Lee County, FL

County

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2024 Population

817,666

US Senator

Rick Scott

Republican Party

US Senator

Ashley Moody

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

0.609% 1-year decrease

2024 Poverty Rate

12%

2.33% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$76,107

4.11% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$362,200

11% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

357,154

4.35% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Lee County, FL reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

90.4% of the residents in Lee County, FL are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Lee County, FL are Florida Gulf Coast University (3,942 degrees awarded in 2023), Florida SouthWestern State College (2,530 degrees), and Southern Technical College (701 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Lee County, FL was $362,200, and the homeownership rate was 74.3%.

Most people in Lee County, FL drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 29.4 minutes. The average car ownership in Lee County, FL was 2 cars per household.

Lee County, FL borders Charlotte County, FL, Collier County, FL, Glades County, FL, and Hendry County, FL.

About the photo: Cape Harbor, Cape Coral, FL

Photo by Elin at Nite

United States Florida Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL

Population & Diversity

Lee County, FL is home to a population of 818k people, from which 90.4% are citizens. As of 2024, 18.8% of Lee County, FL residents were born outside of the country (154k people).

In 2024, there were 4.24 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (507k people) in Lee County, FL than any other race or ethnicity. There were 120k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) and 62.4k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

90.4%

2024 Citizenship

91.2%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 90.4% of Lee County, FL residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Lee County, FL was 91.2%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Lee County, FL compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Lee County, FL

White (Non-Hispanic)
507k ± 1.78k
Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
120k ± 3.87k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
62.4k ± 1.42k

24.7%

Hispanic Population

202k people

24.7% of the people in Lee County, FL are hispanic (202k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Lee County, FL as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Florida.

Most Common Origin

Cuba
1,008,771 ± 24,085 people
Haiti
353,350 ± 14,476 people
Colombia
307,955 ± 13,528 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Florida was Cuba, the natal country of 1,008,771 Florida residents, followed by Haiti with 353,350 and Colombia with 307,955.

Foreign-Born Population

18.8%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

154k people

17.9%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

142k people

As of 2024, 18.8% of Lee County, FL residents (154k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Lee County, FL was 17.9%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Lee County, FL compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
21,614 ± 1,026
Gulf War (2001-)
8,153 ± 864
Gulf War (1990s)
5,071 ± 543

Lee County, FL has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.65 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Lee County, FL.

Economy

The economy of Lee County, FL employs 357k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Lee County, FL were Retail Trade (48,380 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (47,887 people), and Construction (45,046 people), and the highest paying industries were Management of Companies & Enterprises ($90,625), Finance & Insurance ($73,575), and Wholesale Trade ($65,455).

Employment

Occupations

357k

2024 Value

± 5,921

4.35%

1 Year growth

± 2.26%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Lee County, FL grew at a rate of 4.35%, from 342k employees to 357k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Lee County, FL, are Sales & Related Occupations (44,519 people), Management Occupations (39,623 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (38,782 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Lee County, FL.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Florida.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Florida (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

357k

2024 Value

± 5,921

4.35%

1 Year growth

± 2.26%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Lee County, FL grew at a rate of 4.35%, from 342k employees to 357k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Lee County, FL, are Retail Trade (48,380 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (47,887 people), and Construction (45,046 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Lee County, FL, though some of these residents may live in Lee County, FL and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$48,474

Median earning men ± $913

$38,668

Median earning women ± $1,306

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Public Administration ($74,209), Wholesale Trade ($71,350), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($69,224).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($54,480), Wholesale Trade ($51,944), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($51,772).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Florida.

Y-Axis

4.23%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 9.69M people employed in Florida. This represents a 4.23% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 12.6%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Florida.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

2,283
Construction
1,949
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
1,803
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$2.99M
Health Care and Social Assistance
$1.72M
Construction
$1.53M
Retail Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Florida went to Donald J. Trump with 56.1% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (43%), followed by Jill Stein (0.396%).

Rick Scott and Ashley Moody are the senators currently representing the state of Florida. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Florida is currently represented by 26 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Lee County, FL. Showing the available data for Florida.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (56.1%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (43%)
Democratic Party
Jill Stein (0.396%)
Green Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Florida went to Donald J. Trump with 56.1% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (43%), followed by Jill Stein (0.396%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Florida for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Florida

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Florida.

Rick Scott

Senator from Florida

Assumed office on January 8, 2019
Inauguration delayed in order to finish his term as Governor of Florida.

Ashley Moody

Senator from Florida

Assumed office on January 21, 2025
While elections for full class 3 terms will take place in 2028, Florida will hold a special election in 2026 to elect a senator to complete the remainder of Marco Rubio's term.

