Fort Myers has landed on a list of the best places to live near the beach in the country, according to a report by U.S. News & World Report, eclipsed by only two other Florida locations and spots in Hawaii, California and South Carolina.

The national magazine reported Fort Myers was No. 6, while Melbourne was No. 1 and Sarasota was No. 3, with the most access to the ocean, sand, and sunshine as well as being a great place to live. Rounding out the top five were San Diego (No. 2), Honolulu (No. 4) and Charleston, South Carolina (No. 5).

"The 20 Best Places to Live Near the Beach in the U.S." were culled from the magazine's overall "Best Places to Live list," which includes factors such as affordability, job market, morning commute and access to quality health care.

Fort Myers was noted for its proximity to the sands of Fort Myers Beach and the canals of Cape Coral.

The magazine's real estate editor Devon Thorsby reported the area's population growth was also deemed a positive: "Fort Myers is second on the list only to Myrtle Beach in the speed at which the population is growing, as the Florida metro area grew by 14.16 percent — to 680,970 — between 2012 and 2016 due to net migration," his article noted.

The Fort Myers area also boasted a Best Places to Live in the U.S. 2018 ranking of 41, with a median home price of $210,133 and a median annual salary of $40,420.

“This top ranking reveals something that residents and visitors know very well,” said Tamara Pigott, executive director of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Center. “We are very fortunate to enjoy and easily access 50 miles of white-sand beaches and the best shelling in the world.”

Best places to live near the beach

U.S. News & World Report

1. Melbourne

2. San Diego

3. Sarasota

4. Honolulu

5. Charleston, South Carolina

6. Fort Myers

7. Jacksonville

8. Pensacola

9. Santa Barbara, California

10. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

11. Tampa

12. Port St. Lucie

13. Daytona Beach

14. Virginia Beach, Virginia

15. Los Angeles

16.Corpus Christi, Texas

17. Miami

18. Salinas, California

19. Brownsville, Texas

20. San Juan, Puerto Rico


Reference: Naples News