The city of North Fort Myers sits along the blue waters of the Caloosahatchee River, offering a blend of commercial convenience and rural lands with recreation opportunities that appeal to snowbirds and full-time residents, alike. "There's a lot of variations in North Fort Myers. They've got good schools, farmlands, older neighborhoods on the river and lots of older homes getting torn down to build mansions on the water," says Lori Caldwell of Hamilton-Franklin Realty, a Realtor living and working in Lee County. Community parks and preserves provide a close place to play, while the vibrant areas of downtown Fort Myers offer a wide range of restaurants and nightlife. The city has around 42,000 residents, and many commute across the river for Fort Myers's growing hospitality, retail and healthcare industries, with Lee Health serving as the largest employer in the area.
North Fort Myers golfers can play a round with friends at Del Tura Golf & Country Club.
North Ft Myers has a wide selection of housing options including manufacture homes.
Popular restaurants and local favorites can be found throughout North Fort Myers.
The Calusa Blueway lets boaters and kayakers to get out onto the water in North Fort Myers.
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Recreation on the Caloosahatchee River
North Fort Myers offers widespread outdoor recreation by land or sea. Prairie Pines Preserve sits in the middle of the city and features more than 17 miles of hiking trails that wind through woodlands, marshes and scrublands. Similarly, Powell Creek Preserve offers hiking and biking trails. Kayakers can launch their kayaks on the Great Calusa Blueway, a 190-mile aquatic trail that winds across the Caloosahatchee River and Estero Bay. When residents seek a more relaxed walk along boardwalks or need a place to launch their paddleboats, Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve sits along the community's southern border. For access to indoor activities, North Fort Myers Recreation Center lies within the North Fort Myers Community Park, right across from North Fort Myers Public Library, all located along North Tamiami Trail.
North Fort Myers Recreation Center is a hotspot in season with daily shuffleboard games.
North Fort Myers residents will find trails through nature at Prairie Pines Preserve.
Golfing is a popular past time in North Fort Myers communities.
Recreation in North Fort Myers includes boating and kayaking on the Great Calusa Blueway.
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Gated communities and waterfront condos
This city offers a variety of housing, from condo complexes that line the shores of the Caloosahatchee River to Spanish-revival estates in gated communities. Single-family homes make up most of the housing, including multiple senior communities like Forest Park. "There are a lot of mobile home parks that are 55-plus where you don't own the land, which people love," Caldwell says. Turnkey condos begin at $100,000, while units in amenity-rich subdivisions like North Star Yacht Club cost around $450,000. Single-family homes with three bedrooms and less than 1,000 square feet are priced around $200,000, and larger homes boasting more recent construction years can reach up to $550,000. On the high end, sprawling estate homes like those in the Pine Shadow Air Park neighborhood can reach over $3 million. The average home value is around $390,000, which is below the national average.
Manufactured mobile homes remain a popular housing option throughout North Fort Myers.
Residences in North Fort Myers include riverside condominiums offering grand views.
New developments in North Fort Myers offer stylish homes in quiet neighborhoods.
North Fort Myers communities offer golf and club amenities steps away from homes.
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National retailers along North Cleveland Avenue
The community is spread out across many miles, and locals often drive to nearby commercial hubs. Residents have access to national retailers like Walmart, Harbor Freight Tools and Big Lots along North Cleveland Avenue in the western part of the city. Locally owned restaurants are scattered throughout North Fort Myers, including popular spots like Hogbody's Bar and Stamatis Family Restaurant. Downtown Fort Myers is just across the river, offering numerous nightlife spots with upscale dining and daily live music.
North Ft Myers residents love the laid-back atmosphere at Nauti Parrot Tiki Hut.
Smoke'n Pit BBQ is a staple for souther style food in North Fort Myers.
Hogbody's Bar and Grill is a local favorite for comfort food in North Ft Myers.
Popular shopping and dining options can be found on N. Cleveland Ave. in North Ft Myers.
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Country fun at the Rodeo
Whether looking for a day at the farm or an evening of excitement, North Fort Myers and its bordering communities keep events close to home. Stops like 31 Produce allow residents to pick their produce, from strawberries to Brussels sprouts, while Lee County Posse Arena invites locals to participate in the Rodeo or watch activities like goat tying and steer wrestling.
