Fort Myers Beach, Florida Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Fort Myers Beach is a small city located in Florida, within Lee County. The total population is 5,513. It ranks as the 455th most populous out of 955 Census-designated places in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fort Myers Beach is 66.3 years. This is 56% higher than the state median of 42.6 years. Only 3.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 24.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Fort Myers Beach is $91,291. This is 22% higher than the state median of $74,568. It is also 13% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 5.3%. This is 57% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 1.8%. This is 63% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $642,400. Housing costs are 79% higher than the state median of $359,000. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.0x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 88.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 31% higher than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Fort Myers Beach has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (90.0% vs 50.4%). The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 14.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (8.4%) is well below the state average of 27.4%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

44.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% higher than the state rate of 34.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.9%. Notably, 20.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Fort Myers Beach, Florida is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Florida state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 955 Census-designated places in Florida. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.