Overview

People find their way to Naples in numerous ways. They discover Naples on a “best places to retire” or live list, through family or friends that have visited or already own property here, or we might have come up in an online Florida real estate search. All scenarios are common for our site users and customers. Regardless of how your interest in Naples, FL began, you might know very little about it. And you may not have made a firm decision to visit, never mind buy here quite yet. You very well might be considering a real estate purchase elsewhere. For all that I assist having made the decision to buy in Naples, there is likely an equal number that have not yet made a firm decision to do so. They are just starting the process of looking and are exploring their options. They know that they want to buy a vacation property, a home to retire into or one in which to move to permanently as soon as possible, but have not yet decided where this will be. “The Florida tour” is commonplace; visiting multiple locations in the state to try to determine the best fit.

This chapter covers general information about Naples, FL that you might need, want or should possibly consider in your evaluation of Naples in whole. Whether you have visited here or not, there is much to know and this chapter is aimed at providing a general overview of the place I call home.

While I cover quite a bit of ground here, I know questions might remain. Should this be the case, please contact me. I’ll be happy to hear from you and answer any questions that you might have.

General Topics of Interest

Let’s go over the many general topics individuals that are not familiar with the Naples area might be curious or need to know about.

History

Southwest Florida has been occupied by humans for about 10,000 years. Paleoindians, hunter-gatherers, are thought to be our earliest residents. The Calusa, and then the Seminoles were prominent into the early 1800s. (Seminoles remain today.) There were a variety of settlers through the mid-1800s. Then, around 1870, permanent settlements were established throughout what is now known as Collier County.

Once the area had permanent settlements word started to spread about the climate and beauty of the area. Throughout the 1870s and 1880s the population steadily grew. But it wasn’t until the late 1880s when Kentucky Senator and former Confederate General, John Stuart Williams partnered with a newspaper owner from Louisville, William Newman Haldeman, and set their sites on the area that Naples started the transformation into what it is today. They saw great opportunity in the area and wanted to make a newly surveyed piece of land along the Gulf of Mexico into a thriving town supported by tourism, as well as rail and sea commerce. When they began marketing the area, selling lots of land for $10, the climate, beauty and abundance of fish in the bay were often cited. The bay was said to rival the bay in Naples, Italy. The name stuck. The City of Naples was founded in 1886. Williams and Haldeman are credited as the founders.

Growth

Florida is a high growth state. In fact, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Florida had the second highest growth rate in the country during CY23. It grew by 1.7%, adding 365,205 residents. Within the state, the southwest region is amongst the fastest growing. Cape Coral, just north of us in Lee County, is one of the fastest growing cities in the entire country. And Naples is growing too. From 2010 – 2022 our population grew by almost 23%. We are at a somewhat slower rate of growth today, but it continues. We have thousands upon thousands of new homes in development throughout Collier County aimed at meeting demand.

“In Season”

While our full time resident population increases every year, we are a seasonal community with a large influx of vacationers and “snow birds” alike that come down for the winter season alone, maintaining properties in northern states. Our season generally starts up mid-October or so and has come to an end by the close of May. The bulk of season, the prime time here, is January 1st through Easter weekend. Right after Easter we typically see a noticeable decline in population.

Geography

Location

Collier County is located in Southwest Florida. This area is generally defined as south of Tampa Bay, all the way down to the Florida Straits, from the Gulf of Mexico to the middle of the state facing east. Collier County occupies the southern portion of this region. Only the mainland portion of Monroe County is below it; uninhabited and protected land. To put our location in perspective, the City of Naples is approximately 300 miles south of Jacksonville and 125 miles south of Tampa.

Climate

Collier County is located between the 25th – 27th degree north parallels (AKA latitudes) of planet earth. For reference, the equator is 0 degrees and the North Pole is 90 degrees. This puts us in a tropical climate zone. More specifically, our climate is considered a Tropical Savanna. This climate type dominates many parts of the African continent, parts of Asia (India), the northern region of South America, most of the Caribbean islands and us. We are the only area within the state that has this specific climate designation. Most of Florida is Humid Subtropical. Our neighbors to the east, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, are Tropical Monsoon. And the area around Jupiter, FL specifically is Tropical Rainforest. The climates of Florida are indeed diverse.

The Tropical Savanna climate is further classified as either a wet or dry variety. This refers to either wet summers or dry summers. The wet variety is the most common and this is what we are, a wet Tropical Savanna. We have a wet summer and a dry winter. As for spring and fall, while there is a somewhat palpable transition between our dry and wet seasons, typically occurring in May and September respectively, for the most part they do not exist as in the more typical 4 season climates of regions to our north. Our dry season is long, running October – May. Our wet season is June – September.

