Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cape Coral, FL
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Cape Coral leads 13 of 20 categories
Cape Coral
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,474
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,912
Santa Clarita
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cape Coral, FL
Pros
Homes cost $367k less ($302,400 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $685/mo less ($1,630 vs $2,315)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 63°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $43,712/yr
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,712 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
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
$367k less
$302,400 vs $669,200
Cape Coral
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$43,712
$116,186 vs $72,474/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cape Coral, FL | Santa Clarita, 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 | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,630⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,474 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 49 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 44 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 56 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.6% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.0°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.6°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.4" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,912 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 48.2 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 71.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 24.7% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Coral's cost of living index is 104.9 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Cape Coral is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Cape Coral leads 13 of 20 categories. Cape Coral wins 13 and Santa Clarita wins 7. 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($302,400 vs $669,200 median home), income ($72,474 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cape Coral, FL and Santa Clarita, CA are about 2,225 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.