Best Places to Live in Southwest Florida

Ranked by the numbers, the top 10 are Fort Myers ($235,900 median), North Fort Myers ($158,000 median), Naples ($429,000 median), Parrish ($375,000 median), Sarasota ($550,000 median), Bonita Springs ($410,000 median), Estero ($325,000 median), Ave Maria ($325,000 median), Bradenton ($399,900 median), Marco Island ($643,500 median). 30 places qualified with at least 60 homes for sale; the score blends what it costs to own the median home against local income, five-year appreciation, county population growth, market balance, inventory depth and the own-versus-rent gap, all printed in the table.

30 cities in Southwest Florida, ranked

Place	Score	Median price	Cost to own / mo	Share of income	5-yr appreciation / yr	County pop. growth	Months supply	Homes for sale
1. Fort Myers Lee · list-based	55.8	$235,900	$1,642	27%	+2.3%	+10.3%	30% pending	1,295
2. North Fort Myers Lee · list-based	55.7	$158,000	$1,138	25%	+2.3%	+10.3%	25% pending	351
3. Naples Collier · list-based	55.2	$429,000	$2,731	35%	+4.8%	+6.5%	34% pending	1,853
4. Parrish Manatee	54.7	$375,000	$2,562	29%	+3.1%	+11.3%	3.3	752
5. Sarasota Sarasota · list-based	53.2	$550,000	$3,563	38%	+2.3%	+8.9%	14% pending	2,548
6. Bonita Springs Lee · list-based	52.8	$410,000	$2,768	38%	+2.3%	+10.3%	31% pending	399
7. Estero Lee · list-based	52.4	$325,000	$2,218	27%	+2.3%	+10.3%	43% pending	207
8. Ave Maria Collier · list-based	52.2	$325,000	$2,101	44%	+4.8%	+6.5%	33% pending	67
9. Bradenton Manatee · list-based	51.7	$399,900	$2,726	—	+3.1%	+11.3%	10% pending	1,999
10. Marco Island Collier · list-based	51.5	$643,500	$4,030	46%	+4.8%	+6.5%	26% pending	245
11. Lakewood Ranch Manatee · list-based	51.0	$608,990	$4,101	—	+3.1%	+11.3%	27% pending	291
12. Punta Gorda Charlotte · list-based	50.3	$345,000	$2,379	37%	+0.7%	+10.2%	7% pending	1,187
13. Palmetto Manatee · list-based	49.9	$399,999	$2,727	—	+3.1%	+11.3%	13% pending	489
14. Nokomis Sarasota · list-based	49.6	$529,900	$3,438	—	+2.3%	+8.9%	22% pending	251
15. Sanibel Lee · list-based	49.6	$759,000	$5,025	49%	+2.3%	+10.3%	23% pending	110
16. Cape Coral Lee · list-based	49.1	$325,000	$2,218	35%	+2.3%	+10.3%	57% pending	495
17. North Port Sarasota · list-based	49.0	$334,900	$2,217	—	+2.3%	+8.9%	10% pending	932
18. Venice Sarasota · list-based	49.0	$399,000	$2,618	—	+2.3%	+8.9%	10% pending	909
19. Arcadia DeSoto · list-based	48.8	$325,000	$2,308	—	—	—	8% pending	121
20. Ellenton Manatee · list-based	48.7	$289,000	$1,997	—	+3.1%	+11.3%	9% pending	99
21. Port Charlotte Charlotte · list-based	48.5	$325,000	$2,248	—	+0.7%	+10.2%	8% pending	1,332
22. Englewood Sarasota · list-based	48.2	$350,000	$2,312	—	+2.3%	+8.9%	10% pending	491
23. Osprey Sarasota · list-based	48.2	$675,000	$4,346	—	+2.3%	+8.9%	14% pending	75
24. Fort Myers Beach Lee · list-based	47.6	$539,000	$3,602	54%	+2.3%	+10.3%	14% pending	223
25. Anna Maria Manatee · list-based	47.5	$2,985,000	$19,728	—	+3.1%	+11.3%	1% pending	67

How to read it: median price is the recorded MLS sale median for the past 12 months where our feeds carry sold records (at least 120 sales), otherwise the median asking price of current listings (rows marked list-based; appreciation and price change then come from the county Zillow index); cost to own is principal and interest on 80% of that median at the county’s current rate, plus non-homestead property tax at the county’s verified millage (less the $50,000 homestead exemption) and the county’s average Citizens premium; share of income is that annual cost against the Census median household income pooled over the ZIPs where the city’s homes are listed; 5-yr appreciation is the compound annual change in recorded medians; county pop. growth is the county’s five-year Census change. Score = 50 + 10 × (0.35 affordability + 0.15 appreciation + 0.15 population growth + 0.10 market balance + 0.10 inventory depth + 0.15 own-versus-rent), each as a capped z-score across the ranked set. Inputs are prices, costs, incomes, growth and supply only; nothing about the people who live there. Data as of 2026-09-07; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Counties covered: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Manatee, Sarasota.