Please note, it is important to recognize that the impact of the sun’s energy in Florida is much greater than points north. This is due to the tilt of earth. Because of it the sun reaches Florida at a much higher angle all year long, amplifying its effect. This is further magnified in Naples due to being so far south. To put this in perspective, in the month of June the sun will be at 65 degrees in New York. In Naples it will be within a few degrees of zero; practically overhead. We have much stronger sun than northern areas every day of the year.

For the part-time gardeners and horticulturists reading this, our USDA Plant Hardiness Zones are 10a and 10b.

Temperatures

With a mean annual temperature of 73.5° Fahrenheit (F) our climate is considered relatively hot on a global scale. Our dry months see normal daily lows and highs of 50° – 80° F. A normal winter day will see temperatures averaging 65° – 75° F. Our maximum daytime winter temperature peaks above 75° F approximately 75% of the time. Our summers see lows and highs of 70° – 90° F. The average daytime summer temperature is 80° F. Summers also see consistently high humidity levels.

Precipitation

Annual rainfall in Naples is approximately 61 inches. The vast majority of rain here falls during our wet summer when we get 10 inches of rain on average per month. Sometimes, we will see amounts approaching that in one day. The strongest downpours can drop 6 inches per hour. Our long dry season typically has at least a couple of months with less than 2 inches of rain. Other dry season months will typically see no more than 4 inches on average.

Weather

While climate information is hopefully beneficial to you, if not somewhat interesting, our day-to-day weather and resultant lifestyle is what might benefit you the most.

In Our Seasonal Sun

Florida was dubbed “the sunshine state” many years ago. While this has certainly made for strong ad copy over the years, Florida is actually not the sunniest state. Some portions of western states have more overall sunny days. This said, Florida has more sunny days when it counts for most, during winter. As compared to the northeastern quadrant of the country we have double the amount of hours of sunlight, and far milder temperatures, during winter. Our winter sunshine and warmth have driven northerners to Florida for decades.

In season, in Naples, under our winter sun is what many dream of. And dreamy it so often is. We have strings of days that are perfect. Mid-70s, blue skies with a few puffy white clouds, palm trees waving in a mild breeze. Our white sugar sand beaches are full and downtown is bustling. Our evenings see mid-60s. The stars shine brightly in clear skies. Open air dining establishments are full. Our winter weather is pretty tough to beat. Naples is a tropical paradise.

Rainy Season

Should you be considering living in Naples full time – a trending decision for certain – you might be thinking about how hot and humid it is here over our summer months. And there is no question that it is hot and humid during this time. This said, we are no different in daily temperature ranges than many northern states during summertime. In fact, Florida has far fewer days of temperatures reaching 100° F than in most other states. Our humidity levels are the same; no different from those experienced in many northern locations. What is different is the consistency of the heat and humidity. We have 4 solid months of 80° F daily averages and high humidity.

The high heat, humidity and frequent late afternoon storms mean that for many daily schedules change. People are more active in the morning and return home before potential afternoon downpours. Some full time residents use summertime as their vacation time. While northerners vacation during the winter, Neapolitans vacation during the summer. If you are going to travel from Naples, summertime is a popular option.

I find living in Naples during our wet summers wonderful. The daily routine mixup, overall slowdown from what is typically a busy winter and the afternoon storms are welcome. The consistent heat and humidity can get tiresome and can quite literally be tiring. More time is certainly spent indoors, appreciating Mr. Willis Carrier, inventor of the first electrical air conditioner in 1902. The time surely flies by and we are back to our sunny and dry paradise in no time at all.

Severe Weather Events

Every region of the country has some kind of potential disaster to worry about; fires, earthquakes, deep freeze, mudslides, tornadoes, hurricanes, avalanches, floods, etc. Living in a beautiful, tropical paradise is not without possible drawbacks. Potential severe weather events are a fact of life in Naples, FL.

Air Quality

While certain weather patterns and environmental events (fires, etc.) can alter our air quality, generally speaking air pollution in Naples is very, very low. Naples has excellent year round air quality.

