Lee County, Florida: commercial real estate data.
Lee County, Florida had an estimated 860,959 residents on July 1, 2024, up 13.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 760,822, across 785 square miles. County output reached $54.16 bn in 2024, 22,756 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 948 7(a) approvals worth $652.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Lee County
How many people live in Lee County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024817,666
- Households327,803
- Average household size2.49
- Median household income$76,107
- Median age49.0
- Median gross rent$1,712 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$362,200
- Home value to household income4.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income27.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher31.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree12.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over618,547
- Population under 18140,310
- Share under 1817.2 percent
- Population 65 and over236,549
- Share 65 and over28.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64440,807
- Civilian labor force372,085
- Unemployment rate4.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over54.9 percent
- Rank by population among Florida counties8th of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included77th of 3,222
Lee County is the 8th largest of 67 Florida counties by population. A median home costs 4.8 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 28.9 percent against 17.2 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Lee County
Is Lee County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024860,959
- Census 2020 base population760,822
- Population change since the 2020 census base13.16 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202416,733
- Births, 20247,462
- Deaths, 20248,809
- Natural change, 2024-1,347
- Net domestic migration, 20245,000
- Net international migration, 202413,057
- Total net migration, 202418,057
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202469,446
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents85th of 3,144
The county has grown 13.16 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Lee County
Where are people moving to Lee County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving31,182
- People arriving, from those returns53,870
- Tax returns filed by households leaving23,213
- Net household movement7,969
- Adjusted gross income arriving$4.75 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$2.24 bn
- Average income of an arriving household$152,292
- Average income of a leaving household$108,213
- Largest single originCollier County (2,724 households)
- Largest single destinationCollier County (1,862 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collier County | 2,724 | 4,616 | $308.2 m |
| Miami-Dade County | 2,187 | 3,864 | $98.7 m |
| Broward County | 1,015 | 1,788 | $73.5 m |
| Charlotte County | 532 | 864 | $35.0 m |
| Cook County | 517 | 866 | $162.6 m |
| Palm Beach County | 496 | 782 | $35.5 m |
| Hillsborough County | 475 | 761 | $41.2 m |
| Orange County | 317 | 503 | $19.4 m |
Households arriving report $44,079 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Collier County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Lee County
What is the Lee County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$54.16 bn
- County GDP, 2023$50.95 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.3 percent
- GDP change over five years51.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Florida areas BEA publishes8th of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes110th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$66,237
Output grew 6.3 percent in the latest year and 51.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Lee County
Employment by industry in Lee County
- Covered employment, annual average299,283
- Establishments reporting28,954
- Average annual pay$61,578
- Average weekly wage$1,184
- Retail trade, employment42,882
- Retail trade, average annual pay$41,729
- Construction, employment41,448
- Construction, average annual pay$65,083
- Health care and social assistance, employment34,073
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$67,920
- Accommodation and food services, employment33,101
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$31,000
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment20,155
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment17,669
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 42,882 | 2,831 | $41,729 |
| Construction | 41,448 | 5,000 | $65,083 |
| Health care and social assistance | 34,073 | 2,585 | $67,920 |
| Accommodation and food services | 33,101 | 1,825 | $31,000 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 20,155 | 2,482 | $51,504 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 17,669 | 3,706 | $96,651 |
| Other services, except public administration | 9,785 | 2,125 | $48,089 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 8,820 | 427 | $43,869 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 42,882 jobs, 14.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Lee County
How many businesses are in Lee County?
- Establishments, all industries22,756
- Employment at those establishments264,855
- Annual payroll$14.68 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents27.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lee County
Building permits in Lee County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202415,411
- Declared construction value permitted$3.90 bn
- Single family units authorized10,554
- Multifamily units authorized4,857
- Multifamily share of units31.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$252,788
- Units authorized per 1,000 households47.0
Single-family homes are 68.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Lee County
SBA loans in Lee County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded948
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$652.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$687,753
- Median 7(a) approval$305,250
- 10th percentile approval$35,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,803,400
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)12,183
- Jobs per approval12.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active127
- Distinct industries receiving approvals247
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer14.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms134
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter745
- Franchise loans151
- Franchise share of approvals15.9 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (51)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (138)
- 504 approvals recorded264
- 504 gross approval dollars$239.5 m
- Average 504 approval$907,148
- Median 504 approval$582,500
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval11.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.1
- Most active CDCFlorida First Capital Finance Corporation, Inc. (140)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$891.5 m
The average approval of $687,753 sits well above the median of $305,250, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 14.1 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lee County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Lee County
Do SBA loans in Lee County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded179
- Paid in full150
- Charged off29
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans16.2 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure578
- Status: Paid in full150
- Status: Cancelled130
- Status: Charged off29
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed61
Of the 179 loans that have reached a final outcome, 16.2 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lee County
SBA lending by place in Lee County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending19
- Fort Myers, approvals442
- Cape Coral, approvals219
- Bonita Springs, approvals88
- Lehigh Acres, approvals61
- Estero, approvals55
- North Fort Myers, approvals45
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Myers | 442 | $380,739,000 |
| Cape Coral | 219 | $105,748,600 |
| Bonita Springs | 88 | $48,345,400 |
| Lehigh Acres | 61 | $34,329,900 |
| Estero | 55 | $37,020,700 |
| North Fort Myers | 45 | $29,287,700 |
| Alva | 9 | $1,365,700 |
| Sanibel | 7 | $5,259,600 |
| 11 other borrower cities | 22 | $9,893,300 |
Fort Myers accounts for 442 approvals against 219 in Cape Coral. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lee County
How large is Lee County?