The top 10, in detail

1. Fort Myers, Lee County

Median asking price $235,900 across 1,295 current listings, 30% of active-plus-pending under contract, median 60 days on market; the county's Zillow index moved -5.4% over the past year. Owning the median costs about $1,642 a month, 27% of the local median household income of $73,336; typical rent is $1,777. Prices compounded +2.3% a year over five years; the county grew +10.3% in population over five years. moving guide · market data · Lee County property tax

2. North Fort Myers, Lee County

Median asking price $158,000 across 351 current listings, 25% of active-plus-pending under contract, median 64 days on market; the county's Zillow index moved -5.4% over the past year. Owning the median costs about $1,138 a month, 25% of the local median household income of $54,198; typical rent is $1,668. Prices compounded +2.3% a year over five years; the county grew +10.3% in population over five years. moving guide · market data · Lee County property tax

3. Naples, Collier County

Median asking price $429,000 across 1,853 current listings, 34% of active-plus-pending under contract, median 73 days on market; the county's Zillow index moved -3.6% over the past year. Owning the median costs about $2,731 a month, 35% of the local median household income of $94,702; typical rent is $2,575. Prices compounded +4.8% a year over five years; the county grew +6.5% in population over five years. moving guide · market data · Collier County property tax

4. Parrish, Manatee County

Recorded median sale $375,000 (-5.6% year over year), 195 sales in 12 months, 3.3 months of supply (healthy market), median 56 days to contract. Owning the median costs about $2,562 a month, 29% of the local median household income of $104,258; typical rent is $2,611. Prices compounded +3.1% a year over five years; the county grew +11.3% in population over five years. market data · Manatee County property tax

5. Sarasota, Sarasota County

Median asking price $550,000 across 2,548 current listings, 14% of active-plus-pending under contract, median 61 days on market; the county's Zillow index moved -4.3% over the past year. Owning the median costs about $3,563 a month, 38% of the local median household income of $113,114; typical rent is $2,924. Prices compounded +2.3% a year over five years; the county grew +8.9% in population over five years. market data · Sarasota County property tax

6. Bonita Springs, Lee County

Median asking price $410,000 across 399 current listings, 31% of active-plus-pending under contract, median 71 days on market; the county's Zillow index moved -5.4% over the past year. Owning the median costs about $2,768 a month, 38% of the local median household income of $86,731; typical rent is $3,253. Prices compounded +2.3% a year over five years; the county grew +10.3% in population over five years. moving guide · market data · Lee County property tax

7. Estero, Lee County

Median asking price $325,000 across 207 current listings, 43% of active-plus-pending under contract, median 74 days on market; the county's Zillow index moved -5.4% over the past year. Owning the median costs about $2,218 a month, 27% of the local median household income of $100,264; typical rent is $2,437. Prices compounded +2.3% a year over five years; the county grew +10.3% in population over five years. moving guide · market data · Lee County property tax

8. Ave Maria, Collier County

Median asking price $325,000 across 67 current listings, 33% of active-plus-pending under contract, median 59 days on market; the county's Zillow index moved -3.6% over the past year. Owning the median costs about $2,101 a month, 44% of the local median household income of $57,656; typical rent is $2,900. Prices compounded +4.8% a year over five years; the county grew +6.5% in population over five years. market data · Collier County property tax

9. Bradenton, Manatee County

Median asking price $399,900 across 1,999 current listings, 10% of active-plus-pending under contract, median 52 days on market; the county's Zillow index moved -4.4% over the past year. Owning the median costs about $2,726 a month. Prices compounded +3.1% a year over five years; the county grew +11.3% in population over five years. market data · Manatee County property tax

10. Marco Island, Collier County

Median asking price $643,500 across 245 current listings, 26% of active-plus-pending under contract, median 72 days on market; the county's Zillow index moved -3.6% over the past year. Owning the median costs about $4,030 a month, 46% of the local median household income of $104,105; typical rent is $3,283. Prices compounded +4.8% a year over five years; the county grew +6.5% in population over five years. moving guide · market data · Collier County property tax

Questions people ask

What is the best place to live in Southwest Florida by the numbers?

Fort Myers ranks first on our composite: $235,900 median, about $1,642 a month to own (27% of local median income), +2.3% a year appreciation over five years. The ranking is housing economics only; the right place for you also depends on commute, lifestyle and budget, which is what an agent narrows.

What is the cheapest place to live in Southwest Florida?

North Fort Myers has the lowest estimated cost to own on this list at about $1,138 a month on a $158,000 median, including the county's property tax and average insurance.

Where are home prices rising fastest in Southwest Florida?

Naples, at +4.8% a year compounded over five years; over the past twelve months it moved -3.6%.

How is this ranking calculated?

Score = 50 + 10 times a weighted sum of capped z-scores: affordability (annual cost to own the median home divided by median household income, 35%), five-year compound appreciation (15%), county population growth (15%), market balance (distance of months of supply from 5, 10%), sales volume (10%), and the gap between owning and renting (15%). Every input is printed in the table; the inputs are prices, costs, incomes, growth and supply only.

Every ranking in this series

Homes for sale in Florida by city and county · Florida city and relocation guides

Rankings are computed from the published data sources and the formula stated on this page, with no editorial scoring; the inputs are prices, costs, incomes, growth and supply, and the rankings describe housing economics, not the character of any community. Figures are as of 2026-09-07 and change as new sales record. EAB RE Investments LLC dba Momentum Realty is a licensed Florida real estate brokerage. Listing data deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Housing Opportunity.