1st Advantage MortgageLee County households have a median income of $76,107 and median rent of $1,712 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
- A quick profile of Lee County
- Household income in Lee County
- How Lee County residents earn a living
- Rent, home values and ownership in Lee County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Lee County
- Who lives in Lee County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Lee County
- A Lee County household budget, worked through
- Lender oversight for Lee County
- Four steps for Lee County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Lee County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Lee County's population at 817,666; only 7 of Florida's 67 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 781 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1,047 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 39 places in the county (6 incorporated, 33 census-designated); the largest is Cape Coral, with about 215,536 residents, or 26% of the county.
Household income in Lee County
The median household income in Lee County is $76,107; statewide it is $74,568, so Lee County runs 2% above Florida as a whole.
| Band | Lee County | Compared with Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.0% | -1.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.3% | +1.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.0% | +0.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.7% | -0.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 37% of Lee County households make $100,000 or more, and 21% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 12.0%, 1 point lower than the state's 12.6%. A household earning below the $76,107 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Lee County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Lee County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (14%). Compared with Florida, the county leans toward construction (13% against 8%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.0% in Lee County. Long commutes are common here: 20% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 5.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Lee County share | +/- vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.0% | -1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.0% | -0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.5% | +1.6 pts |
| Construction | 12.6% | +4.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.3% | +0.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.2% | -0.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Rent, home values and ownership in Lee County
A typical Lee County rental runs $1,712 a month including utilities, which is 3% above Florida. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 60% of renter households here. Home values center on $362,200, or 4.8 years of median income. 74% of Lee County households own their home and 26% rent.
| Lee County | Florida | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,712/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $362,200 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 60% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 37% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.0% | 8.0% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Lee County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Charlotte County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Glades County, is 56 miles off. Income ranges from $45,870 in Glades County to $90,045 in Collier County; 2 of these neighbors top Lee County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County | - | $76,107 | $1,712/mo | 74% |
| Charlotte County, FL | 24 mi | $69,952 | $1,464/mo | 84% |
| DeSoto County, FL | 45 mi | $54,417 | $932/mo | 73% |
| Collier County, FL | 47 mi | $90,045 | $1,862/mo | 77% |
| Hendry County, FL | 51 mi | $56,393 | $1,003/mo | 74% |
| Sarasota County, FL | 53 mi | $83,416 | $1,818/mo | 77% |
| Glades County, FL | 56 mi | $45,870 | $886/mo | 85% |
Places inside Lee County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 39 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 91% of Lee County residents live in one of the 39. Verandah has the highest median household income on the list ($120,962) and Florida Gulf Coast University the lowest ($26,354), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Sanibel ($811) and steepest in St. James City ($2,829). 2 of them have a separate city guide (linked). For the rest, this is the local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | city | 215,536 | $78,104 | $1,858 | 6 mi |
| Lehigh Acres | CDP | 132,353 | $66,890 | $1,657 | 22 mi |
| Fort Myers | city | 95,051 | $63,732 | $1,580 | 10 mi |
| Bonita Springs | city | 55,904 | $95,210 | $1,882 | 19 mi |
| North Fort Myers | CDP | 44,993 | $56,261 | $1,255 | 14 mi |
| Estero | village | 37,858 | $104,102 | $1,920 | 15 mi |
| San Carlos Park | CDP | 19,159 | $85,952 | $1,715 | 12 mi |
| Villas | CDP | 13,644 | $58,413 | $1,695 | 7 mi |
| Iona | CDP | 13,631 | $66,827 | $1,913 | 3 mi |
| Cypress Lake | CDP | 13,032 | $62,590 | $1,756 | 5 mi |
| Gateway | CDP | 11,176 | $107,484 | $1,886 | 15 mi |
| McGregor | CDP | 8,490 | $104,788 | $1,762 | 4 mi |
| Lochmoor Waterway Estates | CDP | 6,511 | $97,667 | $2,014 | 7 mi |
| Sanibel | city | 6,418 | $108,644 | $811 | 11 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Who lives in Lee County, in numbers
Degree holders: 31% of adults over 25. 12.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Lee County | Florida statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.0 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.2% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.7% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.9% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.4% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.0% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Lee County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.6% |
| 60+ min | 9.7% |
Before borrowing in Lee County
What the Lee County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Hospital bills in Lee County. For the 13% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Keeping the car running. At 20% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Lee County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Fixed incomes. Lee County's median age is 49.0. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Renters under pressure. When 60% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
A Lee County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Lee County's medians:
- $76,107 a year is $6,342 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,712 uses 27%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $571 left for all other debt payments
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,015 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Lee County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Lender oversight for Lee County
Lee County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Florida: Florida personal loans.
Four steps for Lee County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Florida.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lee County household make?
About $76,107 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 2% above the Florida median.
How much is rent in Lee County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,712 a month; 60% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Lee County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 39 Census places: Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, North Fort Myers.
Will a Lee County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Florida as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Lee County?
Start with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.