31 Produce allows shoppers to pick their own fruits and vegetables.
Events near North Fort Myers include weekly farmers markets.
North Fort Myers residents will find fun events in the area year round.
Fresh local produce is one of the many reasons residents love to live in North Fort Myers.
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Lee County Schools is a landing spot for athletes
The Lee County Public School District serves the city and receives a B-rating from Niche. According to Niche, Lee County Schools also ranks among the top 15 best districts for athletes in Florida. Most students attend North Fort Myers High School, earning an A on Niche. The High School offers numerous arts programs and dual enrollment courses at Florida Southwestern State College, 10 miles away. North Fort Myers Academy For The Arts is a specialty magnet school offering younger students programs in band, dance, visual arts and photography.
North Fort Myers High School receives an impressive grade of A on Niche.
FSW State College is a great place to watch local athletes compete near North Fort Myers.
North Fort Myers Academy For The Arts is a specialty magnet school for younger students.
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Well-connected to Fort Myers and Punta Gorda
North Fort Myers enjoys a well-connected location to the rest of Southwest Florida. It is centrally located between Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Punta Gorda. "This provides a lot of restaurants, nightlife and shopping opportunities in close proximity, and we're not in the midst of a lot of traffic," Shelly Fuhrhop, a local Realtor with Sabella Realty. "Three bridges span the Caloosahatchee River, including US Route 41 and Interstate 75. Downtown Fort Myers is 3 miles south, while Punta Gorda is 21 miles north. Punta Gorda Airport is a hub for Allegiant Air, an ultra-low-cost carrier servicing small and medium-sized cities. Southwest Florida International Airport is 18 miles away and offers domestic and international flights. The LeeTran, Lee County's public bus service, stops along North Cleveland Avenue and connects to First Street and Tamiami Trail.
Crime and Environment
Southwest Florida is prone to hurricanes, and much of North Fort Myers lies in FEMA-Designated Special Flood Hazard Areas. Multiple storms have struck the region since 2000, including Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Hurricane Milton in 2024. However, the city's inland location provides some protection from stronger storms. "Overall, the area has fared well," Fuhrhop says. "Homes close to the river saw some flooding, but homes on higher elevations were okay." Lee County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, and homeowners are encouraged to review available policies. The city experiences mild winters and warm, sunny summers with frequent thunderstorms and showers from June to September.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office serves North Fort Myers and employs over 1,700 officers and support staff. According to data from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Lee County's violent crime rate decreased by 12% from 2021 to 2022. Additionally, Lee County's violent crime rate was significantly lower than Florida's average. This is part of a larger trend that has seen crime in Unincorporated Lee County fall by 59.4% since 2010.
Raised in Westchester County, New York. Graduated from Iona College, New Rochelle NY with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing & Fine Arts. From a large close knit family with very diverse backgrounds, nurses, policemen, firemen, chefs, attorneys, teachers, engineers, and of course, salespeople. My husband, Pete (Long Island, NY), myself and our daughters have resided here in the Cape since 1985. Pete is a construction manager and has many years of Home Building experience and local subcontractor knowledge, which greatly enhances my business. Shawna and Kim, our daughters, both graduated from Florida State Universities. Kim is an engineer with Bonita Springs Water, is married to Bill with 2 beautiful daughters, Emma and Jolene. Our youngest, Shawna lives on the East Coast of Florida, South Beach, employed in the Art/Marketing industry also is a Yoga Instructor.
We moved to this area to enjoy the year round boating. We also enjoy fishing, and when they’re not biting, we’re visiting our many waterfront restaurants and nearby beaches. We appreciate the many diverse cultural activities our West Coast area offers from Local Regional Theatres, Symphonies, Broadway Shows and my favorite, the Weekend Farmers Market & Art Shows.
Put my experience to work for you, from choosing the right home & location, negotiating the best deal, constant contact throughout the entire process. Keeping you informed at all times. If you are looking for more knowledge, more experience, more choices, call me to discuss all the possibilities. Whether it’s waterfront, golf course or gated communities, you really can have it all, and get MORE. Let me help you find your Passport To Paradise!
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