- Land area785 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Florida counties26th of 67
- Width, east to west43.7 mi
- Height, north to south31.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land1,042
- Establishments per square mile28.99
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lee County
Flood risk in Lee County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Lee County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 125124
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 5
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP7
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 5
- Communities carrying a CRS class7
- Radon levels in Lee County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Lee County (community 125124), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 5, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Lee County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 5, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Lee County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Lee County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024817,666
- Households327,803
- Average household size2.49
- Median household income$76,107
- Median age49.0
Common questions
Lee County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Lee County, Florida?
The Census Bureau estimates 860,959 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 817,666, in 327,803 households, ranking 8th of 67 Florida counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Lee County's population growing?
The population has grown 13.16 percent since the 2020 census base of 760,822, to 860,959 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 7,462 births against 8,809 deaths, with net migration of 18,057. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Lee County?
$76,107. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $362,200, which is 4.8 times income, and median gross rent is $1,712 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Lee County?
22,756 establishments, employing 264,855 people with an annual payroll of $14.68 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Lee County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 42,882 jobs, 14.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 299,283 jobs at an average annual pay of $61,578, or $1,184 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Lee County?
948 7(a) approvals totaling $652.0 m since FY2020, across 127 lenders, with a median approval of $305,250, plus 264 504 approvals worth $239.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Lee County get paid back?
Of the 179 loans that have reached a final outcome, 150 were paid in full and 29 charged off, a charge-off rate of 16.2 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Lee County?
15,411 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $3.90 bn. Multifamily was 31.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Lee County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Lee County come from?
The largest single origin is Collier County, with 2,724 households. Arriving households report an average income of $152,292 against $108,213 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Lee County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Lee County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Lee County
Cities and places in Lee.
39 Census places lie wholly or partly in Lee County. All 39 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | city | 215,536 | 219 | Wholly in this county |
| Lehigh Acres | CDP | 132,353 | 61 | Wholly in this county |
| Fort Myers | city | 95,051 | 442 | Wholly in this county |
| Bonita Springs | city | 55,904 | 88 | Wholly in this county |
| North Fort Myers | CDP | 44,993 | 45 | Wholly in this county |
| Estero | village | 37,858 | 55 | Wholly in this county |
| San Carlos Park | CDP | 19,159 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Villas | CDP | 13,644 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Iona | CDP | 13,631 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cypress Lake | CDP | 13,032 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gateway | CDP | 11,176 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| McGregor | CDP | 8,490 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lochmoor Waterway Estates | CDP | 6,511 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sanibel | city | 6,418 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Three Oaks | CDP | 6,144 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fort Myers Shores | CDP | 5,946 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fort Myers Beach | town | 5,513 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Whiskey Creek | CDP | 5,371 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | CDP | 4,836 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Tice | CDP | 4,758 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Suncoast Estates | CDP | 4,369 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Buckingham | CDP | 4,311 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pine Manor | CDP | 3,660 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| St. James City | CDP | 3,412 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Alva | CDP | 3,389 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Olga | CDP | 3,282 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Burnt Store Marina | CDP | 2,157 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bokeelia | CDP | 1,930 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Verandah | CDP | 1,900 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pine Island Center | CDP | 1,834 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Punta Rassa | CDP | 1,335 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Harlem Heights | CDP | 1,122 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Palmona Park | CDP | 1,115 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Page Park | CDP | 917 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Matlacha | CDP | 770 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Pineland | CDP | 455 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Matlacha Isles-Matlacha Shores | CDP | 127 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Captiva | CDP | 99 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Charleston Park | CDP | 44 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 12 of the county's 948 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Lee County, the largest being Fort Meyers (4), Boca Grande (2), Punta Gorda (2). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby