What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
If you're considering a move to Fort Myers, FL, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.
Fort Myers is a city in Lee County, Florida, with an estimated population of 99,918. It anchors the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metro area. The population has grown 3.7% per year on average between 2020 and 2024 — among the faster-growing communities in the state. The median home value in Fort Myers is $312,436 as of 2026-04, down 9.4% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +4.3% annual growth, and the market currently sits about 18% below its 5-year peak. Rents in Fort Myers average $1,756 per month, down 3.2% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 43 of 100 (Cooling). Buyers may find more room to negotiate; sellers should price realistically.
Prices have come off recent highs (-18.1% from peak). Buyers may have more room to negotiate; sellers should price realistically.
Reasons people move here
- People are voting with their feet: population growing 3.7% per year since 2020 — that's faster than ~80% of US cities.
- The data is the data: Fort Myers has at least 5 years of Zillow tracking, full Census identification, and is included in the 2-criteria momentum score on this page.
Things to know first
- Prices actively falling: down 9.4% in the last 12 months — buyer sentiment has flipped. Sellers competing on price.
- 18% off recent peak — buyers are getting through-the-cycle pricing, not the peak.
More about Fort Myers
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.