Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cape Coral, FL
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 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
Fort Wayne
Indiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cape Coral, FL
Pros
Households earn $14,241 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 33°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,630/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fort Wayne
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($152,500 vs $302,400)
Rent averages $726/mo less ($904 vs $1,630)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Cape Coral
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Cape Coral by $14,241/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cape Coral
Median Income
$14,241
$72,474 vs $58,233/yr
Cape Coral
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Cape Coral
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.6°F vs 84.1°F
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 104.9 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$150k less
$152,500 vs $302,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cape Coral, FL | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.9⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $302,400 | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,630⚠ High | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,474 ✓ Higher | $58,233 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 81 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.6% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.0°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.4" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,912 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 48.2 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 62.6% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 24.7% ✓ More | 14.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Coral's cost of living index is 104.9 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Cape Coral wins 10 and Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($302,400 vs $152,500 median home), income ($72,474 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cape Coral, FL and Fort Wayne, IN are about 1,014 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.