Rick Scott and Ashley Moody are the senators currently representing Florida.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Florida over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in Lee County, FL awarded 9,007 degrees. The student population of Lee County, FL in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 13,045 male students and 19,813 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Lee County, FL are White (4,589 and 52.1%), Hispanic or Latino (2,536 and 28.8%), Black or African American (919 and 10.4%), and Two or More Races (296 and 3.36%).

The largest universities in Lee County, FL by number of degrees awarded are Florida Gulf Coast University (3,942 and 43.8%), Florida SouthWestern State College (2,530 and 28.1%), and Southern Technical College (701 and 7.78%).

The most popular majors in Lee County, FL are Liberal Arts & Sciences (1,908 and 21.2%), Registered Nursing (578 and 6.42%), and General Business Administration & Management (369 and 4.1%).

The median tuition costs are $15,000 for private four year colleges, and $3,314 and $16,039 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Lee County, FL, the percentage of applicants admitted was 76.7%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 22.5%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 32,858 (39.7% men and 60.3% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 32,858 students enrolled in Lee County, FL, 39.7% men and 60.3% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 15,261 records, of which 59% were women and 41% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Interdisciplinary Studies
290 degrees awarded
General Psychology
276 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
216 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Lee County, FL was General Interdisciplinary Studies with 290 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Lee County, FL according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Florida Gulf Coast University
3,942 degrees awarded
Florida SouthWestern State College
2,530 degrees awarded
Southern Technical College
701 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Florida Gulf Coast University with 3,942 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 3,293 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Lee County, FL, which is 0.576 times less than the 5,714 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 4,589 degrees mean that there were 1.81 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 2,536 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private for-profit, 2-year ($17,172) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Private for-profit, 2-year ($1,875) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Private for-profit, 2-year ($1,950) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Lee County, FL was $362,200 in 2024, which is 1.09 times larger than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $326,300 to $362,200, a 11% increase. The homeownership rate in Lee County, FL is 74.3%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Lee County, FL have an average commute time of 29.4 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Lee County, FL is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 17.4% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Lee County, FL. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 3.64%.

Housing

Property

$362,200

Median Property Value 2024

±$3,248

$243,654

Median Property Taxes

±$3,908

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Lee County, FL the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Lee County, FL compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

74.3%

Homeownership

2024

65.3%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 74.3% of the housing units in Lee County, FL were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 74%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Lee County, FL compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$76,107

Median Household Income

± $1,463

328k

Number of Households

± 5,292

In 2024, the median household income of the 328k households in Lee County, FL grew to $76,107 from the previous year's value of $73,099.

The following chart displays the households in Lee County, FL distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Lee County, FL is from Florida.

0.473

2023 Wage GINI in Florida

0.474

2022 Wage GINI in Florida

In 2023, the income inequality in Florida was 0.473 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.136% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Florida was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Florida in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Florida across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (70.8%)
Worked At Home (15.4%)
Carpooled (9.76%)

In 2024, 70.8% of workers in Lee County, FL drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (15.4%) and those who carpooled to work (9.76%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

29.4 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Lee County, FL have a longer commute time (29.4 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.79% of the workforce in Lee County, FL have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Lee County, FL compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Lee County, FL distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Lee County, FL have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 17.4% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Lee County, FL. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 3.64%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

12% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Lee County, FL (96.5k out of 804k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 75+, followed by Females 55 - 64 and then Females 65 - 74.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Lee County, FL is White, followed by Hispanic and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 17.3% of the children was living in poverty in Lee County, FL. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 8.4%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 348 in Lee County, FL. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 35.3 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

87.1% of the population of Lee County, FL has health coverage, with 33.2% on employee plans, 13.6% on Medicaid, 21.6% on Medicare, 17.1% on non-group plans, and 1.53% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Lee County, FL see 1,504 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,504 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1886 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 681 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.1% were men and 50.9% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,504 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Lee County, FL

Primary care physicians in Lee County, FL see an average of 1,504 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,504 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Lee County, FL in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 18.4% under 18 years, 16.8% between 18 and 34 years, 36.1% between 35 and 64 years, and 28.7% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.1% were men and 50.9% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

12.9%

Uninsured

33.2%

Employer Coverage

13.6%

Medicaid

21.6%

Medicare

17.1%

Non-Group

1.53%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Lee County, FL grew by 3.85% from 12.5% to 12.9%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Lee County, FL changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 56.9 in Lee County, FL.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Lee County, FL.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 31.1% in Lee County, FL.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Lee County, FL.