The Town FilesAve Maria, Florida
Community in Collier County · population 6,242 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $459,200
- Household income
- $102,949
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 37.9
Ave Maria is a community of 6,242 people in Collier County, Florida. The median home is worth $459,200, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Florida towns, more of a college town than 93% of Florida towns, better for retirees than 92% of Florida towns.
- #4 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Florida
- #5 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Florida
- #6 in The 50 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in America
- #8 in The 50 Best Places for First-Time Home Buyers in America
- #9 in 25 Small Towns in Florida With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #22 in The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Florida
How Ave Maria ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ave Maria is worth $459,200, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $102,949, which is more affordable than 52% of Florida towns. Median rent is $2,425 a month. 81.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ave Maria | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $459,200 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $2,425 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $102,949 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 81.8% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 2015 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.3% | — |
Who lives in Ave Maria
| People | Ave Maria | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.9% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.6% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.3% | — |
| Work from home | 23.4% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 42.3 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.3% | 92.4% |
Weather in Ave Maria
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 52.2°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 123 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 2 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ave Maria since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 11, 1968 about 6.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 20 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 17, 1997.
Severe weather in Collier County since 1996
Collier County has been included in 54 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Collier County
Collier County had 171,813 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,041 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Ave Maria itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Towns near Ave Maria
- Immokalee, FL7.1 mi · 24,557 people · home $210,600
- Orangetree, FL8.7 mi · 5,896 people · home $498,600
- Island Walk, FL17.5 mi · 2,812 people · home $667,900
- Vineyards, FL19.0 mi · 3,883 people · home $651,800
- Golden Gate, FL19.0 mi · 25,321 people · home $409,700
- Berkshire Lakes, FL21.1 mi · 2,527 people · home $374,400
- Bonita Springs, FL21.5 mi · 53,644 people · home $497,100
- Verona Walk, FL22.1 mi · 2,713 people · home $598,000
Ave Maria questions
Is Ave Maria, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ave Maria scores better for retirees than 92% of Florida towns and quieter than 67%. 23.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Ave Maria?
The median owner-occupied home in Ave Maria is valued at $459,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,949, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $2,425 a month.
What is the weather like in Ave Maria?
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 52.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Ave Maria get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ave Maria since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 11, 1968. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)