Just north of us westerly winds prevail, but it is easterly trade winds that really effect Naples and all points south of us down to the equator. These prevailing winds blow over southernmost Florida, as well as the Gulf Stream helping to steer large weather systems that have a major impact on our climate, weather and air quality. This is most prevalent during winter months, when we see considerably warmer temperatures than central and northern parts of the state. Additionally, as Florida is essentially a relatively narrow peninsula and we are so far south, Collier County boundaries are in very close proximity to major water bodies. The western portion of the county runs along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The Florida Straits are approximately 100 miles to the south. And Atlantic waters are less than 50 miles east of county boundaries. Finally, Collier County lacks manufacturing plants. There is some manufacturing, but no heavy industry. Manufacturing is inconsequential as far as air quality in Naples is concerned.

Gulf Waters

Gulf of Mexico coastal waters are shallow, calm and warm. The coldest water temperatures at our beaches usually occur in January, when average lows hover around 65° F and highs see an average of about 70° F. Typical daytime water temperatures from October through May average 76° F, but can be as warm as 85° F or so.

Red Tide

Red tide is a microscopic algae bloom (many varieties) that starves water of oxygen and emits airborne toxins. The lack of oxygen kills fish. The airborne toxins can be unfavorable to humans. All coastlines across the U.S. are susceptible to red tide, but the warm temperatures of the Gulf of Mexico make our area more likely to see blooms when other causative conditions are present. Should red tide occur in Naples it will usually be late summer into early fall. It is usually short-lived.

Area Management

Government

Collier County is comprised of three cities and five unincorporated districts. To live in Naples is to live within the City of Naples or most portions of the 5 unincorporated districts of Collier County. These are also referred to as Naples. Most have Naples, FL addresses.

Our cities include Naples, Everglades and Marco Island. Naples and Everglades have an elected Mayor, as well as City Council. Marco Island has a City Council alone; no Mayor.

The five unincorporated areas of Collier County, where the vast majority of Neapolitans live, are governed by the Collier County Commission. This is comprised of five elected County Commissioners.

Additional elected officials are those occupying the Constitutional Offices of Sheriff, Supervisor of Elections, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Property Appraiser and Tax Collector. Finally, the Collier County School Board consists of five elected members, one for each of the five county districts.

Drinking Water Quality

Large aquifers are the main source of drinking water throughout the State of Florida. The most important, called the Floridian, is said to contain as much water as the entire Great Lakes system. That system contains an estimated six quadrillion gallons.

In Collier County specifically, there are three well fields located within an eastern portion of the county called Golden Gate Estates. These contain 102 individual wells that pump water to two major water treatment plants. Nano filtration, reverse osmosis and other treatment processes are used to prepare the water for delivery to residents and businesses alike. Of course, water quality is monitored on an ongoing basis. Our drinking water is clean.

Of interest might be the fact that Collier County – City of Naples currently excepted – does not add fluoride to our water. It used to, but this practice came to an abrupt halt in February, 2024. This was by unanimous vote by the Collier County Commission. The decision came following the passing of Senate Bill 252, known as the “medical freedom bill.” Essentially, among other things the bill prohibits government entities (or otherwise) from requiring or forcing medical treatments on residents. Adding fluoride to our drinking water was deemed to be forcing medicine on the local population.

Should you be interested in water hardness levels, please know that our water is softened when treated. It averages 69mg/L of hardness. Under 75mg/L is generally considered soft water.

Crime

Collier County has one of the lowest crime rates within the State of Florida. The most recent annual Statewide County Report on crime, issued for CY21 by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, shows the crime rate within all of Collier County was 1,208 per 100,000 in population. For comparison sake, Broward County had 2,434; Palm Beach County had 2,299; Miami-Dade County had 2,860. The statewide average by county was 2,158.

Crime exists everywhere, but particularly in the western locations of Collier County where most people live, the tolerance for it is very, very low. Police and residents alike do not put up with crime here. Neapolitans take great care of our community and have tremendous pride in this place we call home. “Not in our neighborhood.”

Health Care

Collier County has two major hospital providers with two major facilities each. Each also have local care centers and they continue to expand these in numbers. (They are competing with each other for customers.) There are also a handful of additional medical complexes throughout the area. Healthcare throughout Naples is seeing tremendous growth. This is out of necessity for certain. A growing population requires more services. One of the most recent developments is a brand new, state-of-the-art Hospital for Special Surgery building opening in 2025. (HSS is considered #1 for orthopedics in the U.S.) Also, a brand new, estimated $200M world-class cardiovascular and stroke critical care center will be breaking ground soon in downtown Naples.

