Metric System-Speed Limit Sign, 2007
Florida Gulf Coast University’s story
35 years in pictures
The archive holds 21 old photos and papers going back to 2007 and 3 maps from 1958 on.
- 1991Florida Gulf Coast University is settled
Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFL
The town was settled in 1991 and has 4,836 residents today.
Population
4,836
Census survey, 2020–24
Household income
$26K
median
Median age
19.5
years
Jobs based here
2,469
A job hub
Settled
1991
35 years ago
Is Florida Gulf Coast University a good place to live?
Florida Gulf Coast University’s best subject grade is an A for walkability; its weakest is a D for hazard risk. 78% of residents live below the poverty line in Florida Gulf Coast University, where Florida State’s towns sit at 11% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. Only 67 of Florida State’s 776 towns score higher on walkability. The median household income is $26K, and 78% of residents live below the poverty line. On history, just 3 of Florida State’s 779 towns do worse. Florida Gulf Coast University is home to Florida Gulf Coast University. Florida Gulf Coast University has no overall grade: it has no figures for cost of living and safety, and an overall grade needs at least three of the four big subjects (cost of living, safety, schools and health).
How Florida Gulf Coast University grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Florida State), ordered by how far Florida Gulf Coast University is from typical.
Florida Gulf Coast University has no overall grade: it has no figures for cost of living and safety, and an overall grade needs at least three of the four big subjects (cost of living, safety, schools and health).
WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.9 of 20; 4.6% of households have no carAOpen →Hazard riskHurricanes top the listDOpen →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work are among the weakest comparedDOpen →HealthGulf Coast Medical Center Lee Health 7.7 miles awayCOpen →SchoolsBehind 64% of Florida State districts on tests and graduationC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 0% conserved landB−Open →HistoryNear the bottom of the towns comparedD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
What makes Florida Gulf Coast University stand out
Where Florida Gulf Coast University beats most towns.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here2,469
Residents who work617
Work
4 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 99% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 94% of U.S. towns
11.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
The college
| College | Students |
|---|---|
| Florida Gulf Coast University | 13,852 |
College town
13,852 college students
at Florida Gulf Coast University
Students are part of everyday life here.
College town
98% of Florida Gulf Coast University is in college
College Scorecard · IPEDS
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Florida Gulf Coast University.
Who lives here
The median age in Florida Gulf Coast University is lower than in most of Florida State or the rest of the country
19.5median age · FL 42.6
Adults 18 to 34 are 97% of residents (21% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 1% of residents (38% statewide). Among adults 25 and older, 32% have a four-year degree or more, against 34% across Florida State.
| Florida Gulf Coast University | Florida State towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 19.5 years | 42.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 32% | 31% | 29% |
Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFlorida StateUnited States
Ages · share of residents
97%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma0%
High school30%
Some college9%
Associate’s30%
Bachelor’s19%
Graduate13%
Women and men · all residents
59% women, 41% men
About 71 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±5.4 points). Across Florida State, 50.9% of residents are women. Median age: women 19.5, men 19.6.
| Florida Gulf Coast University | FL | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 0% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 2% | 9.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 96.8% | 8.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 0.2% | 12.7% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 0.1% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 0.8% | 12.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 0% | 13.4% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 0% | 11.7% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 0% | 9.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 0% | 10.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 29.6% | 27.2% | 26% |
| Some college | 9.3% | 18.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 29.6% | 10.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 18.5% | 21.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 13% | 12.9% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 4,800, single groups can be off by several points
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
In Florida Gulf Coast University, the median household income runs lower than in the typical Florida State or U.S. town
5%work in town
Just 5% of Florida Gulf Coast University’s working residents have a job in town. Only 10 of the 638 Florida State towns we compare have a lower average commute than Florida Gulf Coast University. Also worth knowing: this Florida State town had 2,469 jobs in 2023, up 2,088 from 2013. For half of commuters, work is under 99 miles away.
| Florida Gulf Coast University | Florida State towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 17 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $26,000 | $73,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Florida Gulf Coast University5%
Tampa5%
Naples2%
Sarasota2%
Fort Myers2%
99 mi
median commute distance
2,469
jobs based in Florida Gulf Coast University
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 94% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Natural hazards: very high risk in Florida Gulf Coast University, mostly hurricanes
85risk score of 100
In Florida Gulf Coast University, the FEMA risk score is 85 of 100. Of the losses FEMA expects in the town, 83% come from hurricanes and 13% from inland flooding.
