At a glance
| Typical home value | $429,000 (+0.6% in a year, Zillow, Aug 2026) |
|---|---|
| Location | West of Cape Coral across Matlacha Pass, unincorporated Lee County |
| Communities | Matlacha, Pine Island Center, St. James City, Bokeelia and Pineland |
| Population (2020 census) | St. James City 3,876; Pine Island Center 1,942; Bokeelia 1,855; Matlacha 598 |
| Access | Pine Island Road (County Road 78) from Cape Coral; Stringfellow Road runs north to south |
| Building height | Lee County code sets a lower height limit for Greater Pine Island |
| Taxes | Lee County and special district taxes; Cape Coral city assessments do not apply |
The Pine Island communities
Pine Island is mostly rural and agricultural, surrounded by mangroves and three aquatic preserves, with Matlacha Pass separating it from the mainland and Pine Island Sound to the west. There are four unincorporated communities on the island, and Matlacha sits on its own small island to the east:
- Matlacha: an old Florida fishing village of art galleries, shops, seafood restaurants and cottages, with 598 residents at the 2020 census. It was largely devastated by Hurricane Ian in 2022.
- Pine Island Center: the crossroads in the middle of the island where Pine Island Road meets Stringfellow Road, with 1,942 residents in 2020.
- St. James City: the southern end of the island, with 3,876 residents in 2020.
- Bokeelia: the northern tip, bordered by water on three sides, with 1,855 residents in 2020.
- Pineland: on the northwest side, home to the Pineland archaeological district, a former Calusa village site of more than 100 acres.
Home prices
Zillow publishes typical values for two Pine Island communities. In August 2026, St. James City was $428,977, up 0.6% in a year, and Bokeelia was $377,568, down 3.5%. Zillow does not publish a separate figure for Matlacha or Pine Island Center. For comparison, the Cape Coral typical value was $335,825, down 3.9%.
Unlike Cape Coral and Bokeelia, St. James City's typical value edged up over the year. With few sales in each community, compare closed sales of similar homes and water access, and see the Cape Coral housing market page for the regional trend.
The route to Cape Coral and the Matlacha bridge
Pine Island Road (County Road 78) is the road link to the mainland. It runs west from Cape Coral across Matlacha Pass, through Matlacha and over the Little Pine Island Bridge to Pine Island Center. Stringfellow Road then runs north to Bokeelia and south to St. James City.
Hurricane Ian damaged the Little Pine Island Bridge and Pine Island Road. FDOT replaced the bridge in three phases, widening it from 35 to 53 feet while keeping two 11-foot lanes, and the completion was celebrated in March 2026 along with the restored Matlacha Community Center. Because Pine Island Road is the route off the island, plan evacuation and daily trips around it. Drive the route to your work or shopping at rush hour before you buy.
Building rules, taxes and flood checks
Greater Pine Island has its own sections in the Lee County land development code. A 2023 county ordinance sets the island's building height limit at 38 feet above the average grade of the lot or 45 feet above mean sea level, whichever is lower, and does not allow the taller-building exceptions used elsewhere in the county. Confirm the current rule with Lee County zoning before you plan a rebuild or a raised home.
- Taxes: Pine Island is unincorporated, so you pay Lee County and special district taxes rather than Cape Coral city taxes and assessments. The island has its own fire control district. See the Lee County property tax guide.
- Flood: Lee County's current FEMA maps took effect in November 2022. Check the flood zone, elevation certificate and Ian repair history for any home, and get flood and windstorm quotes early.
- Utilities: ask whether the home has public water and sewer or a well and septic system.
Pine Island or Cape Coral
Pine Island suits buyers who want a rural island setting and boating on Pine Island Sound, and who accept one road to the mainland and fewer shops and services. Cape Coral offers more housing choice, city water and sewer in many areas and shorter trips to Fort Myers. Northwest Cape Coral is the closest part of the city, with canals that also reach Matlacha Pass.
To compare, see the Cape Coral ZIP code guide, the gulf-access homes guide and the Cape Coral relocation guide.
Common questions
Is Pine Island, FL part of Cape Coral?+
No. Pine Island and Matlacha are unincorporated communities in Lee County, west of Cape Coral across Matlacha Pass. They are reached from Cape Coral by Pine Island Road. Because they are outside city limits, Cape Coral's city taxes and assessments do not apply, but Lee County and special district taxes do.
Does Pine Island have a beach?+
Pine Island has no large beach. Unlike the barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva, it is made of the same rock as the mainland and is surrounded by mangroves and aquatic preserves. Residents are drawn mainly by fishing, boating and the island's rural character, with beaches reached by boat or by driving to the barrier islands.
How much are homes on Pine Island?+
Zillow's typical home value in August 2026 was $428,977 in St. James City, up 0.6% over the year, and $377,568 in Bokeelia, down 3.5%. Zillow does not publish separate figures for Matlacha or Pine Island Center. Values vary widely between inland homes and canal-front homes with docks.
Is the Matlacha bridge open?+
Yes. FDOT rebuilt the Little Pine Island Bridge on Pine Island Road after Hurricane Ian damage, widening it from 35 to 53 feet with two 11-foot lanes. The project was completed, and officials celebrated its conclusion in Matlacha in March 2026, along with the restored Matlacha Community Center and Pine Island Art Building.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Pine Island (Lee County, Florida)
- Wikipedia: Matlacha, Florida
- Wikipedia: St. James City, Florida
- Wikipedia: Bokeelia, Florida
- Wikipedia: Pine Island Center, Florida
- FDOT SWFL Roads: 451937-2 Pine Island Causeway and bridge reconstruction project
- WGCU: Matlacha celebrates 100 years and reconstruction of Little Pine Island Bridge (March 2026)
- Lee County Ordinance No. 23-22: Land development code amendments (building height, Greater Pine Island)
- City of Cape Coral: Flood protection and information
- GreaterFtMyers.com: Northwest Cape Coral
- Zillow Research: Home value, rent and market data (August 2026)