The Town FilesIona, Florida
Community in Lee County · population 16,908 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $322,800
- Household income
- $66,827
- Jan low / Jul high
- 54° / 92°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 65
- Median age
- 68.6
Iona is a community of 16,908 people in Lee County, Florida. The median home is worth $322,800, close to the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for cycling than 89% of Florida towns, better for retirees than 86% of Florida towns, better for a vacation home than 86% of Florida towns.
How Iona 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 Iona is worth $322,800, close to the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $66,827, which is more affordable than 44% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,913 a month. 72.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Iona | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $322,800 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,913 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $66,827 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 72.0% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 31.7% | — |
Who lives in Iona
| People | Iona | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 68.6 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 59.3% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 4.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.4% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 10.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.4% | — |
| Work from home | 25.1% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 92.4% |
Weather in Iona
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 54.3°F. About 57.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 120 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
65 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Iona since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 9, 2024 about 6.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 31, 1965.
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 Iona itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Iona
- Cypress Lake, FL4.1 mi · 13,727 people · home $258,900
- McGregor, FL4.3 mi · 7,976 people · home $467,600
- Whiskey Creek, FL5.8 mi · 4,842 people · home $379,600
- Villas, FL6.3 mi · 12,687 people · home $248,700
- Pine Manor, FL6.5 mi · 4,122 people · home $273,800
- Fort Myers Beach, FL6.7 mi · 5,582 people · home $642,400
- St. James City, FL8.9 mi · 3,876 people · home $319,700
- Cape Coral, FL9.0 mi · 194,016 people · home $373,500
Iona questions
Is Iona, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Iona scores better for retirees than 86% of Florida towns and quieter than 69%. 59.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 68.6).
How much does a house cost in Iona?
The median owner-occupied home in Iona is valued at $322,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,827, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $1,913 a month.
What is the weather like in Iona?
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.
Does Iona get tornadoes?
65 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Iona since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 9, 2024. 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)