The Town FilesLely, Florida
Community in Collier County · population 3,694 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $326,100
- Household income
- $69,846
- Jan low / Jul high
- 56° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 65.3
Lely is a community of 3,694 people in Collier County, Florida. The median home is worth $326,100, close to the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Florida towns, hipper than 97% of Florida towns, better for retirees than 88% of Florida towns.
How Lely 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 Lely is worth $326,100, close to the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $69,846, which is more affordable than 46% of Florida towns. Median rent is $2,347 a month. 83.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lely | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $326,100 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $2,347 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $69,846 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 83.4% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 32.6% | — |
Who lives in Lely
| People | Lely | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 65.3 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 50.5% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 9.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.1% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.8% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 92.4% |
Weather in Lely
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 55.9°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 103 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lely since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 11, 1968 about 7.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 24, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 3, 1997.
Severe weather in Collier County since 1996
Collier County has been included in 54 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, freezing.
| 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 Collier County
Collier County had 171,813 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,041 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Lely itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Towns near Lely
- Naples Manor, FL1.1 mi · 5,132 people · home $340,400
- Lely Resort, FL1.6 mi · 7,619 people · home $666,900
- Verona Walk, FL3.3 mi · 2,713 people · home $598,000
- Berkshire Lakes, FL3.9 mi · 2,527 people · home $374,400
- Naples, FL5.2 mi · 19,115 people · home $1,525,600
- Golden Gate, FL5.6 mi · 25,321 people · home $409,700
- Vineyards, FL8.6 mi · 3,883 people · home $651,800
- Island Walk, FL10.1 mi · 2,812 people · home $667,900
Lely questions
Is Lely, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lely scores better for retirees than 88% of Florida towns and quieter than 69%. 50.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 65.3).
How much does a house cost in Lely?
The median owner-occupied home in Lely is valued at $326,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,846, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $2,347 a month.
What is the weather like in Lely?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 55.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Lely get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lely since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 11, 1968. 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)