Regional Population

From 1990 to 2017, regional population growth compounded average was 2.6 percent per year. The compound average annual rate of growth for 1990 to 2017 was 2.8 percent in Lee County, 3.2 percent in Collier County, 1.7 percent in Charlotte County, 2.0 percent in Glades County, and 1.6 percent in Hendry County. Projected growth for the five-county region averages 1.3 percent per year, resulting in a population increase of 41.8 percent from 2018 to 2045, adding over 547,000 residents and bringing the total to 1,857,272. Lee County’s population is projected to grow an average of 1.6 percent per year, Collier County at 1.3 percent, and Charlotte County at 0.8 percent. Hendry County’s population is projected to grow at an average of 0.5 percent per year and Glades County at 0.6 percent per year.

Single-Family Building Permits

The Southwest Florida coastal counties issued 985 single-family building permits in July 2019, an increase of 233 over the prior month of June. Lee County issued 515 permits in July 2019, up from 359 in June 2019. In Collier County, 274 permits were issued in July 2019, an increase of 24 over June 2019. Charlotte County issued 196 permits in July 2019, up 53 over June 2018.

Existing Single–Family Home Sales and Median Prices

Total Realtor® sales of single-family homes in the three counties amounted to 2,123 units in July 2019, down 45 units (2 percent) from June 2019, but 201 units (10 percent) more than July 2018. Home sale trend lines remained positive for all three counties.

Single-family home sales in Lee County increased to 1,261 in July 2019, up 4 units over the prior month and 96 (8 percent) more than July 2018. The median price in Lee County rose to $260,000 in July 2019 compared to $255,006 in June 2019 and $255,000 in July 2018. Collier County single-family home sales totaled 462 in July 2019, a decrease of 31 units (6 percent) from the previous month, and 74 units (19 percent) more than July 2018. The median price in Collier County declined to $424,500 from $430,000 in June 2019 and from $449,375 in July 2018. Charlotte County reported 400 single- family home sales in July 2019, a decrease of 18 (4 percent) from June 2019, and 31 more (8 percent) than July 2018. Charlotte’s median price edged up to $229,894 in July 2019, compared to $227,250 in June 2019 and $213,900 in July 2018.