Lee County, FL

County

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2019 Population

770,577

2.12% 1-year growth

US Senator

Marco Rubio

Republican Party

US Senator

Rick Scott

Republican Party

2019 Median Age

49.3

1.02% 1-year increase

2019 Poverty Rate

13.1%

6.3% 1-year decrease

2019 Median Household Income

$62,240

10.9% 1-year growth

2019 Median Property Value

$244,700

4.13% 1-year growth

2019 Employed Population

321,744

0.222% 1-year decline

About

In 2019, Lee County, FL had a population of 771k people with a median age of 49.3 and a median household income of $62,240. Between 2018 and 2019 the population of Lee County, FL grew from 754,610 to 770,577, a 2.12% increase and its median household income grew from $56,129 to $62,240, a 10.9% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Lee County, FL are White (Non-Hispanic) (66%), White (Hispanic) (17.6%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (8.19%), Other (Hispanic) (3.86%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (1.62%). 0% of the households in Lee County, FL speak a non-English language at home as their primary language.

92.7% of the residents in Lee County, FL are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Lee County, FL are Florida Gulf Coast University (3,719 degrees awarded in 2019), Florida SouthWestern State College (3,039 degrees), and Fort Myers Technical College (711 degrees).

In 2019, the median property value in Lee County, FL was $244,700, and the homeownership rate was 75.5%. Most people in Lee County, FL drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 25.3 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

Diversity

Lee County, FL is home to a population of 771k people, from which 92.7% are citizens. As of 2019, 16% of Lee County, FL residents were born outside of the country (124k people).

In 2019, there were 3.74 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (509k people) in Lee County, FL than any other race or ethnicity. There were 136k White (Hispanic) and 63.1k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Lee County, FL

White (Non-Hispanic)
509k ± 855
White (Hispanic)
136k ± 7.77k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
63.1k ± 1.89k

22.5%

Hispanic Population

173k people

22.5% of the people in Lee County, FL are hispanic (173k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Lee County, FL as a share of the total population.

Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

16%

2019 Foreign-Born Population

124k people

15.8%

2018 Foreign-Born Population

120k people

As of 2019, 16% of Lee County, FL residents (124k people) were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.7%. In 2018, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Lee County, FL was 15.8%, 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.

Age by Nativity

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.5

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 1.9

In 2019, the median age of all people in Lee County, FL was 49.3. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 49, were generally older than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 49. But people in Lee County, FL are getting getting older. In 2018, the average age of all Lee County, FL residents was 49.

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

Cuba
1,040,032 ± 24,424 people
Haiti
356,045 ± 14,528 people
Colombia
294,743 ± 13,237 people

In 2019, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Florida was Cuba, the natal country of 1,040,032 Florida residents, followed by Haiti with 356,045 and Colombia with 294,743.

Citizenship

92.7%

2019 Citizenship

91.3%

2018 Citizenship

As of 2019, 92.7% of Lee County, FL residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.4%. In 2018, the percentage of US citizens in Lee County, FL was 91.3%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
23,475 ± 2,052
Gulf War (2001-)
5,517 ± 1,727
Gulf War (1990s)
5,027 ± 1,230

Lee County, FL has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 4.26 times greater than any other conflict.

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Florida. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

Y-Axis

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in Florida, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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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.

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Employment by Industry Sector

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

Y-Axis

8.45%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between May 2020 and May 2021

As of May 2021, there are 145M people employed in Florida. This represents a 8.45% increase in employment when compared to May 2020.

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

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Community Mobility

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

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of Florida across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Economy

Median household income in Lee County, FL is $62,240. In 2019, the tract with the highest median household income in Lee County, FL was Census Tract 503.05 with a value of $159,375, followed by Census Tract 401.13 and Census Tract 503.07, with respective values of $129,432 and $121,563.

Males in Florida have an average income that is 1.34 times higher than the average income of females, which is $46,953. The income inequality in Florida (measured using the Gini index) is 0.473, which is lower than than the national average.

The economy of Lee County, FL employs 322k people. The largest industries in Lee County, FL are Retail Trade (45,862 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (43,531 people), and Construction (39,195 people), and the highest paying industries are Management of Companies & Enterprises ($150,891), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($58,039), and Information ($53,368).

Wages

Median Household Income

$62,240

2019 value

± $1,875

10.9%

1 Year Growth

± 3.72%

Households in Lee County, FL have a median annual income of $62,240, which is less than the median annual income of $65,712 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $56,129 in 2018, which represents a 10.9% annual growth.

The following chart shows how the median household income in Lee County, FL compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies.

Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

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

$63,131

Average Male Salary in Florida

± $864

$46,953

Average Female Salary in Florida

± $580

In 2019, full-time male employees in Florida made 1.34 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Florida by number of full-time employees.

Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

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

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity in Florida

American Indian and Alaska Native tribes specified; or American Indian or Alaska Native, not specified and no other races
$73,034 ± $38,489
Asian
$62,006 ± $3,904
White
$51,912 ± $575

In 2019 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Florida workers was American Indian and Alaska Native tribes specified; or American Indian or Alaska Native, not specified and no other races. These workers were paid 1.18 times more than Asian workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity in Florida.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Florida by number of full-time employees.

Wage Distribution

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

0.473

2019 Wage GINI in Florida

0.474

2018 Wage GINI in Florida

In 2019, the income inequality in Florida was 0.473 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.332% decline from 2018 to 2019, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Florida was lower than than the national average of 0.478. 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.

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 503.05
Census Tract 401.13
Census Tract 503.07

In 2019, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Lee County, FL was Census Tract 503.05 with a value of $159,375, followed by Census Tract 401.13 and Census Tract 503.07, with respective values of $129,432 and $121,563.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Lee County, FL colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 25 - 34

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

13.1% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Lee County, FL (95.3k out of 728k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.3%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 55 - 64 and then Females 35 - 44.

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.

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

White
74,363 ± 2,429
Hispanic
33,641 ± 1,634
Black
14,016 ± 1,021

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

Occupations

Employment by Occupations

322k

2019 Value

± 12,271

−0.222%

1 Year decline

± 5.27%

From 2018 to 2019, employment in Lee County, FL declined at a rate of −0.222%, from 322k employees to 322k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Lee County, FL, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (41,715 people), Sales & Related Occupations (39,124 people), and Management Occupations (32,298 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Lee County, FL.

Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Lee County, FL, by number of employees, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (41,715 people), Sales & Related Occupations (39,124 people), and Management Occupations (32,298 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Lee County, FL has an unusually high number of residents working as Construction & Extraction Occupations (1.49 times higher than expected), Building & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance Occupations (1.44 times), and Sales & Related Occupations (1.24 times).

Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Lee County, FL, by median earnings, are Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($66,938), Legal Occupations ($66,165), and Management Occupations ($65,442).

Industries

Employment by Industries

322k

2019 Value

± 12,271

−0.222%

1 Year decline

± 5.27%

From 2018 to 2019, employment in Lee County, FL declined at a rate of −0.222%, from 322k employees to 322k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Lee County, FL, are Retail Trade (45,862 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (43,531 people), and Construction (39,195 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.

Most Common

The most common industries in Lee County, FL, by number of employees, are Retail Trade (45,862 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (43,531 people), and Construction (39,195 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Lee County, FL has an unusually high number of Real Estate & Rental & Leasing (1.84 times higher than expected), Construction (1.77 times), and Administrative & Support & Waste Management Services (1.43 times) industries.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Lee County, FL, by median earnings, are Management of Companies & Enterprises ($150,891), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($58,039), and Information ($53,368).

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Florida to other states, or from other states to Florida.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

Mixed freight
$60.7B
Electronics
$55.2B
Gasoline
$51.1B

In 2018, the top outbound Florida product (by dollars) was Mixed freight with $60.7B, followed by Electronics ($55.2B) and Gasoline ($51.1B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Florida products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Florida.

$583B

2018 Value in Florida

$1.45T

Projected 2045 Value in Florida

149% growth

In 2018, total outbound Florida trade was $583B. This is expected to increase 149% to $1.45T by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Florida trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Florida to other states, or from other states to Florida.

Most Common Trade Partners

Georgia
$22.2B
Texas
$19.3B
California
$15B

In 2018, the top outbound Florida domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Georgia with $22.2B, followed by Texas with $19.3B and California and $15B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Florida shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Lee County, FL went to Donald J. Trump with 58.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Hillary Rodham Clinton (38.3%), followed by Other (3.05%). The most partisan county was Holmes County, FL with 87.9% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

Marco Rubio and Rick Scott 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 27 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

2016 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (58.7%)
Republican Party
Hillary Rodham Clinton (38.3%)
Democratic Party
Other (3.05%)
Other Party

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Florida went to Donald J. Trump with 58.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Hillary Rodham Clinton (38.3%), followed by Other (3.05%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Florida for each registered party from 1976 to 2016.

Presidential Popular Vote by County

Presidential voting results are only available at the county level. Showing data for the counties inside of Florida.

Showing data up to the 2016 election. Updated election results are currently being processed, and will be released in the coming months.

Donald J. Trump

Popular Vote for Lee County, FL

58.7% for the Republican Party

Most Partisan Counties in Florida

Holmes County, FL
87.9% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Lafayette County, FL
82.8% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Baker County, FL
81.5% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)

In the 2016 presidential election, the most partisan county in Florida was Holmes County, FL with 87.9% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

The following map shows the counties in Florida colored by their party leaning.

US Senators from Florida

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

Marco Rubio

Senator from Florida

Assumed office on January 3, 2011

Rick Scott

Senator from Florida

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

Marco Rubio and Rick Scott 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.

