Is Collier County, FL good for real estate investing?

Collier County has an investment score of 41/100, rated as "Avoid". The county ranks #743 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Collier?

The rent-to-price ratio in Collier County is 5.68% annually, which ranks in the 43th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Collier?

The median home price in Collier County is $553,842. This ranks #950 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Collier?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Collier County would generate negative cash flow of $1,200/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Collier County

FloridaPopulation: 380,221

/100

Avoid

#743 of 1,000 counties

#55 in Florida (67 counties)

Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring

Updated August 31, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$553,842

Median Home Price

142% above national median

$2,620/mo

Median Rent

81% above national median

5.68%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 57% nationally

-$1,200

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Scenario comparison

Same $2,620/mo rent assumption, 20% down, 6.85% rate. What changes is the acquisition price.

Scenario	Purchase price	Monthly cash flow	Cap rate	Cash-on-cash
75% of median value-add or distressed	$415,381	-$475/mo	4.9%	-6.0%
Median typical MLS deal	$553,842	-$1,200/mo	3.7%	-11.3%
125% of median newer / premium	$692,302	-$1,926/mo	3.0%	-14.5%

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$553,842

Down Payment (20%)$110,768

Loan Amount$443,074

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$2,620

Monthly P&I-$2,903

Est. Expenses (35%)-$917

Net Cash Flow-$1,200/mo

3.7%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-11.3%

Cash-on-Cash Return

5.68%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.7% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

41/100

Cash Flow(30%)

55/100

Based on 5.68% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

32/100

Based on -3.6% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

21/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Declining home values (-3.6% YoY)
-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$1,200/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 3.7% < mortgage rate 6.9%)
-High price-to-income ratio makes financing challenging

Economic Indicators

Population

380,221

Median Income

—

Data pending

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

—

Data pending

Who this market fits

Best for

+All-cash buyers: removing debt service flips the cap rate to actual yield

Skip if

−You need positive cash flow on day one at typical leverage
−You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)
−You expect appreciation to carry the deal, but prices have declined year over year
−You rely on FHA-style financing: prices are stretched relative to local incomes

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
Miami-DadeFL	44	$513,948	$2,798	6.53%	Avoid	View
PinellasFL	44	$361,621	$2,032	6.74%	Avoid	View
LevyFL	42	$285,928	Est. pending	—	Avoid	View
CurrentCollierFL	41	$553,842	$2,620	5.68%	Avoid
HolmesFL	41	$184,808	Est. pending	—	Avoid	View
ManateeFL	41	$409,835	$2,044	5.99%	Avoid	View

The Bottom Line

AvoidCollier may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

Collier County in Florida scores 41/100, ranking #743 of 1,000 US counties (top 95%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental loses about $1200/month; the 5.68% gross rent-to-price ratio doesn't survive debt service. The thesis here is appreciation, value-add, house hacking, or all-cash.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-1,200/mo

Cap Rate

3.7%

Cash-on-Cash

-11.3%