City profile · Florida · Census ACS 2023

Cape Coral, FL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Cape Coral - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

206,387
Residents
$76,062
Median income
$339,200
Median home
$1,961
Median rent (state)

Cape Coral - the verdict

Cape Coral ranks in the 57th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

57th
percentile, household income
70th
percentile, home value
82nd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Cape Coral, FL

Florida's Cape Coral is a mid-sized U.S. city, with 206,387 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Cape Coral brings in $76,062 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.1%. Typical homes in Cape Coral are valued around $339,200, and the median resident age is 48.7 years. 25.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 55.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 3,397 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 26% from five years earlier.

Florida carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 103.4 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,961 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Florida run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 25.3 minutes, with 76.0% driving alone and 13.1% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 99.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

206,387 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Florida

Median Household Income

$76,062 /yr

Poverty 7.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Florida average

How does Cape Coral compare to other US cities?

Cape Coral measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 57% higher than other cities
Home value 70% pricier than other cities
Median rent 82% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Cape Coral against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Florida only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Florida-relative analysis

Median Home Value sits close to the middle of Florida's city distribution

Among the 894 Florida cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Cape Coral ranks #351 - the 61st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Cape Coral only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#362 of 903
60th percentile in Florida
Median Gross Rent
#396 of 930
53rd percentile in Florida
Median Home Value
#351 of 894
61st percentile in Florida
Poverty Rate
#496 of 930
46th percentile in Florida
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#495 of 930
46th percentile in Florida

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Florida only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

57thIncome percentile

57th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Cape Coral's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$339,200 30th percentile more affordable than 30% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Cape Coral $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Cape Coral, FL Cape Coral, FL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Cape Coral, FL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Cape Coral, FL median $76,062/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Cape Coral, FL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Cape Coral, FL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
206,387
Median Income
$76,062
Median Home Value
$339,200
Median Age
48.7
Poverty Rate
7.1%
Labor force participation
55.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.7%

Schools

Total Schools
26
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
180,000 residents200,000 residents220,000 residents240,000 residents260,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 195,442 residents 236,264 residents ▲ +20.9%
Cape Coral's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
3,397
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2,671
detached homes
Multifamily
726
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
16.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2,688
2020 3,527
2021 5,412
2022 4,735
2023 3,995
2024 3,397

Permit volume increased 26% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
25.3 minutes
Drive Alone
76.0%
Carpool
8.1%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
13.1%
Other
1.5%

Based on 95,366 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Florida - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$145
avg/month
Natural Gas
$25
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Florida state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Florida state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Cape Coral sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,961/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Florida

Tallahassee
199,696 people
Port St. Lucie
220,453 people
Hialeah
221,901 people
Fort Lauderdale
183,032 people
Pembroke Pines
170,557 people
Hollywood
152,935 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Cape Coral's 206,387 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Worcester, MA
205,501 people
Columbus, GA
204,383 people
Salt Lake City, UT
203,888 people
Yonkers, NY
209,529 people
Fayetteville, NC
209,692 people
Rochester, NY
209,720 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Cape Coral's $76,062 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Gonzales, CA
$76,060 median income
Wilson, AR
$76,065 median income
Jones, OK
$76,058 median income
Stoy, IL
$76,056 median income
Temperance, MI
$76,069 median income
Petersburg, MI
$76,071 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Cape Coral, FL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Cape Coral, FL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 72.9% 16.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 25.1% White 72.9% Black or African American 4.5% Asian 1.6% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.1% Two or more races 16.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Cape Coral compares to nearby Florida cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Cape Coral (this city) 206,387 $76,062
Tallahassee 199,696 $55,931
Port St. Lucie 220,453 $78,137
Hialeah 221,901 $53,079
Census ACS 5-year FIPS FL NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Cape Coral, FL?

What is the population of Cape Coral, FL? +

The population of Cape Coral, FL stands at 206,387 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Cape Coral, FL? +

Cape Coral households earn a median of $76,062 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Cape Coral? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Cape Coral; the closest available measure is the Florida state average, a cost of living index of 103.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Florida vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Cape Coral, FL? +

A typical home in Cape Coral is worth $339,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.