City profile · Florida · Census ACS 2023

Estero, FL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Estero - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

37,258
Residents
$100,459
Median income
$430,500
Median home
$1,961
Median rent (state)

Estero - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Estero lands in the 78th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

78th
percentile, household income
80th
percentile, home value
82nd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Estero, FL

37,258 people live in Estero, Florida - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Estero brings in $100,459 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.3%. Home values in Estero run a median of $430,500, and the median resident age is 65.4 years. Educational attainment runs 49.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 39.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 387 residential building permits were authorized in Estero (Rapid Growth), up 43% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Florida carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Florida scores 103.4 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,961 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Florida, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Estero report an average commute of 21.1 minutes, with 71.0% driving alone and 19.8% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 99.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

37,258 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Florida

Median Household Income

$100,459 /yr

Poverty 4.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Florida average

How does Estero compare to other US cities?

Where Estero sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 78% higher than other cities
Home value 80% pricier than other cities
Median rent 82% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Estero against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Florida only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Florida-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Estero toward the top of Florida's cities

Among the 930 Florida cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Estero ranks #144 - the 84th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Estero only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#151 of 903
83rd percentile in Florida
Median Gross Rent
#396 of 930
53rd percentile in Florida
Median Home Value
#202 of 894
77th percentile in Florida
Poverty Rate
#674 of 930
27th percentile in Florida
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#144 of 930
84th percentile in Florida

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Florida only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

78thIncome percentile

78th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Estero's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$430,500 20th percentile more affordable than 20% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Estero $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Estero, FL Estero, FL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Estero, FL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Estero, FL median $100,459/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Estero, FL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Estero, FL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 49.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 39.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
37,258
Median Income
$100,459
Median Home Value
$430,500
Median Age
65.4
Poverty Rate
4.3%
Labor force participation
39.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
49.7%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
36,500 residents37,000 residents37,500 residents38,000 residents38,500 residents39,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 37,044 residents 38,365 residents ▲ +3.6%
Estero's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
387
housing units authorized
Single-Family
164
detached homes
Multifamily
223
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
10.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 270
2020 105
2021 29
2022 397
2023 320
2024 387

Permit volume increased 43% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
21.1 minutes
Drive Alone
71.0%
Carpool
5.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.1%
Work from Home
19.8%
Other
2.3%

Based on 13,259 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Florida - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$145
avg/month
Natural Gas
$25
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Florida state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Florida state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Estero sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,961/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Florida

South Miami Heights
37,525 people
Riviera Beach
38,032 people
Winter Springs
38,448 people
Dunedin
36,060 people
Richmond West
35,988 people
Lauderdale Lakes
35,924 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Estero's 37,258 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Midlothian, TX
37,256 people
Tooele, UT
37,265 people
Mission Bend, TX
37,280 people
Myrtle Beach, SC
37,214 people
Muskegon, MI
37,203 people
Cedar City, UT
37,202 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Estero's $100,459 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Smith River, CA
$100,461 median income
Towson, MD
$100,481 median income
South Ilion, NY
$100,481 median income
Saratoga Springs, NY
$100,485 median income
Milton, LA
$100,428 median income
Rolling Meadows, IL
$100,424 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Estero, FL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Estero, FL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.9% White 89.0% Black or African American 0.8% Asian 2.5% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.0% Two or more races 5.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Estero compares to nearby Florida cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Estero (this city) 37,258 $100,459
South Miami Heights 37,525 $64,657
Riviera Beach 38,032 $62,152
Winter Springs 38,448 $86,332
Census ACS 5-year FIPS FL NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Estero, FL?

What is the population of Estero, FL? +

37,258 people live in Estero, FL according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Estero, FL? +

Estero households earn a median of $100,459 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Estero? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Estero; the closest available measure is the Florida state average, a cost of living index of 103.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Florida vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Estero, FL? +

Estero's median home value sits at $430,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.