Cost of Living in Lee County, Florida
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Lee County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Lee County ranks #2,854 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 9%)
Sourced county brief
Lee County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,712 Per Month
The median gross rent in Lee County is estimated at $1,712 per month, which is $408 above the Florida unweighted county mean of $1,304. The official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) for the county is 35.1%. This figure differs from the Florida unweighted county mean GRAPI of 32.8% by 2.3 percentage points. Among owner-occupied housing units, the median selected monthly owner cost is $1,325, positioned above the state unweighted county mean of $1,039. The median home value for the region was estimated at $362,200, compared to the Florida unweighted county mean of $284,325. For renter-occupied households, the median income is $54,866. This snapshot analysis utilizes the official B25071 GRAPI metric rather than a derived estimate. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Lee County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 35.1% of renter household income in Lee County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,712 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,325. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $68,480 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Florida unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,304 per month. Lee County's $1,712 median is 31.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Lee County
Rent Burden
27.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,776
per month
Owner Cost Burden
20.9%
of gross income
The median home in Lee County may be a stretch
Median home value is $362,200. Estimated monthly cost: $2,892 vs. your max of $1,776.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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