Lely Resort, Florida Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Lely Resort is a small city located in Florida, within Collier County. The total population is 8,582. It ranks as the 370th most populous out of 955 Census-designated places in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lely Resort is 59.9 years. This is 41% higher than the state median of 42.6 years. Only 13.5% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 22.6% 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 Lely Resort is $93,750. This is 26% higher than the state median of $74,568. It is also 16% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.8%. This is 22% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 35% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $666,900. Housing costs are 86% higher than the state median of $359,000. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 58.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lely Resort is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 18.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (9.9%) is well below the state average of 27.4%.

Education

49.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 45% 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 92.7%. Notably, 20.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Lely Resort, 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.