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Moving to Sanibel, FL?

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Everything You Should Know Before Moving to Sanibel, FL

Considering a move to Sanibel, FL? With a friendly community of about 6,400 residents and a median home price of $917,000, Sanibel offers a relaxed island lifestyle with a higher cost of living. You'll enjoy beautiful weather—74% sunny days and mild winters—plus extremely low crime rates and short commute times. The city is known for its top-rated public school, high educational attainment, and easy access to healthcare and nearby colleges, making it a charming, safe, and scenic place to call home.

Demographics - Sanibel, FL

Demographics - Sanibel, FL

Sanibel is a small, close-knit community of approximately 6,400 residents, with a notably mature population—the median age is 68.1. The city is predominantly White, and non-English speakers make up about 7.5% of the population, contributing to a friendly and peaceful island atmosphere.

demograph population
Population:
6,400
demograph density
Density:
370 per sq mi
demograph median age
Median Age:
68.1
Demograph Gender Ratio
Gender Ratio:
95 males per 100 females
demograph Non English Speakers Percentage
Non-English Speakers Percentage:
7.5%
demograph ethnicCompositionEthnic Composition
demograph whites
White:
97.2%
demograph blacks
Black:
0.4%
demograph asian
Asian:
0.6%
demograph others
Others:
1.8%
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People moving

Cost Of Living

Cost Of Living

What is the average cost of living in Sanibel, FL?

The cost of living in Sanibel is significantly above the national average, reflected in a median home value of $917,000 and a cost of living index of 153.1. While Florida's lack of state income tax is a financial perk, housing and everyday expenses are notably higher than in many other regions.

cost of living medianHouseValue
Median House Value:
$917,000
cost of living grossRent
Gross Rent:
$2,480
cost of living monthlyElectricityCharges
Monthly Electricity Charges:
$165
cost of living autoInsurance
Auto Insurance:
$2,190
cost of living houseownerCostWithMortgage
House Owner Cost With Mortgage:
$2,850
cost of living houseownerCostWithoutMortgage
House Owner Cost Without Mortgage:
$1,050
cost of living stateTaxes State Taxes:
Low:
0% (no state income tax)
|
High:
0%
cost of living costOfLivingIndex
Cost Of Living Index:
153.1
cost of living grocery
Grocery:
110.1
cost of living housing
Housing:
231.0
cost of living utilities
Utilities:
99.5
cost of living transportation
Transportation:
104.0
cost of living health-care
Health Care:
95.2
cost of living miscellaneous
Miscellaneous:
101.9

Crime

Crime

Is Sanibel, FL a safe place to live?

Sanibel enjoys exceptionally low crime rates, with violent crimes occurring at just 48 incidents per 100,000 people and a property crime rate of 610 per 100,000. Residents benefit from a strong sense of safety, making it an appealing destination for those seeking peace of mind.

crime voilentCrimes
Violent Crimes Per 100k:
48
crime propertyCrime
Property Crimes Per 100k:
610
crime crimeIndex
Crime Index:
658
crime chanceOfViolentCrime
Chance Of Violent Crime:
1 in 2,083
crime chanceOfPropertyCrime
Chance Of Property Crime:
1 in 164
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Weather

Weather

What is the weather like in Sanibel, FL year-round?

Sanibel boasts a warm and sunny climate, with mild winters ranging from 54°F to 74°F and summers peaking around 91°F. The area receives about 54 inches of rainfall annually and enjoys sunshine 74% of the year, ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and beach lovers.

weather winterWinter
weather min
Min:
54°F
weather max
Max:
74°F
weather springSpring
weather min
Min:
66°F
weather max
Max:
85°F
weather summerSummer
weather min
Min:
75°F
weather max
Max:
91°F
weather fallFall
weather min
Min:
68°F
weather max
Max:
86°F
weather averageRainfallInches
Average Rainfall Inches:
54.0 inches
weather sunnyDays Percentage
Sunny Days Percentage:
74%

Neighbors

Neighbors

Locals in Sanibel tend to be well-educated and financially comfortable, with a median household income of $110,200 and over 62% holding a bachelor's degree or higher. The low poverty rate of 4.6% and average commute time of just under 24 minutes contribute to a high quality of life.

neighbor medianIncome
Median Income:
$76,400
neighbor householdIncome
Household Income:
$110,200
neighbor familyIncome
Family Income:
$122,000
neighbor perCapitaIncome
Per Capita Income:
$79,200
neighbor incomeMale
Income Male:
$85,000
neighbor incomeFemale
Income Female:
$62,000
neighbor povertyRate
Poverty Rate:
4.6%
neighbor nonEnglishSpeakers
Non English Speakers:
7.5%
neighbor rent
Rent:
$2,480
neighbor unemployment
Unemployment Rate:
3.2%
neighbor publicTransport
Public Transport Usage:
0.4%
neighbor commuteTime
Commute Time:
23.7 minutes
neighbor educationEducation
neighbor highSchool
High School or Higher:
98.3%
neighbor bachelors
Bachelors or More:
62.1%
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Education

Education

How are the schools in Sanibel, FL?