Getting Around

Traffic

Ah, traffic. That thing none of us are particularly fond of. Naples does indeed have some traffic from time to time. This said, whenever I hear someone talk about local traffic I think back to the many years I lived in Manhattan. There is traffic. Then, there is traffic. Naples has the former. The mild version, usually. Now, this said, should it be peak season here and a peak period within it – usually school break times when children and grandchildren are visiting – and it be lunchtime, you might hit some traffic. Also, if you happen to be on a single-lane road behind someone who probably should not be driving, you might be in a bit of traffic. It happens, but in my opinion the traffic here is a non-issue. This is especially true when you know how to get around. There are a small handful of specific roads to avoid at certain times if you want the fastest journey in season here.

One of the many benefits of the southwest coast of Florida over the southeast coast is in fact the lack of traffic. There is no comparison between Ft. Lauderdale or Miami to Naples. There are many millions of people there. There are a few hundred thousand people here. They have many old and highly stressed roads. Many of our roads are newer and only a small handful are stressed at times. Furthermore, the few that need attention are getting it. Collier County has a number of traffic easing projects on the books and underway.

Public Transportation

CAT stands for Collier Area Transit. This is our local bus service. They claim to provide “the purrrfect ride.” CAT currently operates buses along about 20 routes throughout the county. It is a relatively small operation, but certainly beneficial for some.

Outdoor Activities

Fishing, golf, tennis, pickleball, sight seeing, volleyball, air boat rides, outdoor dining, hiking, sunsets on the beach…. you name it. If it exists and can be done outdoors there is probably someplace local you can do it. When you have year-round weather suitable for just about any outdoor activity, there is an abundance of opportunities to participate in them.

Please see Chapter 4, Destinations, for more.

Wildlife

Considering our climate, that we are between two major bodies of water (Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean) and there are a few million acres of preserved land at our doorstep, including the Everglades, we have a great deal of wildlife in/around Naples. For many, this is a major attraction. For some, it is a little scary.

There are creepy, crawly things like spiders, snakes, ants and other bugs here. Some are venomous. We have stinging caterpillars. Crikey! There are also all kinds of flying and biting bugs. And, let us not forget about coyotes, wild boar, bear, panther and the most scary of all…. alligators.

I have been visiting or living in Naples for over twenty years. In this time, I have never seen a venomous snake or spider or caterpillar. I have never been confronted by a coyote, wild boar, bear or panther. I have not been eaten by an alligator. I have indeed been bitten by mosquitoes and what we call no-see-ums on rare occasions. (Those little things are the devil in disguise.) I also stepped on a pile of fire ants once while barefoot. (The result was less than pleasing.) And I got stung by a jellyfish once too. (It hurt.) All said, that is a pretty good track record for the many years spent here in my view. The bottom line is that unless you happen to be doing something that most would consider highly unwise, like walking your dog one foot from an alligator occupied lake, you will be just fine in Naples.

Scary wildlife aside, we focus our attention on the fun side of wildlife here. The Gulf is home to many dolphins. A visit to the Naples Pier is almost always a surefire way to see a pair of them frolicking about. Our bays and estuaries are home to the “elephants of the sea” or “sea cows,” our manatee. These slow moving creatures bring big smiles to all who see them. And, we have birds, birds, birds. Egrets, Ibis, Spoonbills, Heron, Storks, Owls and Eagles are among the many birds you will likely see in/around Naples. Our long wingspan birds in particular are impressive. Wildlife in Naples can be awe-inspiring.

Taxes

After our Constitution was ratified and our government started Benjamin Franklin stated, “Our new Constitution is now established, everything seems to promise it will be durable; but, in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.”

Sales Tax

The combined state and county sales tax is 6% in Naples. This stated, please know that many Florida counties impose a discretionary sales surtax in addition to the 6% sales tax. At this time, Collier County does not. Dining out, purchasing most merchandise, etc., is taxed at 6%.

Florida has “tax holidays”. Examples are on school supplies directly before school begins each fall. And before hurricane season begins taxes on certain storm preparedness based items are included.

Use Tax

The Use Tax is on out-of-state purchases that are brought into Florida. Examples of this are mail order and internet purchases; furniture deliveries from retailers located in another state; computer equipment delivered by common carrier. Use taxes are only owed should the dealer not have taxed the purchase already, at a minimum of 6%. If the dealer charged less, you must make up the difference. As an example, if you were taxed 4% on your out-of-state purchase, you would owe Florida 2%. The total must equal 6%. Most dealers, retailers, etc., particularly those online, collect taxes appropriate by state of delivery.

Other Taxes

The state and county also has taxes associated with motor vehicles, motor vehicle registration, fuel, communications services and more. These are typical taxes levied in most states.

Please see Chapter 7, Financial Considerations, for details on taxes and more related to purchasing and owning real estate in Naples.