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland flooding
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthC
Florida Gulf Coast University is less healthy than two in three U.S. towns
32%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade
18% of Florida Gulf Coast University adults have high blood pressure. CDC measures, 31 in all: Florida Gulf Coast University beats Florida State on 7 and trails on 18. No town among the 636 in Florida State we compare has a higher share of adults who report frequent mental distress than Florida Gulf Coast University.
| Florida Gulf Coast University | Florida State towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 4% | 13% | 12% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 16% | 17% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 18% | 23% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 37% | 35% |
31 measures vs. Florida State
7 better6 too close to call18 worse
| What stands out | Florida Gulf Coast University | FL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 1.1% | 9.1% |
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 4% | 13.5% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 52.2% | 12.7% |
Gulf Coast Medical Center Lee Health
7.7 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
28th
percentile among FL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
In Florida Gulf Coast University, expect mild winters and hot summers
92°summer high
July afternoons reach 92°, January nights drop to 53° and snow is almost unheard of.
Typical low → high °F
Winter55–77°
Spring63–85°
Summer73–92°
Fall67–86°
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
OutdoorsB−
0.1% of the land in Florida Gulf Coast University is protected from building
0.1%conserved
Trails total 1.6 miles in 1 park or preserve. In Florida Gulf Coast University, the trail network density is 0.7 miles per square mile. This Florida State town has one park or preserve, 2 acres in all.
| Florida Gulf Coast University | Florida State towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 0.1% | 3% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.7 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
0.1%
conserved · 1 of 1,558 acres
1.6 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. SoVi Green | 0.1 mi | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Florida Gulf Coast University
16pages on Florida Gulf Coast University
The big questions
Out and about
Nearby attractions
All 17 attractions →Hertz Arena and 12 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Florida Gulf Coast University. Close and well known come first.
2 mi Stadium & arenaHertz Arena
30 mi National PreserveBig Cypress National Preserve2.3M visitors a year
4 mi State parkKoreshan State Historic Site7 mi State parkMound Key Archeological State Park
14 mi MuseumEdison and Ford Winter Estates
33 mi State parkCayo Costa State ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Hertz Arena: Tthaas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Big Cypress National Preserve: Gzzz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Koreshan State Historic Site: Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Edison and Ford Winter Estates: Rolf Müller (User:Rolfmueller), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cayo Costa State Park: https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrea_pauline/, CC BY-SA 2.0
Getting set up
Moving to Florida Gulf Coast University: who provides what
Florida Gulf Coast University is unincorporated, so Lee County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerFPL14.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterLee County UtilitiesNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesLee CountyLee County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Florida State you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereLee Supervisor of ElectionsLee County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2023
ZIP code3396533965 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 17, 2025.
A job hub
Every workday, about 2,437 people come to Florida Gulf Coast University for work
Where Florida Gulf Coast University’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,469jobs based in Florida Gulf Coast University
5%of working residents work in town
99 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida Gulf Coast UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Florida Gulf Coast UniversityIn town$6,118 in-state tuitionFlorida SouthWestern State CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Fort Myers9.8 mi$3,401 in-state tuition
College town 98 of every 100 Florida Gulf Coast University residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Florida State.
About Florida Gulf Coast University
Public university in Fort Myers, Florida, US
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is a public university in Lee County, Florida, United States. Located near Fort Myers, it is part of the State University System of Florida and is its second-youngest member. The university was established on May 3, 1991, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). It offers 65 bachelor's degree programs, 27 master's degree programs, 7 doctoral degree programs, and 19 academic certificates. FGCU's intercollegiate athletic teams, the Eagles, compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) in NCAA Division I sports.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1991
- ZIP code
- 33965-6565
Questions about Florida Gulf Coast University
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Florida Gulf Coast University, FL a good place to live?
Florida Gulf Coast University has no overall grade: it has no figures for cost of living and safety, and an overall grade needs at least three of the four big subjects (cost of living, safety, schools and health).
Florida Gulf Coast University is in here
Say something about Florida Gulf Coast University.
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