
The biggest employer of Collier County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 17% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (15%). Compared with Florida, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (14% against 11%). The survey's unemployment rate for Collier County averages 3.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). About 69% drive to work alone and 15% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 4.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Collier County | Compared with Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 17.4% | -3.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.4% | +1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 13.6% | +2.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 10.6% | +2.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 9.2% | +1.1 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Collier County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Collier County's, from 33 to 66 miles away. Income ranges from $45,870 in Glades County to $87,738 in Monroe County; none of these neighbors top Collier County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collier County | - | $90,045 | $1,862/mo | 77% |
| Hendry County, FL | 33 mi | $56,393 | $1,003/mo | 74% |
| Monroe County, FL | 44 mi | $87,738 | $1,999/mo | 66% |
| Lee County, FL | 47 mi | $76,107 | $1,712/mo | 74% |
| Broward County, FL | 58 mi | $77,633 | $1,907/mo | 64% |
| Glades County, FL | 59 mi | $45,870 | $886/mo | 85% |
| Miami-Dade County, FL | 66 mi | $71,753 | $1,829/mo | 52% |
Places inside Collier County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 24 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 39% of Collier County residents live in one of the 24. Incomes vary by place: $163,520 at the median in Pelican Bay, $48,144 in Immokalee. Live in one of these Collier County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Gate | CDP | 29,234 | $68,475 | $1,713 | 19 mi |
| Immokalee | CDP | 26,361 | $48,144 | $941 | 21 mi |
| Naples | city | 19,704 | $153,182 | $2,305 | 25 mi |
| Marco Island | city | 16,205 | $101,523 | $1,990 | 23 mi |
| Lely Resort | CDP | 8,582 | $93,750 | $2,078 | 19 mi |
| Ave Maria | CDP | 8,258 | $102,949 | $2,425 | 14 mi |
| Pelican Bay | CDP | 6,159 | $163,520 | $3,420 | 27 mi |
| Orangetree | CDP | 6,084 | $112,857 | $1,399 | 16 mi |
| Naples Manor | CDP | 5,501 | $64,937 | $1,499 | 20 mi |
| Naples Park | CDP | 5,122 | $80,039 | $2,233 | 27 mi |
| Vineyards | CDP | 3,849 | $131,118 | $1,173 | 22 mi |
| Lely | CDP | 3,804 | $69,846 | $2,347 | 20 mi |
| Island Walk | CDP | 2,722 | $81,103 | $1,833 | 21 mi |
| Verona Walk | CDP | 2,695 | $66,411 | $2,335 | 17 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Collier County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Collier County's medians:
- $7,504 a month: gross income for a household at the Collier County median
- Median rent: $1,862, or 25 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $839 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 43% cap, $3,227 total minus rent leaves $1,365
If your rent is above $1,862, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in Collier County, in numbers
College graduates make up 40% of the adult population. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Collier County | Florida statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.3 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 40.3% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.0% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.3% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.4% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Collier County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.1% |
| 60+ min | 7.1% |
Borrowing situations common in Collier County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Collier County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Collier County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Fixed incomes. Collier County's median age is 53.3. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Higher earners. 46% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Renters under pressure. When 63% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Lender oversight for Collier County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Collier County borrowers answers to the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Florida state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Collier County
A short checklist for Collier County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Collier County-area credit union.
- A Florida license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Collier County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Florida guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Collier County?
$90,045 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,568 for Florida. It ranks 3rd of 67 in the state.
How much is rent in Collier County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,862 a month; 63% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Collier County?
By population: Golden Gate, Immokalee, Naples, Marco Island, Lely Resort. The county has 24 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Collier County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Collier County check a lender's license?
With the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.