Nobody likes taxes, except for Uncle Sam. This said, there are potentially large tax advantages to not simply owning real estate in Florida, but by becoming a Florida resident.

Florida Residency

Florida Statute 196.012 (18)

“Permanent residence” means that place where a person has his or her true, fixed, and permanent home and principal establishment to which, whenever absent, he or she has the intention of returning. A person may have only one permanent residence at a time; and, once a permanent residence is established in a foreign state or country, it is presumed to continue until the person shows that a change has occurred.

How It is Obtained

Florida residency requires an intent to maintain a primary residence here. This intent can be established in a number of ways. Obtaining a Florida driver’s license (forfeiture of your out-of-state driver’s license required), registering to vote in the state, registering vehicles here and using your Florida address for your federal tax returns are all common. You can also complete and sign our Declaration of Domicile; Florida Statute 222.17. This form is used as a sworn affidavit as of one’s intent of residency. Please note, some states rely on the “6 month + 1 day” rule; 183 days spent living somewhere. While this does show intent, Florida does not use this rule because it has no state income tax; your current state might.

For Your Consideration

Should you buy real estate within the state of Florida, you might be thinking about becoming a resident of Florida. If you are not, you might want to consider doing so. Should you have annual income, you will incur no state income tax. There is also no estate or inheritance tax, regardless of size in Florida. And you can reduce your property taxes by way of our homestead tax exemption, as well as establish a 3% cap (or less) on increases on the annual appraised value assessment of your property . There are additional tax exemptions available if you are a veteran, have a disability and more. Finally, Florida has certain asset protection laws that may be beneficial to you.

Why So Many Love Naples, FL

While all aforementioned contribute to the love that many have for Naples, FL, there is one thing that I believe trumps all. The #1 reason why Naples is so loved, in my opinion is (drum roll please)…. our residents and visitors alike.

Our Population

You might be curious about who lives in Naples, FL. The simple answer is that all kinds of people, from all walks of life live here. Yes, many of the most financially fortunate own real estate in Naples, FL. You might even hear some suggest that “you must be rich” to live in Naples. This is not accurate. While owning property in Naples might not be possible for many, a look at our demographics speaks clearly to the fact that our population runs the gamut on the socio-economic ladder of life.

Below, please find a bit of data on our population that you mind find interesting and/or useful. Please note, Naples here refers to the City of Naples alone. As mentioned previously, most of unincorporated Collier County is also known as Naples. All data is courtesy of the U.S. Census.

Population

Economic Facts & Stats

Our Happiness

Naples is often in the news as a “best place to retire” or “best place to live.” For many, many years now it has been atop a number of such lists. Most recently, U.S. News and World Report picked Naples, yet again, as the best place to retire in late 2024. If Naples is not in the #1 position every year, it will usually be well within reach. The great weather, beauty, beaches, safety and available goods and services are often cited as reasons Naples ranks so high and so often. This said, while Naples is in fact a great place to live, one of the very best in the country no doubt, the publications that annually deem it so do not focus on what I believe is the most noteworthy aspect of Naples as a very special place, that of individual well-being. This is where I believe Naples really shines.

Examining how people feel about their lives, their sense of well-being, how happy they are is “deep stuff” indeed. And highly meaningful. Health and happiness are something most of us strive for. The residents of Naples consistently report that they are among the happiest in the country. This is reflected in a number of annual studies on this topic including the U.S. Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index. Naples has always ranked very high on this index, as well as others that are similar. Naples has been dubbed one the happiest places in the country. In fact, for many years it maintained the #1 position on the Gallup-Sharecare index.

People love Naples. People are happy in Naples. And this love and happiness are infectious. Whether you stroll down Fifth Avenue South, walk the beach, take in a show at one of our many theaters, head out for a bite to eat or otherwise it will be clear that the people in Naples are very happy to be here. Smiling faces abound. Friendly conversations with strangers are easy to come by. I, as well as so many others feel fortunate to be here. Quite simply, Naples is truly a great place to be.

In Closing

Naples is a tropical paradise. It is beautiful. It is clean. The area is managed well. Crime is very, very low. The sun shines brightly. It is warm when other locations cold. There is no snow. There’s an endless supply of quality restaurants, shopping and outdoor activities. Our beaches are spectacular. Most importantly, the people that visit and live here are so very happy to be here. And they are fine folk indeed. Naples attracts the very best of us.

I truly believe Naples is a special place. Whether or not it is right for you might be in question. You might have many questions. Should you like answers, please contact me. I would be happy to help you determine if Naples is the right place for you to live and/or own real estate.