Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cape Coral, FL
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Cape Coral
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,474 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,912
Des Moines
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cape Coral, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $10,096 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,630/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Des Moines
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $132k less ($170,700 vs $302,400)
Rent averages $635/mo less ($995 vs $1,630)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Cape Coral
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Cape Coral by $10,096/yr
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cape Coral
Median Income
$10,096
$72,474 vs $62,378/yr
Cape Coral
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Cape Coral
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.6°F vs 85.6°F
Des Moines
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 104.9 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$132k less
$170,700 vs $302,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cape Coral, FL | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.9⚠ High | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $302,400 | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,630⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,474 ✓ Higher | $62,378 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 149⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.6% | 28.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.0°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.4" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,912 | 213,164 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 48.2 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 60.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 24.7% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Coral's cost of living index is 104.9 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Cape Coral wins 10 and Des Moines wins 10. 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 Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($302,400 vs $170,700 median home), income ($72,474 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cape Coral, FL and Des Moines, IA are about 1,224 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.