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Lee County

FL · Pop. 792,692 · Urban County

45/100Homestead Score

Lee County sits in Florida across 781 square miles, home to 792,692 people at 1015 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on corn, hay, soybeans. A median home price of $326,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.83% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 10b with a 365-day growing season, average summer highs of 91.7°F and average winter lows of 55.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 55.9 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Healthpark Medical Center is 5.9 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 98.3% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.83%
Growing Season: 365 days
Broadband: 98.3%
Density: 1015/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 365-day growing season in USDA zone 10b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.83% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • Broadband reaches 98.3% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Healthpark Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 5.9 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A low poverty rate of 11.7% signals a relatively stable local economy.

Cons

  • Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
  • At 1015 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.

At a glance

Lee County, FL is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.

Homestead score
45/100
Median home price
$326k
Property tax
0.83%
Growing season
365 days (zone 10b)
Annual rainfall
55.9"
Broadband
98.3%
Nearest hospital
Healthpark Medical Center, 5.9 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.83%
Median Household Income$73,099
Poverty Rate11.7%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$326K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone10b
Growing Season365 days
Annual Rainfall55.9 inches
Avg Summer High91.7°F
Avg Winter Low55.3°F
Top CropsCorn, Hay, Soybeans

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought6/10
Wildfire10/10
Tornado9/10
Flood10/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalHealthpark Medical Center (5.9 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities7

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage98.3%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate4.3%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Lee County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Lee County?
Lee County is in USDA hardiness zone 10b with a 365-day growing season, average summer highs of 91.7°F, and average winter lows of 55.3°F. The established crops are corn, hay, soybeans.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $326,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.83%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 98.3% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Healthpark Medical Center is 5.9 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 7 hospitals in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.