The Town FilesSt. James City, Florida
Community in Lee County · population 3,876 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $319,700
- Household income
- $69,403
- Jan low / Jul high
- 54° / 92°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 52
- Median age
- 64.7
St. James City is a community of 3,876 people in Lee County, Florida. The median home is worth $319,700, close to the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks quieter than 99% of Florida towns, better for a vacation home than 92% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 85% of Florida towns.
How St. James City 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 St. James City is worth $319,700, close to the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $69,403, which is more affordable than 49% of Florida towns. Median rent is $2,829 a month. 90.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | St. James City | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $319,700 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $2,829 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $69,403 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 90.8% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 42.9% | — |
Who lives in St. James City
| People | St. James City | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 64.7 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 48.6% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 8.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.7% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 19.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 17.3% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 18.6 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 92.4% |
Weather in St. James City
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
52 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. James City since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on January 16, 2022 about 8.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 21 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 11, 1984.
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 St. James City itself the ACS puts it at 9.1%.
Towns near St. James City
- Sanibel, FL6.3 mi · 6,382 people · home $957,300
- Iona, FL8.9 mi · 16,908 people · home $322,800
- Cape Coral, FL9.5 mi · 194,016 people · home $373,500
- McGregor, FL11.8 mi · 7,976 people · home $467,600
- Cypress Lake, FL12.5 mi · 13,727 people · home $258,900
- Whiskey Creek, FL13.3 mi · 4,842 people · home $379,600
- Lochmoor Waterway Estates, FL13.9 mi · 5,828 people · home $386,200
- Fort Myers Beach, FL14.0 mi · 5,582 people · home $642,400
St. James City questions
Is St. James City, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, St. James City scores better for retirees than 79% of Florida towns and quieter than 99%. 48.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 64.7).
How much does a house cost in St. James City?
The median owner-occupied home in St. James City is valued at $319,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,403, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $2,829 a month.
What is the weather like in St. James City?
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 St. James City get tornadoes?
52 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. James City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on January 16, 2022. 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)