Fort Myers, a Gulf Coast paradise, has risen in popularity for those looking to move to Florida. From its legendary food scene to its easy access to all Florida has to offer, it shouldn’t come as a surprise nearly 92,200 people are living in Fort Myers.
If you’re considering buying a home in Fort Myers, know that the housing market is very competitive, the median home sale price is $390,000, and average sale price per square foot is $243. For renters, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Fort Myers is about $1,397.
Don’t worry if those prices don’t fit in your budget – we’ve got options to help you find a home or apartment that does. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best affordable Fort Myers suburbs to check out. And they’re all less than 35 minutes away from the city. That way you can live near Fort Myers and all its unique activities without paying the premium price of buying a home or renting an apartment there.
#1: Villas
Median home price: $238,000
Average sale price per square foot: $205
Driving distance from Fort Myers: 20 minutes
Villas, FL homes for sale
Villas, FL apartments for rent
With a median home sale price of $238,000, Villas takes the number one spot on our list of affordable Fort Myers suburbs. About 12,700 people live in this suburban area and you’ll only be about a 20-minute drive away from downtown Fort Myers. Living in Villas, you can visit one of the many parks.
#2: Cypress Lake
Median home price: $280,000
Average sale price per square foot: $241
Driving distance from Fort Myers: 20 minutes
Cypress Lake, FL homes for sale
Cypress Lake, FL apartments for rent
Taking the second spot on our list is Cypress Lake. Only 20 minutes from the city center you can take a sunset cruise on the Gulf or relax on one of the white sand beaches in no time. Living in Cypress Lake, make sure to golf at one of the many golf courses in the area. When living in this suburb of 13,700 people, you can also spend the day checking out the charming downtown.
#3: Fort Myers Shores
Median home price: $317,500
Average sale price per square foot: $206
Driving distance from Fort Myers: 20 minutes
Fort Myers Shores, FL homes for sale
Fort Myers Shores, FL apartments for rent
20 minutes outside of the city, you’ll find yourself in the suburb of Fort Myers Shores. From parks and outdoor recreation to supporting local businesses, there’s lots of things that make Fort Myers Shores a great place to live. Make sure to visit one of the many shops and attractions if you move to the third most affordable suburb.
#4: Lehigh Acres
Median home price: $329,950
Average sale price per square foot: $203
Driving distance from Fort Myers: 35 minutes
Lehigh Acres, FL homes for sale
Lehigh Acres, FL apartments for rent
Only slightly more expensive than Fort Myers Shores is none other than Lehigh Acres. About 114,300 people live in this Fort Myers suburb, where you can explore the Frank Mann Preserve or one of the other green spaces in the area.
#5: North Fort Myers
Median home price: $330,000
Average sale price per square foot: $210
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $1,150
Driving distance from Fort Myers: 8 minutes
North Fort Myers, FL homes for sale
North Fort Myers, FL apartments for rent
8 minutes away from downtown Fort Myers is North Fort Myers, another great suburb to consider moving to. With 42,700 residents, moving to this affordable suburb can keep you close enough to Fort Myers, without paying the premium for a home there. Living in North Fort Myers, you can explore the wetlands at Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve, bike or hike at Prairie Pines Preserve, and grab a meal at one of the great restaurants.
#6: San Carlos Park
Median home price: $380,000
Average sale price per square foot: $267
Driving distance from Fort Myers: 25 minutes
San Carlos Park, FL homes for sale
San Carlos Park, FL apartments for rent
A recognizable Fort Myers suburb is San Carlos Park, where the median home sale price is about $10K less than in Fort Myers. With roughly 18,600 people calling San Carlos Park home, it’s a great area to consider renting or buying a home in. You’ll have easy access to what makes this suburb unique.
#7: Iona
Median home price: $390,000
Average sale price per square foot: $263
Driving distance from Fort Myers: 25 minutes
Iona, FL homes for sale
Iona, FL apartments for rent
Next on our list of affordable Fort Myers suburbs is Iona, which is almost a 25-minute drive into the heart of the city. With a population of close to 16,900, you’ll be living in a smaller area, but there’s no shortage of things to do in Iona. If you find yourself moving to this suburb, make sure to golf at one of the many courses in the city.
#8: Cape Coral
Median home price: $404,990
Average sale price per square foot: $242
Driving distance from Fort Myers: 20 minutes
Cape Coral, FL homes for sale
Cape Coral, FL apartments for rent
Living in Fort Myers, it’s likely that you know of Cape Coral, the eighth suburb on our list. This affordable city is home to close to 194,000 residents, so you’ll have a fraction of Fort Myers’ population while remaining close to the city and its attractions. Living in Cape Coral, make sure to explore the Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve where you can hike, kayak, or paddleboard through the area, go fishing along the Gulf, or golf.
#9: Lochmoor Waterway Estates
Median home price: $438,500
Average sale price per square foot: $216
Driving distance from Fort Myers: 15 minutes
Lochmoor Waterway Estates, FL homes for sale
Lochmoor Waterway Estates, FL apartments for rent
The town of Lochmoor Waterway Estates is a great place to consider living in that will get you access to downtown Fort Myers in just about 15 minutes. About 5,800 people live in this suburb, but you’ll find lots of outdoor activities in Lochmoor Waterway Estates.
#10: Gateway
Median home price: $445,000
Average sale price per square foot: $232
Driving distance from Fort Myers: 25 minutes
Gateway, FL homes for sale
Gateway, FL apartments for rent
Rounding out our list of affordable Fort Myers suburbs, is Gateway. If you’re lucky to avoid traffic, it’ll only take about 25 minutes to drive into Fort Myers. This suburb has a population of 10,400 and you can golf at one of the courses on a sunny Florida day. You’ll find there’s plenty to do on an afternoon or weekend while living in this awesome suburb.
Methodology: Affordability is based on whether a suburb’s median home sale price or average sale price per square foot is less than Fort Myers and under a 35-minute drive from downtown Fort Myers. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during March 2023. Average rental data from Rent.com March 2023. Population data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.
This post first appeared on Redfin.com. To see the original, click here.