Issue Brief: Southwest Florida Migration Demographics

April 03, 2025 / RERI Research Team

Southwest Florida has long been a desirable place to live due to its warm climate, coastal lifestyle, and economic opportunities. The region has experienced recent population shifts, driven by both retirees seeking a comfortable place to settle and working-age individuals moving away in search of employment and affordable living. We can observe notable differences in the demographics of those moving into the region, compared to those moving out of the region. These differences can be categorized by movement of residents from various states, age groups, income levels, residential status, and educational backgrounds. These migration trends are relevant because of their implications on our local economy, labor force, and housing demand.

Learning more about the demographics of migrants is relevant to understand potential economic and social shifts. In this issue brief, we analyze the demographics of people who moved into and out of Southwest Florida from 2021 to 2022. To perform our analysis, we use American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates microdata from the IPUMS website. In-migrants are defined as those who moved to Southwest Florida from a county outside of our five-county region. Out-migrants represent those who previously lived in Southwest Florida but moved elsewhere between 2021 and 2022. Net migration represents the difference between the number of in-migrants and out-migrants. It is worth noting that in this context we focus solely on domestic migration, so international migration is not represented.

Our findings reveal differing characteristics of in-migrants and out-migrants. Geographically, in-migrants came from northern states, while out-migrants moved to southern states. In-migrants were more likely to be retired or near retirement, while out-migrants tended to be part of the working age population. Related to income, in-migrants had higher household income and a larger portion of this income from retirement, compared to out-migrants who had lower household income. In-migrants were more likely to own a home while out-migrants were likely renters, which can be attributed to their lower income. Finally, in-migrants had higher educational attainment, with a larger proportion who received a bachelor’s degree compared to the out-migrants.

These findings are important as they provide valuable insights into the economic and social dynamics shaping Southwest Florida. The influx of retirees and higher-income individuals suggests increased demand for healthcare, senior services, and housing, which could drive up costs and reduce affordability for existing residents. At the same time, the out-migration of working-age individuals may lead to labor market disruptions, affecting businesses and economic growth. The tendency of in-migrants to be homeowners and out-migrants to be renters underscores potential shifts in the housing market. Moreover, the higher educational attainment of in-migrants may reshape the local labor market, impacting the skills and qualifications demanded within the workforce. Understanding these trends helps us strategically plan for future demands in housing, workforce development, and overall economic sustainability.

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Issue Brief: Southwest Florida Migration Demographics

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