Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cape Coral, FL
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Cape Coral leads 16 of 19 categories
Cape Coral
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,474
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,912 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cape Coral, FL
Pros
Homes cost $291k less ($302,400 vs $593,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Rent averages $230/mo less ($1,630 vs $1,860)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
More college-educated — 24.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 69°F
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $18,785/yr
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,785 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Cape Coral
Key Differences at a Glance
Cape Coral
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Cape Coral
Median Home Value
$291k less
$302,400 vs $593,100
Cape Coral
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Cape Coral
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.6°F vs 84.4°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$18,785
$91,259 vs $72,474/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cape Coral, FL | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $302,400 ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,630⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,474 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 99 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.6% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.0°F ✓ Warmer | 68.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.4" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,912 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 48.2 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 67.6% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 24.7% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Coral's cost of living index is 104.9 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Cape Coral is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Cape Coral leads 16 of 19 categories. Cape Coral wins 16 and Norwalk wins 3. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($302,400 vs $593,100 median home), income ($72,474 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cape Coral, FL and Norwalk, CA are about 2,199 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.