2027 MNM LIVABILITY INDEX

Fort Myers

Florida (FL)

Best for: Retirees, healthcare workers, boaters and households wanting Gulf access, a real downtown and strong airport convenience.

2027 CITY CLASSMedium City100,000–299,999 residents

Modern Livability78.3/ 100

AT A GLANCE

Everyday numbers

Population101,581

Median Home$384,500

Median Rent$1,580

Median Household Income$63,732

Cost of Living~103.2 (US=100; 2024 MSA)

Average Commute25.2 min

Unemployment~4.8% metro (Jul 2026)

Metro AreaCape Coral-Fort Myers, FL

2027 MODERN LIVABILITY SCORECARD

How this city actually lives

Twelve dimensions capture both hard data and the everyday experience traditional lists tend to miss.

78.3overall

Housing & Financial Reality67.0

Housing burden, taxes, insurance, utilities and what local incomes actually buy.

Ease of Living75.0

Errands, commute friction, parking, services and the effort required for daily life.

Safety & Stability63.0

Personal, neighborhood, road and environmental stability.

Economic Opportunity80.0

Jobs, wages, career mobility, employer diversity and economic resilience.

Health & Wellness84.0

Healthcare access, activity, mental wellness, healthy food and environmental health.

Beauty & Sense of Place91.0

Scenery, architecture, trees, cleanliness, public realm and distinct sense of place.

Mobility & Congestion55.0

Traffic delay, commute reliability, walking, cycling and transit usefulness.

Nature & Escape94.0

Trails, water, mountains, parks, public lands and how easily residents can escape.

Diversity & Belonging82.0

Diversity, integration, accessibility, newcomer friendliness and community connection.

Climate & Environment82.0

Comfortable weather, air quality, severe weather and environmental exposure.

Community & Culture88.0

Restaurants, arts, events, third places, recreation and social life.

Infrastructure & Connectivity85.0

Broadband, utilities, airport, highways, transit and essential connectivity.

THE THINGS OLD-SCHOOL LISTS MISS

What daily life feels like

Traffic / CongestionModerate. Local trips are generally manageable, but seasonal population, bridge traffic and rapid growth add congestion during peak periods.

Weekend EscapeOutstanding. Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, Pine Island, the Caloosahatchee and Gulf boating are close enough to define weekend life.

WalkabilityAbout 36/100 citywide Walk Score. The city is car-dependent overall, so the quality of daily life depends heavily on where home, work and errands are located.

Airport AccessExcellent. Southwest Florida International Airport provides broad domestic access and is one of the region's most important convenience advantages.

Outdoor AccessExceptional. Gulf beaches, riverfront, boating, fishing, kayaking and wildlife areas make outdoor living a core strength.

Healthcare AccessStrong. Lee Health operates a large regional system with major hospitals and specialty services.

Air QualityGenerally good, with humidity, red tide, storm debris/smoke and occasional ozone episodes as seasonal concerns.

Third Places / Social LifeVery good. Downtown Fort Myers, riverfront events, restaurants, breweries and the broader beach region provide more social life than the city's size suggests.

EDITORIAL VIEW

More than a number

Trajectory: Improving

WHY IT STANDS OUT

Why we chose it

Fort Myers stands out in the 2027 MNM Livability Index for gulf access; airport; downtown; outdoor recreation; healthcare; no state income tax; regional growth. The city does not score well simply because of one headline statistic: its profile reflects housing, everyday ease, wellness, beauty, mobility, nature, belonging, climate, culture and infrastructure together. The clearest tradeoffs are hurricane recovery and risk; insurance; seasonal traffic; income levels lag housing costs; summer heat.

REAL LIFE

What living here actually feels like

Fort Myers feels riverfront, warm and rapidly growing. Downtown has historic character, while the broader metro stretches into newer suburban and coastal development.

STRENGTHS