The Town FilesFort Myers Shores, Florida
Community in Lee County · population 5,774 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $292,900
- Household income
- $72,955
- Jan low / Jul high
- 54° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 37.6
Fort Myers Shores is a community of 5,774 people in Lee County, Florida. The median home is worth $292,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 85% of Florida towns, easier by car than 80% of Florida towns.
How Fort Myers Shores ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fort Myers Shores is worth $292,900, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $72,955, which is more affordable than 67% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,567 a month. 53.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Myers Shores | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $292,900 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,567 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $72,955 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 53.8% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.4% | — |
Who lives in Fort Myers Shores
| People | Fort Myers Shores | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.7% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.6% | 92.4% |
Weather in Fort Myers Shores
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 54.3°F. About 57.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 120 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Myers Shores since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 23, 1989 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 2, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 25, 2000.
Severe weather in Lee County since 1996
Lee County has been included in 45 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Lee County
Lee County had 299,283 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,578 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Fort Myers Shores itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Fort Myers Shores
1 public school with 966 students, about 34.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BABCOCK NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL (charter) | K-12 | 966 | 34.5 |
Towns near Fort Myers Shores
- Buckingham, FL4.7 mi · 4,443 people · home $431,100
- Tice, FL5.3 mi · 4,853 people · home $174,800
- North Fort Myers, FL6.3 mi · 42,719 people · home $161,800
- Alva, FL7.4 mi · 2,725 people · home $375,600
- Suncoast Estates, FL7.7 mi · 4,097 people · home $106,800
- Fort Myers, FL8.6 mi · 86,395 people · home $384,500
- Gateway, FL9.3 mi · 10,376 people · home $453,900
- Lehigh Acres, FL9.5 mi · 114,287 people · home $292,400
Fort Myers Shores questions
Is Fort Myers Shores, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Myers Shores scores better for retirees than 53% of Florida towns and quieter than 50%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Fort Myers Shores?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Myers Shores is valued at $292,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,955, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,567 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Myers Shores?
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 54.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Fort Myers Shores get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Myers Shores since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 23, 1989. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)