Port Charlotte Relocation Guide

Moving to Port Charlotte, Florida provides a good quality of life with an affordable coastal lifestyle, great schools, and easy access to Florida's natural environment.

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Introduction to Port Charlotte, Florida

Port Charlotte, Florida, is located about halfway between Fort Myers and Sarasota (just over the bridge from Punta Gorda) and it provides quick access to the Gulf of Mexico, Charlotte Harbor, and miles of natural shoreline. It boasts sunny days, coastal living and is home to seven of the 21 golf courses located in Charlotte County.

Everything from the weather to the friendly community to the numerous attractions adds to the allure of this small-town community. The lifestyle is what most people come here for and the reason Port Charlotte is consistently voted as one of the best places to live in Florida.

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Relocation Guide for Moving to
Port Charlotte

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Quality of Life

Find out why Port Charlotte is an attractive place to live

About Port Charlotte

Learn more about Port Charlotte's history and culture

City Data

Population, housing prices, demographics and more

Cost of Living

Compare the cost of living in Port Charlotte to Florida and the US

Climate & Weather

What's the weather like in Port Charlotte and general climate date

Things to Do

Discover all the fun things to do in and around Port Charlotte

Transportation

Major highways, interstates and airports in the area

Hospitals

Major hospitals in the Port Charlotte area

Schools

Port Charlotte is home to quality schools Florida

For Sale

Search current homes and land for sale in Port Charlotte

Nearby Areas

Explore some of the popular areas around Port Charlotte

Quality of Life in Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte might surprise many visitors with its quality of life, particularly because it’s quite unexpected for a town of its size. Located in Charlotte County, Port Charlotte is a family-friendly and affordable coastal town in Florida.

The town is popular for retirees, families, and anyone who loves living on or around the water. In fact, many of the neighborhoods along the coast have canals where you can park your boat right behind your home! Those who enjoy Florida’s natural environment, fishing, wildlife, seafood and low-key lifestyle will enjoy living in Port Charlotte.

#35 America’s Best and Worst Cities for Crime
#49 2005 Best Places to Live
#57 America’s Most (and Least) Stressful Cities
#124 Best Green Cities

While Port Charlotte is great for families due to its affordability and small-town feel, the town is extremely popular with retirees. major industries include healthcare, hospitality & fishing.

A Brief History of Port Charlotte, Florida

First Inhabitants

The first inhabitants of Port Charlotte were nomadic Paleo-Indians who arrived as early as 10,000 BC. During that period, which coincided with the last ice age, the peninsula of Florida was wider and drier than today, and Port Charlotte wasn’t a coastal area.

A Part of the US

Florida became a U.S. territory after being ceded by the Spanish in 1819, but it wasn’t until 1845 that it became the 27th state. The area surrounding what’s currently known as Port Charlotte was mostly undeveloped until World War II, with the exception of small farming and some cattle ranches.

Development

After World War II, the General Development Corporation took advantage of the possibility of developing land in Florida and this is when most what is now known as Port Charlotte was built. Over the next couple of decades, Port Charlotte became the most populous area in Charlotte County.

Port Charlotte City Data

Below is some basic city data for Port Charlotte as of late 2020. The population is a good mix of older retirees as well as families. The city feels like a small town, with little crowds and traffic except in the major commerce areas of town – which is where much of the shopping and restaurants are located.

Home-ownership rates are quite high in Port Charlotte, with roughly 76% of the population owning their home.

Population – 62,327
Average Age – 53.2
Median Home Price – $361,000 (Realtor.com)
Home Value Projections – 10%+
Average Household Income – $61,019
Poverty Rate of 13.8%
Median House value is $164,000
Crime Rate – 15 per 1000
Area & Density – 28 square miles 2,188 people per square mile

Major Employers

Healthcare is a major employer throughout Florida, including the Port Charlotte area. However, tourism and hospitality are also large employers in this area as well as the fishing industry.

Demographics & Education

Port Charlotte is a moderately educated city in Florida. Over 36% of the population has at least a High School diploma, while 25% have had at least some college.

For additional demographic data about Port Charlotte, check out the US Census Bureau for the following:

Population
Demographics (age, etc.)
Housing
Family & living arrangements
Computer and internet use
Education
Transportation
Income & poverty
Economy
Business

Cost of Living in Port Charlotte

Overall, Port Charlotte is quite a low-cost place to live in Florida. While the state of Florida is slightly above the US average cost of living, Port Charlotte is quite a bit lower than both the US and Florida average. Especially when you compare Port Charlotte to nearby towns such as Sarasota, it is an incredibly affordable place to live in Florida. One of the biggest factors in affordability in Port Charlotte is the cost of housing, which is one of the reasons people moving to Port Charlotte find it so appealing.

100 = USA Average Cost of Living

102.8 = Florida Cost of Living

88.4 = Port Charlotte Cost of Living

	Port Charlotte	Florida	USA
Overall	88.4	102.8	100
Grocery	103	102.8	100
Health	94.3	98	100
Housing	78.2	102.6	100
Median Home Cost	$180,900	$237,100	$231,200
Utilities	96.7	101.3	100
Transportation	77.9	112.6	100
Miscellaneous	99.8	96.9	100

SOURCE:

https://www.bestplaces.net/cost_of_living/city/florida/port_charlotte

Climate and Weather in Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte has a humid subtropical climate. The summers are long and hot, with the area experiencing more than 262 days of sunshine. The winters are cool, short, windy and partly cloudy.