Sanibel is home to The Sanibel School, a highly regarded public institution with a low student-teacher ratio, and is within easy reach of major colleges like Florida Gulf Coast University. The community's strong educational attainment supports a vibrant and informed population.

education PublicSchoolsPublic Schools
education publicName
Name:
The Sanibel School
education publicStreet
Street:
3840 Sanibel-Captiva Rd
education publicPhone
Phone:
239-472-1617
education publicStudents
Students:
335
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
14.6


education collegesColleges
education collegeName
Name:
Florida Gulf Coast University
education collegeCity
City:
Fort Myers
education collegeState
State:
FL
education collegeDistance
Distance:
26 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
16,000


education collegeName
Name:
Florida SouthWestern State College
education collegeCity
City:
Fort Myers
education collegeState
State:
FL
education collegeDistance
Distance:
21 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
16,600


Healthcare

Healthcare

Residents have convenient access to major healthcare facilities in nearby Fort Myers, including Lee Health – HealthPark Medical Center and Golisano Children's Hospital. With 93.7% health insurance coverage and 2.1 physicians per 1,000 residents, healthcare services are comprehensive and accessible.

healthcare majorHospitals Major Hospitals
healthcare hospitalName
Name:
Lee Health – HealthPark Medical Center
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
9981 S HealthPark Dr, Fort Myers, FL 33908
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(239) 343-5000
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
General & Surgical
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare hospitalName
Name:
Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
9981 S HealthPark Dr, Fort Myers, FL 33908
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(239) 343-5437
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
Children's Hospital
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare physiciansPer1000
Physicians Per 1000:
2.1
healthcare healthInsuranceCoverage
Health Insurance Coverage:
93.7%
healthcare healthCareIndex
Health Care Index:
76.8
Healthcare
Housing Market

Housing Market

Housing Market

What is the housing market like in Sanibel, FL?

Sanibel's housing market is characterized by high home values, with a median price of $917,000 and an 89.7% owner-occupancy rate. Home values have appreciated by 6.1% over the past year, while the rental market remains limited but stable.

housing market medianHomePrice
Median Home Price:
$917,000
housing market averageRentFor2Bedroom
Average Rent For 2 Bedroom:
$2,480
housing market ownerOccupiedRate
Owner Occupied Rate:
89.7%
housing market rentalVacancyRate
Rental Vacancy Rate:
14.2%
housing market homeAppreciationRate1Yr
Home Appreciation Rate (1yr):
6.1%
housing market newConstructionRate
New Construction Rate:
0.8%
housing market foreclosureRate
Foreclosure Rate:
0.3%

DMV Information

DMV Information

Sanibel residents are served by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, conveniently located in Fort Myers. The DMV offers full services for licensing and vehicle registration, with details available on the state website.

dmv state
State:
Florida
dmv department
Department:
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
dmv address
Address:
2480 Thompson St, Fort Myers, FL 33901
dmv phone
Phone:
(850) 617-2000
DMV

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is based on publicly available sources including AccuWeather, U.S. Census Bureau, local government data, and third-party partners such as Neustar. While we strive to ensure accuracy, all data is provided “as is” and should be independently verified before making any decisions. Movers.com makes no guarantees regarding the completeness or reliability of the information.

Top Movers in Sanibel, FL

Planning a relocation in or near Sanibel? We have you covered. Whether you're moving across a street or across town, our dependable network of local movers is ready to handle every aspect of your relocation. Find expert movers who will make your move as seamless, efficient, and stress-free as possible, from packing and loading to transporting and unpacking. Explore specialty moving services, compare estimates, and contact a reputable moving company in Sanibel.

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FAQs About Moving to Sanibel, FL

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Check the cost of living, housing, traffic, and public transit in Sanibel. Each neighborhood has its own vibe, so pick one that fits your lifestyle. Be prepared for Sanibel climate and weather.

Moving within Sanibel usually costs between $300 and $1,500. Moving long distances can cost anywhere from $2,000 to more than $5,000. The price may go up if you need extra services like packing or storage. Fill out Movers.com quote form to compare the quotes easily.

While moves happen year-round, spring and fall are often more comfortable in Sanibel. Booking outside of peak summer or winter seasons can save money and make scheduling easier.

Yes! Majority of moving companies in Sanibel offer full service moving, which means they will help you pack, unpack, and arrange your belongings.

You should plan your move from Sanibel at least 4 to 8 weeks in advance, especially if you're moving during the busy season (summer). You can get better availability, prices, and flexibility with your moving date if you book early. If you book at the last minute, you may have fewer choices or pay more.
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