Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cape Coral, FL
VS
Chattanooga, TN
🏆 Cape Coral leads 11 of 19 categories
Cape Coral
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,474 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,912 ✓ Larger
Chattanooga
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cape Coral, FL
Pros
Households earn $14,771 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,630/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Chattanooga
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Rent averages $564/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,630)
Homes cost $72k less ($230,500 vs $302,400)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Cape Coral
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Cape Coral by $14,771/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Cape Coral
Median Income
$14,771
$72,474 vs $57,703/yr
Cape Coral
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.1% unemployment
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 104.9 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$72k less
$230,500 vs $302,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cape Coral, FL | Chattanooga, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.9⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $302,400 | $230,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,630⚠ High | $1,066 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,474 ✓ Higher | $57,703 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 217⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.6% | 34.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Hamilton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.0°F ✓ Warmer | 51.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.4" | 55.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,912 ✓ Larger | 181,288 |
| Median Age | 48.2 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 53.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 24.7% ✓ More | 17.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Coral's cost of living index is 104.9 vs Chattanooga's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Cape Coral leads 11 of 19 categories. Cape Coral wins 11 and Chattanooga wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Cape Coral to Chattanooga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($302,400 vs $230,500 median home), income ($72,474 vs $57,703), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cape Coral, FL and Chattanooga, TN are about 613 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.