Fort Myers Apartments and Rentals

Fort Myers is a tropical beach town nestled along the shoreline of the Caloosahatchee River and just off the Gulf of Mexico. The vibrant town is family-friendly and welcoming to multicultural and diverse lifestyles. Boasting cute ice cream shops, beach-themed restaurants and a plethora of beach destinations, Fort Myers embraces easy living at its finest.

Home to more than 63,000 residents with an average age of 32, Fort Myers is Southwest Florida’s destination for fishing, golfing and shopping. Also known for its water park, farmers market and local eateries, it’s no wonder young and old flock to Fort Myers apartments for rent. The city’s historic downtown is getting a facelift with new nightlife, shopping centers and artistic venues, kickstarting a unique living experience in the growing city bound by a laid-back atmosphere.

The history of Fort Myers is believed to begin as early as the early 1500s when Spanish explorer Ponce De Leon visited the islands along the Gulf Coast. But it wasn’t until 1821 that Florida became a United States Territory, and by 1885 the town boasted a population of 349. Since then, Fort Myers has turned into a beautiful beachside community with nature reserves and plenty of things to do.

Fort Myers is coined as the City of Palms for its abundance of Royal Palms, some standing at more than 75 feet tall. Rentals in Fort Myers are likely to embrace the tropical lifestyle as many stucco homes and apartment buildings in the area are painted in vibrant pink, green or orange, especially those on Estero Island. Home to Fort Myers Beach, Estero Island is a bustling region of beach dwellers and high-rise buildings. For renters seeking a more slow-paced region within the same county, Lee County, Cape Coral is rapidly growing because of its canal property that leads boaters to Estero Island or Sanibel Island. Bonita Springs and Sanibel Island are smaller, more affluent areas with white sand beaches and crystal clear waters less visited by travelers.

Because of Fort Myers’ high density of tourists, many jobs are available for residents in hospitality and leisure at Estero Island’s many hotels, nightlife attractions and restaurants. In a state long known for its aviation, Lee County is home to two international airports. Southwest Florida International airport grew beyond its capacity and a new terminal was opened in 2005 claiming its title as one of the 50 busiest airports in the country. Page Field is smaller and located south of downtown Fort Myers. Other booming industries in the Fort Myers-Cape Coral area include professional services, information technologies, life sciences and manufacturing.

Fort Myers apartments are home to many students who attended Edison College, Southwest Florida College or Florida Gulf Coast University. These smaller institutions are geared toward working professionals and recent high-school graduates alike with degrees ranging from the medical field, public safety and education.

Overall, Fort Myers is a relatively inexpensive area to live in. Rated by Bestplaces.net as 9.6 percent lower than the average cost of living in other areas of the country, its no wonder the population grew by 29.9 percent between 2000 and 2011. Living in downtown Fort Myers or Cape Coral will generally be less expensive than Estero Island, Sanibel and Bonita Springs because of their closer proximity to the beach.

Beyond the sandy shores of Fort Myers, the city is home to several museums and nature reserves. The Shell Factory and nature park is the area’s no. 1 family destination and has been in business for 75 years.

The historic winter residences of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford are unlike most other tropical attractions in the city. Boasting landscaping from the late 1920s, the Edison and Ford Winter Estates is on the National Register Historic Site, a Florida Historic Landmark and Winner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Restoration Award.

To find a Fort Myers apartment or rental, check out our apartment listings. Rent.com® is happy to help you find your next home.