Rainfall – Average of 51 inches per year vs. 38 rest of USA & the rainiest month is August
Sunny Days – Average of 262 vs. 205 for the US
Hottest Month – August high of 90.1°F & average low of 78.3°F
Coldest Month – January high 70.5°F and 54.7°F degrees low
Most Comfortable Months: November, March, April
Most Uncomfortable Months: July and August
Check out the current 10-day Port Charlotte Weather Forecast Here

Hurricane Season

Hurricane season is technically June through October, with the most active months being August and September.

Things To Do in Port Charlotte

Activities & the Arts

Even though it has the looks and feel of a small town, there’s a lot to do in and around Port Charlotte. You can check out a local concert, art fair, or other events at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County or head over the bridge to Punta Gorda, a charming “Old Florida” fishing village with great arts, culture, and food scene!

Baseball Spring Training is popular throughout Florida, and Port Charlotte is home to the Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training. Charlotte Sports Par k is to a state-of-the-art facility with a baseball boardwalk that rings the outfield, upgraded concession stands, family-friendly kids play area and a top-notch team store.

Fans of hiking and wildlife are likely to be pleased to discover the Tippecanoe Environmental Park, which offers no less than 380 acres of woods.

For our full guide on the best things to do in Port Charlotte and surrounding areas, head over to this post.

Port Charlotte Beach
Bayshore Live Oak Park
Peace River Botanical and Sculpture Gardens
Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park
Hop across the bridge to explore charming Punta Gorda!

Family-fun escape rooms, bowling alleys and movie theaters
Fishing Charters
Sunset Cruises
Kayaking & Boating
Audubon-Pennington Nature Park
Shopping & dining in the town center

View the calendar of the Charlotte / Punta Gorda Area Events & Festivals here

Recreation and the Outdoors in Port Charlotte

Outdoor Fun Year-Round

Port Charlotte offers lots of opportunities to discover the amazing wildlife of Florida, with the Peace River Wildlife Centre and Spring Lake Park being just two of the numerous attractions where visitors can spot native Florida wildlife and learn more about the rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

This is very much a water town! Nestled along the mouth of the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor, there are numerous bays, lakes, and rivers (or canals) in the area.

Because of this, Port Charlotte is an awesome destination for water sports lovers. Multiple kayak, boating, diving, and snorkeling options are available not just in Port Charlotte but also in the entire Punta Gorda & Charlotte Harbor area.

You’ll often find the locals out at the Port Charlotte Beach Park with its small beach (Charlotte Harbor…not the ocean), community pool, boardwalk, fishing pier and more. This is where the locals hang out, and they even have movies under the stars among other events!

21+ Golf Courses in the Port Charlotte Area

With seven of the 21 golf courses in Charlotte County being found in the small city, including two courses that have been ranked 4 1/2 stars by Golf Digest, the area welcomes golf lovers with spectacular landscapes. golf fans are likely to be delighted with the choices here.

Below are just a few of the most popular golf courses in Port Charlotte:

Transportation in Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte is well-connected to Punta Gorda and the rest of the Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast. The town is located west of Interstate 75, which is a major north-south United States interstate into Florida. Most residents are car-dependent, but there are multiple shuttle or bus services available to take residents in and out of the area to airports nearby.

Airports Near Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte has multiple airports nearby to choose from.

Punta Gorda (PGD) – The nearest airport to Port Charlotte is Punta Gorda Airport (PGD), located 7.1 miles away. This airport is located off I-75 between Fort Myers and Sarasota and it provides low-cost air service to over 45 destinations.

Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) — the largest airport near Port Charlotte is located 37.5 miles south in Fort Myers. This airport offers a selection of domestic & international flights and has expanded with more airlines and flights in recent years.

Sarasota International Airport (SRQ) – located 55 miles northwest in Sarasota, this is a fairly small airport but is growing and has carriers such as Delta, Air Canada, American Airlines, United, Jet Blue.

Tampa International Airport (TPA) – located 104 miles from Port Charlotte, Tampa International Airport offers domestic and international flights and is one of the best choices for those who are looking for direct flights to numerous destinations across the country.

Hospitals in Port Charlotte

ere are four area hospitals in Charlotte Country, which equates to one hospital per 40,000 residents. Two of these hospitals, Fawcett Memorial Hospital and Bayfront Health Port Charlotte are in Port Charlotte. Larger hospitals are located just a short drive away in Sarasota too.

A+ Schools in Port Charlotte

The public schools in Port Charlotte are all operated by the Charlotte County Public Schools (CCPS), which also covers Punta Gorda, Rotonda West, Englewood and Babcock Ranch. The Port Charlotte high school is a four-year public high school that opened in 1981. At one point, the school was the largest high school in Charlotte County with more than 2000 students enrolled.

The school was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s best high schools in 2009. It also received a bronze medal school for academic excellence in the same year.

All schools in Port Charlotte received A’s from the Florida Department of Education for the 2007-08 school year. When it comes to higher education, Southern Technical College operates a campus in Port Charlotte.

Current Listings in Port Charlotte

The great thing about moving to Port Charlotte is that you have a wide variety of neighborhoods to choose from at different price points. There are plenty of affordable and quality neighborhoods throughout Port Charlotte that are family-friendly, as well as newer developments being built.

Popular new construction communities in Port Charlotte include West Port and Biscayne Landing. You also may choose to live on the water along some of the many canals and other waterways where you can park your boat right in your backyard!