Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cape Coral, FL
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Cape Coral leads 12 of 20 categories
Cape Coral
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,474
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,912 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
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 34°F
Homes cost $60k less ($302,400 vs $362,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,630/mo
Lowell, MA
Pros
Rent averages $164/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,630)
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cape Coral
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Cape Coral
Median Home Value
$60k less
$302,400 vs $362,800
Cape Coral
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Cape Coral
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.6°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$534
$73,008 vs $72,474/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cape Coral, FL | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $302,400 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,630⚠ High | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,474 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.6% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.0°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.4" | 48.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,912 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 48.2 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 24.7% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Coral's cost of living index is 104.9 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Cape Coral is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Cape Coral leads 12 of 20 categories. Cape Coral wins 12 and Lowell 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 Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($302,400 vs $362,800 median home), income ($72,474 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cape Coral, FL and Lowell, MA are about 1,258 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.