Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cape Coral, FL
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Cape Coral leads 15 of 20 categories
Cape Coral
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,474 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,912
Newark
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cape Coral, FL
Pros
Households earn $26,014 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 24.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,630/mo
Newark, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $357/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,630)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Cape Coral by $26,014/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cape Coral
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Cape Coral
Median Income
$26,014
$72,474 vs $46,460/yr
Cape Coral
Unemployment
6.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 10.7% unemployment
Cape Coral
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.6°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cape Coral, FL | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $302,400 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,630⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,474 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.6% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.4" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,912 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 48.2 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 24.7% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Coral's cost of living index is 104.9 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Cape Coral is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Cape Coral leads 15 of 20 categories. Cape Coral wins 15 and Newark wins 5. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($302,400 vs $312,300 median home), income ($72,474 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cape Coral, FL and Newark, NJ are about 1,071 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.