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City · 37,858 residents · Lee County, Florida

Estero , Florida

In Estero, a typical home is worth $461,900 and typical rent is $1,920 a month. Compared with all of Lee County, typical household income is 37% higher, the typical home value is 28% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 12 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $461,900

    28% above the county

    29% above Florida

    • Estero
    • Lee
    • Florida

  • Typical rent

    $1,920a month

    12% above the county

    15% above Florida

    • Estero
    • Lee
    • Florida

  • Typical household income

    $104,102a year

    37% above the county

    40% above Florida

    • Estero
    • Lee
    • Florida

  • Households that own their home

    86%

    12 points above the county

    18 points above Florida

    • Estero
    • Lee
    • Florida

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$486,132
2.3% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,594 a month
3.1% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Estero is in Lee County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lee County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Estero apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Villas, the typical home value is $248,700: 46% less than in Estero ($461,900).

  2. The typical household income in Estero is $104,102, 37% more than in Lee County as a whole ($76,107).

  3. The typical home in Estero is worth $461,900, 28% more than in Lee County as a whole ($362,200).

  4. 86% of households in Estero own their home, against 74% in Lee County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Estero

What homes there are in Estero, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Estero there is a bit of everything: no kind of home reaches half. The most common are detached houses (45%); in Lee County, 55%.

Year built

Homes in Estero are newer: the typical year built is 2004; in Lee County, 1997.

There are fewer big homes in Estero than in Lee County: 54% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 57%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA limit for Lee County is $541,287: about 61% of owner-occupied homes in Estero are worth less, and the rest more.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,235 a month

Lee County: $1,921 a month

Without a mortgage

$938 a month

Lee County: $758 a month

Owners with a mortgage

43%

Lee County: 52%

Owning costs more in Estero: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $2,235 a month; in Lee County, $1,921. Without one, $938.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Estero gained value more slowly than in Lee County: 36% since 2015–2019, against 61%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Estero rose 22%, less than in Lee County (48%).

To compare: typical income in Estero rose 27%; the home, +36%; the rent, +22%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureEsteroLee CountyFloridaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate10.3%7.6%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.9%1.4%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.4%3.3%3.4%
People per household 2.032.452.512.53
Drive alone 69%71%70%69%
Carpool 6%10%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%2%3%
Work from home 23%15%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Estero are smaller: 2.03 people on average; in Lee County, 2.45.

Working from home is more common in Estero: 23%, against 15% in Lee County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Estero?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Estero, worth $461,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 44% of the typical household income in Estero, which is $104,102 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $162,535 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lee County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Estero. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $16,167 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,793

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$453,533
Total interest
$652,528
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $7,800 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,429 a month

  • Tight

    $2,429 to $3,123 a month

  • Hard

    more than $3,123 a month

    Your payment · 44%

Compared with the typical household income in Estero ($104,102 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,793
Principal & interest$3,072
Property tax$323
Home insurance$193
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$204

You need at least $16,167 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Estero and Lee County

Estero is in Lee County, Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Estero's own numbers

Typical home value
$461,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,920
Typical yearly household income
$104,102
Households that own their home
86%
Effective property tax rate
0.84%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Lee County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,835
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+49%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
42%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Lee County.

Everything about Lee County

Buying

Buying a home in Estero

A typical home in Estero is worth $461,900: 28% above the county and 29% above Florida. With the typical household income in Estero ($104,102 a year), a typical home costs 4.4 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Estero 4.4 years
  • Lee 4.8 years
  • Florida 4.8 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Lee County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lee County rose 101% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lee County.

Period County Florida U.S.
Last year (2025) −6.7% −0.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +49% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +101% +127% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Estero next to Lee County, Florida and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Estero $461,900
  • Lee $362,200
  • Florida $359,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Estero $1,920
  • Lee $1,712
  • Florida $1,669
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Estero $104,102
  • Lee $76,107
  • Florida $74,568
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Estero next to Lee County and Florida
Measure Estero Lee County Florida U.S.
Typical home value $461,900 $362,200 $359,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,920 $1,712 $1,669 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $104,102 $76,107 $74,568 $80,734
Households that own their home 86% 74% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,877 $2,858 $2,730 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.84% 0.79% 0.76% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 54% 60% 60% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lee County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Estero

For a typical $461,900 home in Estero, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Estero's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,792a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $16,167
    Cash to close
    $30,024
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $204

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,708a month

    Down payment
    $23,095
    Cash to close
    $36,952
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $219

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,019a month

    Down payment
    $92,380
    Cash to close
    $106,237
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,446a month

    Down payment
    $69,285
    Cash to close
    $83,142
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Estero and for Lee County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Estero

0.84%of the home’s value each year

$3,877 a year for the typical owner in Estero.

  • Estero 0.84%
  • Lee 0.79%
  • Florida 0.76%

What Florida publishes Homestead exemption (Florida Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Florida

Flood risk in Lee County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Lee County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
42%
145,195
Of those, with NFIP insurance
47%
County Florida U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 42% 13% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 47% 67% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Estero

Typical rent in Estero is $1,920 a month: 12% above the county. In Estero, 54% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lee County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,835 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $35.29 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Lee County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,555 $29.90 $62,200
1 bedroom $1,564 $30.08 $62,560
2 bedrooms $1,835 $35.29 $73,400
3 bedrooms $2,373 $45.63 $94,920
4 bedrooms $2,615 $50.29 $104,600

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Estero

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Estero has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $2,060 in 34135 to $2,300 in 33928.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Lee County ($1,835).

  • 33928 $2,300$3,000
  • 34135 $2,060$2,660

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Estero when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Estero

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 3 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Lee County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair to help a teenage girl with her book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Estero

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Estero or Lee County. The ones below are statewide in Florida: they work in Estero the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Florida

Housing counselors near Estero

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Estero, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties, Inc.

    12751 New Brittany Blvd Ste 100, Fort Myers · 10 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (239) 652-4663

  • Affordable Homeownership Foundation Inc

    5264 Clayton Ct Ste 1, Fort Myers · 12 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 11 more
    (239) 689-4944

  • Lee County Housing Development Corporation

    3677 Central Ave Ste F, Fort Myers · 13 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (239) 275-5105

Every agency in Lee County All counseling agencies in Florida

Help in Spanish near Estero

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Estero

HUD’s record names them for Estero or Lee County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Lee County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (239) 360-8038

One other authority has an office in Lee County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Lee County

These cities are also in Lee County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Lee County Housing in Florida
See 5 more cities in Lee County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Estero, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Lee County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Estero.

All guides
A family walks a boardwalk trail in the forest; one of them uses a wheelchair.

Questions

Housing questions about Estero

Short answers with the numbers for Estero and all of Lee County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Estero?

The typical home value in Estero is $461,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lee County it is $362,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Estero?

Typical rent in Estero is $1,920 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lee County is $1,835.

What is the FHA loan limit in Estero?

Estero uses the FHA limit for all of Lee County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Estero?

The typical homeowner in Estero pays $3,877 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.84% of the home’s value; in Lee County, the rate is 0.79%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Estero?

There are 3 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lee County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).