US Representatives from Florida

Florida is currently represented by 27 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Florida have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2019, universities in Lee County, FL awarded 8,889 degrees. The student population of Lee County, FL is skewed towards women, with 13,413 male students and 21,272 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Lee County, FL are White (4,898 and 56.1%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (2,320 and 26.6%), Black or African American (896 and 10.3%), and Two or More Races (226 and 2.59%).

The largest universities in Lee County, FL by number of degrees awarded are Florida Gulf Coast University (3,719 and 41.8%), Florida SouthWestern State College (3,039 and 34.2%), and Fort Myers Technical College (711 and 8%).

The most popular majors in Lee County, FL are Liberal Arts & Sciences (2,270 and 25.5%), Registered Nursing (497 and 5.59%), and General Cosmetology (303 and 3.41%).

The median tuition cost in Lee County, FL for a public four year colleges is $3,314 for in-state students and $16,039 for out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

General Psychology
212 degree-majorss awarded
Speech Communication & Rhetoric
233 degree-majorss awarded
Resort Management
215 degree-majorss awarded

In 2019, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Lee County, FL was General Psychology with 212 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

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Florida Gulf Coast University
3,719 degrees awarded
Florida SouthWestern State College
3,039 degrees awarded
Fort Myers Technical College
711 degrees awarded

$3,314

Median In-State Public

In 2019, the Lee County, FL institution with the largest number of graduating students was Florida Gulf Coast University with 3,719 degrees awarded.

Student Gender for Common Institutions

3,251

Degrees Awarded to Men

5,638

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2019, 3,251 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Lee County, FL, which is 0.577 times less than the 5,638 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 institutions in Lee County, FL by degrees awarded.

Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
4,898 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
2,320 degrees awarded
Black or African American
896 degrees awarded

In 2019 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions in Lee County, FL was White students. These 4,898 degrees mean that there were 2.11 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 2,320 degrees awarded.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Lee County, FL was $244,700 in 2019, which is 1.02 times larger than the national average of $240,500. Between 2018 and 2019 the median property value increased from $235,000 to $244,700, a 4.13% increase. The homeownership rate in Lee County, FL is 75.5%, which is higher than the national average of 64.1%. People in Lee County, FL have an average commute time of 25.3 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.

Housing

Property Value

$244,700

2019 Median

± $5,637

$235,000

2018 Median

± $5,429

In 2019, the median property value in Lee County, FL grew to to $244,700 from the previous year's value of $235,000.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Lee County, FL compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Lee County, FL the largest share of households have a property value in the $200k - $250k range.

Household Income

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

$62,240

Median Household Income

± $1,875

287k

Number of Households

± 9,515

In 2019, the median household income of the 287k households in Lee County, FL grew to $62,240 from the previous year's value of $56,129.

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.

Property Taxes

$3k+

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Lee County, FL 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.

Rent vs Own

75.5%

2019 Homeownership

72.8%

2018 Homeownership

In 2019, 75.5% of the housing units in Lee County, FL were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 72.8%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 64.1%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Lee County, FL compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Commute Time

25.3 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Lee County, FL have a shorter commute time (25.3 minutes) than the normal US worker (26 minutes). Additionally, 1.84% 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.

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2019

Drove Alone (78.1%)
Carpooled (10.1%)
Worked At Home (8.34%)

In 2019, 78.1% of workers in Lee County, FL drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (10.1%) and those who worked at home (8.34%).

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.

Transportation

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, followed by false.

Health

87.8% of the population of Lee County, FL has health coverage, with 33.8% on employee plans, 12.6% on Medicaid, 22.6% on Medicare, 17.3% on non-group plans, and 1.51% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Florida was $8,076 in 2014. This is a 5.05% increase from the previous year ($7,688).

Primary care physicians in Lee County, FL see 1528 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.972% decrease from the previous year (1543 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2007 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 877 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Glades County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (21%). Additionally, Gadsden County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (43.5%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,528 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Lee County, FL

Primary care physicians in Lee County, FL see an average of 1,528 patients per year. This represents a 0.972% decrease from the previous year (1,543 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.

Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

West Virginia
8.26% of the population affected
Arkansas
8.13% of the population affected
New Hampshire
7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

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.

Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

Mississippi
19.2% of adults
Texas
17.9% of adults
Louisiana
17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

Health Care Spending

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

$8,076

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care in Florida

$4,606

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$5,175

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$12,229

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in Florida (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 5.05%, from $7,688 to $8,076.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

Health Care Coverage

12.2%

Uninsured

33.8%

Employer Coverage

12.6%

Medicaid

22.6%

Medicare

17.3%

Non-Group

1.51%

Military or VA

Between 2018 and 2019, the percent of uninsured citizens in Lee County, FL declined by 12% from 13.9% to 12.2%.

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.